Canvas Monkey Hut?

[OneScorpion]

So I have read almost all the topics on Monkey Huts and the pros of using a tarp seem to be:
waterproof, wind proof, inexpensive
While the pros of shade cloth are:
not completely opaque, lightweight, not as noisy in the wind.

What about using some type of canvas, such as a drop cloth or any other canvas material? Has anyone tried it or is there a good reason it has not been done.

I just figured it would be nice because it offers some light (does it stop uv?), it is less expensive than shade cloth, and it won't be nearly as noisy as a tarp.

Thanks

[tamarakay]

Canvas seems heavy to me. Not sure how that would work on the PVC structure. We use an old cargo parachute, then put the shade cloth on top of that. Not rain proof, but rain resistant and very lightweight. Plus, the parachute is tie dyed so it's kinda trippy. The shade cloth holds the parachute down and keeps it from becoming all parachutey. Win win

I would suggest a test of a hut with canvas and see how it does in the spring storms.

[tamarakay]

Oh and welcome!

[VultureChow]

Canvas is much,much heavier than either tarp or shade cloth, so I would think it could stress the frame. I use a canvas tarp for a ground cloth and a silver tarp for the hut. I don't find it loud, at all. It's pretty taut, so flapping is ideally kept to an absolute minimum. And unless you're doing a very very long monkey hut,it's not dark inside one. I could do detailed crochet in mine during the day without additional light. For me it's ease and the coolest shade. My gut, having been in several forms is that in still air, the shade cloth or aluminet has the advantage. The silver tarp without any air movement can act a bit as an oven. With some breeze,I like the full shade of the heavy duty tarp.

[The Rod]

Isn't the whole point of a monkey hut that the frame is stressed and because the PVC is under tension its stronger? Seems like the windload from a 50 mph gust is probably a lot more stress to a MH than a few pounds of fabric. But then again I am not an engineer...

Last year we did a full size silver tarp deal for our MH that went too close to the ground, not enough clearance for a good airflow and it got pretty hot in there.. I was wondering about fabric as well... maybe old sheets from the thrift store, WAY cheaper than aluminet or even decent shade cloth. But sheets tear easily...

[GreyCoyote]

The ability to sew pockets and sleeves for the PVC pipe could be exploited to great effect. Containing the arches would add rigidity and control the movements of the hut under windy conditions. The lighter weight canvas ducks (8 and 10 oz) would work well and not break the bank, and can be sewn by some of the home-type machines withut a lot of fuss.

Might be a neat idea for you to try. Just have a backup plan if theory doesnt comport with reality on the playa.

And welcome to eplaya!

[trilobyte]

I agree with all the others - canvas adds significant weight, quite probably enough to cause the structure to fail. Part of what makes that type of structure work is the flexible PVC pipe. It provides decent enough shelter, bends with the stronger winds, and can support the distributed weight of tarps - but is definitely not load-bearing.

[Drawingablank]

Aside from the weight, anything that lets any light through will be warmer inside than something totally opaque.

I use a heavy duty 4 layer poly tarp from Creative Shelters that has lasted for years and packs down fairly compact. Relatively inexpensive, it's quiet if tensioned properly, and completely blocks the light.

It is noticeably cooler inside than those made with shade fabric, aluminet, etc...

[vargaso]

I've used the same silver tarp since 2008 for our monkey hut, it's a light material while still providing total shade. If ventilated properly near the ground, I've found it much cooler than shade structures using parachute or aluminet materials. And it comes with grommets, so it's very easy to tie down. Canvas might be a little heavy for the PVC structure, not as reflective as the silver sided tarp which could raise the temperature inside the hut, and in the off chance of rain, would be quite stinky. I wouldn't use it if I were you. And I just might be....

[FossaFerox]

The reason you use shade cloth is not about noise, it's about wind load. By being permeable to the wind you end up subjecting your structure to significantly reduced forces. This becomes a major consideration if you have areas of large coverage.

As for canvas potentially adding "rigidity" that is a terrible idea. While I doubt you'd get much support from it, even if you could make a PVC structure rigid you would NOT want to. Monkey huts work by bending and swaying. They absorb the energy from large wind gusts and let the wind spill around them as they change shape to match whatever the weather may throw at it. A rigid monkey hut is one that will fail. But again, I doubt it will even make it significantly more rigid. It will just be annoyingly heavy, which may also increase the tendency to fail as well as making it sag. Stick to silver tarps or shade cloth.

[OneScorpion]

thanks everyone for the replies! sounds like tarps are the way to go.

does anyone ever pin the tarp to the ground during a storm so dust doesn't cover everything?

[tamarakay]

No matter what you do dust will cover everything.

[FossaFerox]

Dust will cover everything, but you should still secure your tarp. Rebar bent into tight candycanes or lag bolts (a la Figjam) connected to a ball bungee (so it can deal with gusts without ripping) work great for securing it to the ground if you aren't simply securing it to the bottom strut of the dome (which should also be secured, I think every other ground strut is the rule of thumb).

[Savannah]

thanks everyone for the replies! sounds like tarps are the way to go.

does anyone ever pin the tarp to the ground during a storm so dust doesn't cover everything?

You mean having a ground-specific tarp, staked down? You could. Some do. (Emergency Services uses snap-together plastic ground cover that are not unlike legos, which gets swept but it's still kinda dusty). Swept areas get dusty again pretty fast.

The year I did a monkey hut I did not have a ground tarp, and I didn't miss it. If I had a hut again, I'd still opt for bare playa and a pair of slip-ons.

[VultureChow]

I loved my canvas ground tarp this year. I had street frontage and some really loose playa where I wanted to set up my hut. So the tarp had the triple benefit of 1) dust control 2) the playa became packed underneath for better footing and 3) easier mooping.

[AntiM]

We nail ground covers down, ours are made from billboard vinyls. We even have a rug nailed on top of that. Bring a small broom.

[unjonharley]

Yesterday I built my first monkey hut..Needed a dry space to unload a shed for repair.. I layed down a ground cloth and 12 inch nailed it to the ground.. It made the pattern for the uprights/rebar locations.. No measuring.. Already had a 10 x 20 silver tarp.. Put bungie balls through each grommet . Then run a par-a-cord from bungie to bungie.. That way I could adjust the tarp.. Saved time also..

I found last year I did not need heavy total shade to be comfortable on the playa..

So this year I will use a painters (cotton) tarp.. cut it to size and glue a rope in the edge hem.. Then reinforce holes and put grommets where needed.. I plan to cover the MH frame with two half covers.. This will make it easier for me to handle.. Will have to lace the two together at the peak.. By leaving an inch- inch and a half open the wind will be able to escape.. Hot air go's up too.

[chadballs]

CANVAS IS THE BEST!!!!!!

http://www.chromatest.net/Lovemonkey/

If you follow these exact instructions, your canvas monkey hut will be a fortress. - Make sure to ziptie the bottom grommets along the ground to some stakes or bigass nails to make this thing rigid as hell.



I've since purchased 15' more in length and attach the two together for 25 total feet.

10' by itself is indestructible. Adding on another 15', the thing is indestructible. I don't know how a 30' long single tarp would hold up, but you could always guy down the end ribs to be safe.

-It is very heavy and difficult to set up with one person. (my tarp has waterproof coating)
-it completely blocks dust
-it doesn't get hot
-it's silent in the wind
-it's very expensive.

[Wrath]

Interesting.