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How to Build an Igloo

Fast, simple method using inflatable snow tubes covered with snow. The tubes aredeflated and removed. Instructions, photos and diagrams of snow tube igloos are on thissite.

Comments

“My kid loves it. I’ve never done anything for him that he has enjoyed any more than thisigloo. It’s amazing how much time he wants to spend outdoors now. He even wanted meto serve him dinner in the igloo.”

(Father of a 9 year old)

“My girls have been out there constantly. They even wanted to sleep overnight in theigloo.”

(Mother of two, aged 5 and 8)

“We drove 70 miles to see it because my granddaughter told me so much about how her children loved it.”

(Great grandmother of two)

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The Basics

This is a quick and easy method of building a child size igloo using inflatable snow tubes.The concept is simple. Here are the basics. You pile snow over large inflated snow tubes.Sprinkle or spray water over the pile of snow. Leave it for 20 to 60 minutes to freeze.(Wait time varies with temperature.) Then open the valves, let the tubes deflate and pullthem out through the entrance hole. The

“Basic”

model of the “Snow tube igloo” is done.You can stop right there and let the kids inside.

:You can go for the

“Improved”

version by spending a little more time forming the snowto make it more dome shaped. Shaping can be done by shaving away extra snow aroundthe base of the igloo using a snow shovel, adding snow where needed and patting it downwith a tool like the “Tennis Racquet Tool” described later. This shaping process may beeasier for some people than others. You just have to move around the igloo standing back 10 or 15 feet and be able to see where need to add more snow or where to shave some off.And you can add an entrance tunnel. The most simple method I’ve found for adding theentrance tunnel involves using large tapered container such as a garbage can.And you can even go for the

“Deluxe”

version by carving grooves to make it look like itis made out of blocks of snow. Adding grooves can be tricky. More about that later in thissite.

Disclaimer – Anyone attempting to build an igloo using the information in this web sitedoes so at his or her own risk. I do not claim that I have identified every possiblehazard in building an igloo. I am not a safety professional. I have made a good faitheffort to point out some possible risks and I have offered suggestions to minimize thoserisks. But once again, anyone using the information in this web site to build an igloodoes so at his or her own risk.

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Safety

Please read all of the following safety related recommendations and suggestions. Donot begin your igloo project until you have read all of this safety relatedinformation.Frostbite

– If you build one of these igloos children will want to be outdoors morefrequently and for longer periods. When kids are having fun they are at more risk for frostbite. Please take the time to check out these web sites and carefully follow the advicethere. Please monitor children closely to prevent frostbite injury.Here are two web sites about “frostbite” and there are many more on the internet.

http://web.archive.org/web/20070102115528/http://www.chp.edu/besafe/adults/02frostbite.php?base=hsor http://web.archive.org/web/20070102115528/http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/poison/frostbit.html

Other hazards to avoid.

Building an igloo using this method should be done under thesupervision of one or more responsible adults. You might ask how building an igloo withinflatable plastic snow tubes could be dangerous? Well I’ve got scars on my head fromshoveling snow. (Two scars, same cousin 45 plus years ago.) The edges and corners of snow shovels can cause injuries. Too many people working in close quarters with snowshovels could be a problem. People (including kids) may not have enough snow shovelsand may start improvising with other ways to move and shovel snow. One of the scars onmy head is from a round pointed dirt shovel being used to shovel snow. Responsibleadults must make sure only appropriate tools are used. Check the edges and corners of any shovels you use. Some plastic snow shovels have metal edges. Plastic shovels canhave sharp edges and corners. Shovels that have been used scraping snow from concreteor asphalt can become even sharper and more dangerous with time. I recommend that youdull these sharp edges and corners with a rasp, file or some other abrasive devise. If youhave children actually shoveling snow I strongly recommend you only let them useshovels with “dull” edges and corners.The first few shovels full of snow are usually close to the base of the snow tubes andusually just involves shoveling the snow straight ahead. As this snow close to the igloo isused up there begins a repetitive process of bending, scooping up snow, then turning andwalking to the igloo with the snow then turning back for more snow again. This bendingand turning with the shovel is when you might not see a child running up beside or behind you. Or someone might bend over to scoop up snow just as someone else isturning with a shovel. Keep people working a save distance from each other. Beespecially careful if small children are around. Be prepared to say “no” when there aretoo many people/children who want to participate. Let the children know before you startof what tools they may and may not use. For children you may want to make “snowscoops” from plastic bottles. My opinion is that these snow scoops would be safer thanshovels for kids. See the section on “

snow scoops

”. Have a project meeting before you begin. Make sure everyone knows the do’s and don’ts for your igloo project.Where you place your igloo can be important. It should not be close to a highway,driveway or in an area where someone might hit it with a snowplow. Do not place itwhere approaching snowmobile or ATV operators might not see it or where they mightmistake it for just a pile of snow. The “Improved” and “Deluxe” versions of this igloomay be more protected from snowmobiles and ATV’s because they are more easilyidentified as not just a pile of snow. If you are in an area where snowmobiles and ATV’sare a concern you may choose not to build an igloo at all or you may want to put up barriers and signs with reflective tape.