Building a small shelter shed has to be one of your first steps upon surviving a catastrophe.
Depending on the type of disaster, an underground or aboveground bunker is the place to survive a disaster in. However, you can’t continue to remain there for long. There has to be a time to return to the surface, and when you do, you should have a shelter shed to live in first.
But you may wonder, why build a shelter shed? Why don’t you just pack back into your home?
Well, that sounds great, but don’t count on it. In case of a bio-warfare or nuclear attack, your home is not equipped to keep out toxic chemicals & other dangerous agents. Also, there is the possibility that electricity would be unavailable, which is what you’ve built your home to operate on. The best you could offer you immediately post-SHTF is to put a roof over your head.
This necessitates constructing a small shelter shed that will stand tall against a high magnitude event and will perform very well without modern convenience facilities, like plumbing & electricity.
Considerations for Building A Small Shelter Shed
Before you can start building, you must have a clear plan in place. The first decision to make is the size of your shelter shed, which is done by considering the number of people who’ll be living in it & the amount of space to keep for your gear. Typically, most need very limited space to fit their personal properties.
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Also, you’ll have to figure out the threats you’re most bothered about. Are you worried about a virus, thieves, wild animals, toxic chemicals, a natural catastrophe, or whatever? Your answer here will be a major influencer of what your shelter will look like.
When done with these considerations, here are the others to figure out.
Selecting the Ideal Location
When selecting a shelter location, you must be deliberate about safety. While there are no guarantees on any area at all, you still don’t want to choose a spot in the way of the water canal or close to the battlefield. You don’t even want your shed to be easily noticed.
I’d suggest that you choose an area that’s hard to find, but this is only possible when you have a large piece of land. In a small area, this isn’t possible, but that’s no big problem. Your aim will have to be selecting a site that is the safest of all other places.
Checking With Local Authorities
The next step after working out your size needs & location is to consult the local Planning & Zoning authorities if there is access. Their office can give you the nod ahead about the legitimacy of your structure or the location you’ve picked. This is where you’ll know if you need a permit before proceeding too.
They can also advise you on how to build your structure so it is in tandem with the provisions of the laws. There is typically a restriction on the size of the structure & how it is built.
Suggestions for Building a Small Shelter Shed
While it is obvious that you have building preferences that differentiate you from others, there are specific fundamentals that cannot be taken away regardless of your choice, as long as you’re building a shelter shed after SHTF & have the above considerations in mind.
A Solid Foundation
A building is only as strong as its foundation. A poor foundation is, therefore, the worst mistake you’ll make with your shelter shed.
When building a survival shelter, your best option is a thick layer of concrete floor, which will lessen the risk of any agent making its way into the room through the earth. It will also prevent moisture buildup and keep away insects, rodents & whatever animal may invade your new home. Let’s consider that they may be living there before you.
Plus, a shelter with a concrete sitting is very less likely to collapse than a shed with blocks as a foundation.
Impenetrable Exterior
You can explore various options when it comes to the selection of materials necessary for wall construction. While wood is a common option, it is much better to find a sturdier solution like cement or metal blocks.
If your concern is about a bio-warfare, you, of all people, know that no air must get inside from outside to avoid contamination. Your walls will have to be multi-layered as a result. For instance, fix cement blocks while adding an external metal layer.
Durable, Strong Roof
The roof is as critical as the walls of your shelter. You can’t ever tell when shit may hit the fan or where it may come from, and even if it isn’t Thunderman storming through the roof, you don’t want a roof that requires maintenance or repair in such a situation.
Shingle roofs are expected to last for about 50 years, but I’d prefer metal roofs since they can offer an additional 20 years & even more to the 50 promised by shingle. They need less maintenance too. And line your walls; you will have to fix plenty of layers for optimum protection.
Sufficient Ventilation
Having decided to make your home impenetrable, it’s necessary that you have a source of fresh, breathable air. Else, you’ll be wasting your efforts. A lack of airflow when a disaster does not allow you to leave the shed can have deadly consequences.
Various ways to incorporate ventilation into your shelter include installing an expedient air pump, digging an air shaft & fixing the conventional forms of ventilation like ridge or air vents. The last option is only applicable if your shelter is not sealed off from the exterior.
Conclusion on Building a Small Shelter Shed
Your considerations before building a small shelter shed are crucial to the results that follow. The above recommendations are all tailored towards survival, not comfort. You have to keep to them all before introducing any means of comfort like a cabinet, mattresses & a table. Survival first.