UrbanTurf's Cure for Cabin Fever: Build an Igloo

• February 10th 2010

by Mark Wellborn

If you find yourself suffering from cabin fever for the second time in the past five days, do not worry, UrbanTurf has the perfect real estate-oriented remedy: go out and build an igloo! Below we have outlined a step-by-step process as to how to build your very own house in the snow and get back to your Eskimo roots at the same time.

Step 1: Find a place with hard packed, deep snow.

This shouldn’t be hard considering the snow accumulation over the last week. The snow depth should ideally be about three feet.

Step 2: Make the snow blocks.

This is the hardest part of the process. The blocks should be fairly thick and solid enough that they can be carried horizontally in your hands without breaking. The ideal thickness is about 8 to 12 inches, and the edges should be smooth, so that the blocks can be flush with one another.

Step 3: Start building.

Draw a circle about five to seven feet in diameter. Start placing the bottom row of snow blocks at a very slight angle. For the amateur igloo builder, this can be the toughest part of the process, but it is necessary in order to create a dome shape.

While you are placing the first blocks, be sure to leave space for an entrance. Continue to place blocks to create the upper rows, gradually building a dome. Remove any excess snow that falls on the igloo floor while you are building the dome.

Once you have created the dome structure, the final blocks can be brought in through the entrance and placed to close the dome. Ideally, all the blocks will support one another in a well-built igloo, but frequently a support of some sort is needed while the final blocks are being installed.

Step 4: Filling and smoothing.

As a final step, it is important to fill in the cracks of the igloo blocks and smooth the interior surface. Once this is done, your igloo is inhabitant-ready!

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/urbanturfs_cure_for_cabin_fever_build_an_igloo/1766.