I am building the floor/platform for a 30' yurt. It's basically a deck.
30' diameter circle
pre-cast concrete pier blocks
4" x 6" pressure treated joists, 4' o.c.
1 1/8" tongue-and-groove plywood floor
2" rigid foam insulation panels between the joists
I can build it close to the ground by laying the joists directly in the pier blocks, like this:
Or I could raise it up on 4" x 4" pressure treated posts, perhaps 4' off the ground.
My site is pretty flat, but not perfectly level, so I would use short posts to compensate anyway, but my question is should I make it as low as possible, or raise it up?
A tall platform creates dry storage underneath, is easier to get in to to work (like a crawlspace). It also keeps the decking out of the foliage, so it doesn't stay moist & rot.
A short platform is less conspicuous (I want to blend in to the woods), requires fewer steps to enter, is more stable, and requires a little less material. It's also easier to assemble the yurt, since you can reach the high fasteners with a tall ladder.
I plan to wire for electricity, but no plumbing. I can fish appropriately durable wire under a low platform, but I'd need a little room if I wanted to staple the wires in place.
I could probably get as low as 18" off the ground, or as high as 48" up.
What else should I take in to account when deciding?