Tillie Doyle
Building an igloo is a fun project for the whole family, but it requires time, patience, and consecutive days of freezing temperatures. To build an igloo with a bread pan, you'll need around 60 aluminium foil bread pans, water, and snow that's cold, wet, and crunchy. Fill the bread pans with water and leave them to freeze overnight. Once frozen, you can begin to assemble your igloo, using the ice blocks to build a dome-shaped structure. It's recommended to build your igloo on a slope to save effort, and you should always make sure to cut a doorway out of the wall to keep your body heat inside.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of bread pans | 60 |
| Type of bread pans | Aluminum foil bread pans |
| Type of snow | Crunchy, cold, and wet |
| Snow depth | At least 2 feet |
| Brick size | 3 feet long, 15 inches high, and 8 inches thick |
| Brick colour | Add food colouring |
| Brick formation | Lay snow blocks in a spiral |
| Brick placement | Stagger the seams |
| Brick support | Use a piece of wood to support each new row |
| Brick mortar | Use slush mortar to fill in any cracks or gaps |
| Doorway | Cut a vertical seam where two full-size blocks meet |
| Air hole | Make a fist-sized air hole |
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What You'll Learn
Planning and preparation
First, choose a suitable location for your igloo. Consider building it into a hillside, as this will reduce the amount of surface area you need to cover and, consequently, the number of bricks required. Ensure you have a large, flat area of snow that is at least 2 feet (0.61 m) deep. The snow should be hard-packed and uniformly resistant, without any soft layers, as this will provide a stable base for your igloo.
Next, use a stick to mark the centre of your igloo and tie a cord to it that's half the diameter of your desired igloo size. For example, for a 7-foot-wide igloo, use a 3.5-foot-long cord. Walk around the stick, tracing a line at the end of the cord to create a nearly perfect circle. This will be the outer wall of your igloo, so ensure it is consistently hard-packed snow.
Now, it's time to prepare your bread pans. You will need approximately 60 bread pans or tins, and it is recommended to use aluminium foil pans as they are lightweight and easy to work with. Fill each bread pan with water to create ice "bricks" for your igloo's base. You can add food colouring to the water for a fun twist and a more colourful igloo. Place these pans outside in temperatures below freezing to allow the water to turn into ice bricks.
Before you begin constructing your igloo, gather the necessary tools. You will need a carpenter's saw to cut the ice bricks and shape them into blocks, a shovel or snowshoe to help compact snow, and gloves to protect your hands during the building process. It is also recommended to have a snow prod or a long stick to test the consistency of the snow and ensure it is firm and uniformly resistant.
Lastly, cut a narrow rectangular trench inside the perimeter of your igloo outline. This trench will accommodate your ice blocks. Traditionally, igloo blocks are 3 feet long, 15 inches high, and 8 inches thick, but you can adjust the size based on your preferences and the size of your igloo. Remember to cut the trench towards the slope if you are building on a hillside.
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Choosing the right snow
Snow Consistency
Look for snow that is hard-packed and uniformly resistant. Avoid areas with soft, powdery snow as it is too weak and will not provide the necessary structure. The ideal snow will be crunchy, cold, and wet, making it easier to pack and shape into blocks.
Snow Depth
Ensure that the snow depth is sufficient for constructing your igloo. The snow should be at least 2 feet (0.61 m) deep to provide a solid foundation and enough material for your blocks.
Block Size
Traditional igloo blocks are typically 3 feet (0.91 m) long, 15 inches (38 cm) high, and about 8 inches (20 cm) thick. However, you can adjust the block size based on the size of your igloo and the number of bread pans you have. Smaller bricks are suitable for smaller igloos.
Temperature
Plan your igloo-building project on days with consecutive freezing temperatures. This will ensure that the snow remains in ideal condition and allows your igloo to freeze and set properly. Check the forecast and opt for days with below-freezing temperatures for several days in a row.
Block Formation
When forming your snow blocks, use disposable bread pans or tins to create uniform blocks. Fill the pans with snow and pack it down tightly. You can also add water to create ice bricks for added strength. Alternating the faces of the blocks with angled edges from the pans will help them fit together more securely.
By choosing the right snow and following these guidelines, you'll be well on your way to constructing a strong and stable igloo. Remember, building an igloo takes time and patience, but the end result will be impressive and keep you warm!
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Creating the ice bricks
To create the ice bricks, fill disposable bread tins or aluminium foil bread pans with water to make ice "bricks" for the base. You will need about 60 bread tins to build a solid igloo snow shelter. You can add food colouring to the water before it freezes to create coloured bricks. The bricks should be at least 2 feet deep and about 3 feet long, 15 inches high, and 8 inches thick.
Once the water in the bread pans has frozen, the ice bricks can be removed and used to start building the igloo. It is important to work quickly, as the ice bricks will begin to melt as soon as they are removed from the freezer. The bottom blocks usually don't need support because they're already frozen. You can use a piece of wood to support each new row to ensure the ice bricks freeze together and form a solid layer.
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Laying the foundation
Firstly, it is important to choose a suitable location. Look for a spot with consistent, hard-packed snow that is at least 2 feet (0.61 m) deep. The snow should offer firm, uniform resistance when prodded with a stick or snow prod. You can also perform a test by making a snow angel, as the inside diameter of the angel should match the desired inner diameter of your igloo.
Next, you'll want to outline the outer wall of your igloo. Use the heel of your boot to scuff out a circular line marking the exterior boundary. Ensure that the snow within this circle is consistently hard-packed for stability. This circle should be regular in shape and sized according to your desired igloo dimensions.
Now it's time to start preparing your "bricks." Using disposable bread pans, fill them with water to make ice "bricks" for the base. You will need approximately 60 bread pans for a solid igloo. If you want to make it more fun and colourful, you can add food colouring to the water before freezing. It is important to note that fresh snow is not ideal for building, as it is too powdery and weak. Wait for older snow, which will be crunchier and easier to shape.
Once your bricks are frozen, it's time to start laying them down. Place the bricks in a ring around the outside of your marked circle, ensuring each brick touches the one beside it. This forms the foundation layer. As you work, use a piece of wood to support each new row, ensuring the ice bricks freeze together and form a solid layer.
Finally, you can begin to build upwards. Using a saw, start making a spiral ramp from the foundation blocks. Choose a point and saw down through each block, putting an angled surface on it. You are essentially cutting away the tops of the blocks to form a circular wedge. Continue stacking layers of blocks and trimming them as you go. Stagger the seams of each block to create a stable structure.
Remember, building an igloo takes time and patience. Ensure you have consecutive days of freezing temperatures to allow your igloo to set properly.
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Constructing the igloo
To begin constructing the igloo, you will need to prepare your snow blocks. Using about 60 bread tins, fill them with water to make ice "bricks" for the base. You can add food colouring to create differently coloured bricks. Place these tins outside to freeze overnight. The next day, check that the snow outside is suitable for building by testing its consistency with a snow prod or a long stick. It should be hard-packed with no soft layers and offer firm, uniform resistance. Outline the outer wall of your igloo by using your boot to scuff out a line marking the circular outside.
Once you have prepared your snow blocks and outlined the space, it is time to start building. Pace out a 10x10-foot swath and pile up the snow inside, tamping it down with a snowshoe or shovel. Continue shovelling and compacting snow until you have a large mound, about 1.5 feet high. Let it sit for several hours or overnight. Then, lie down in the centre of the mound and make a snow angel to mark the inside diameter of your igloo. From your snow mound, cut blocks of uniform size, ideally about 3 feet long, 15 inches high, and 8 inches thick. Traditional igloo blocks are larger, but smaller bricks are good for smaller igloos.
Now, lay the foundation by setting blocks in a ring around the outside of your snow angel. Each block should touch the one beside it. Using a saw, begin making a spiral ramp from the foundation blocks by cutting away the tops of the blocks to form a circular wedge. Continue stacking layers of blocks and trimming them. As you stack, stagger the seams so that the seam from each block in the bottom row is in the middle of the block on top of it. When you finish stacking, you will have a small hole at the top. Cut a block of snow and put it in like a cork.
Finally, create a door by finding a place on the first level with a vertical seam where two full-size blocks meet. Cut away half a block on either side of the seam and then cut an arch shape into the bottom half of the overhead block, leaving the top half intact. Your door should be big enough to crawl through but small enough to keep the cold air out. Use a saw to make a fist-sized air hole high on the side of the igloo.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need about 60 bread pans to build an igloo.
The best type of snow for building an igloo is crunchy, cold, and wet. It should be at least 2 feet deep and hard-packed with no soft layers.
To lay the foundation, first, pace out a 10x10-foot area and pile up snow until you have a mound that is about 1.5 feet high. Then, lie down and make a snow angel to mark the inside diameter of your igloo. Cut blocks of uniform size from your snow mound, and set them in a ring around the outside of your snow angel.
