Building A Storm Shelter — Part II

 

In our previous discussion on building a storm shelter, we focused on the considerations to make before putting up a storm shelter. We discussed the budget, construction permits, type of shelter, and size of the shelter, amidst many others. Each of these factors is self-explanatory, and the ones that aren’t, we explained. 

In the concluding part of this article, we’ll look at the steps involved in the construction processes of the two types of storm shelters mentioned in the previous piece, which are underground shelter and aboveground shelter. 

As we already know, the former is built under the ground, within the soil, while the latter is raised above the ground, on the earth.

Let’s go.

Building A Storm Shelter Underground

Construct Plans & Clean Up

Just like you’re building a house, the first step here is to draw a house plan. This is usually the architectural process, albeit you don’t need a professional for this. All you need to know is the width and height. 

As per cleaning up, this is especially relevant when you’re building in a new region, which may require you to clear the land or evacuate debris. If, however, you’re building underneath your home, you’d have to remove carpets, tiles or whatever flooring used. Remember to keep access to the location clean and comfortable. You don’t want some debris or boxes blocking you in case there’s an emergency while building.

 

Dig Your Hole

Digging your hole has to happen only after you’ve determined the width and height of the shelter. This will help you know the measurements to use in digging. Note that your hole has to be slightly bigger than the measured width and height, as you will need extra space in navigating while erecting the building.

 

Pour Some Concrete For Flooring

Level the bottom of the hole. When done, pour concrete with 5 inches thickness at least and leave to dry thoroughly before the next step. Ensure your concrete is well mixed before pouring as it is crucial to foundation and flooring.

 

Raise Your Frame

When sure that the floor is dry, determine the measurements for your frame, which is the walls. To do this, you have to work out the area of the shelter, which is by multiplying the width of one side by the height of one side, and afterward proceed to measure the length by using the square footage.

The ideal frame for your shelter is the square shape. While I understand that some may decide to opt for other shapes, I’d advise against it because measuring such a room will be difficult due to its odd shape. Say, if you wanted to erect a circular room, how would you do the measurements? Also, any other form is unlikely to hold as long as a square room when SHTF. This is because a square room is typically more balanced and even.

 

Reinforce Your Walls

Having built the frame, cement the heights of the walls with concrete and wait until well dried. After that, cover the exterior of the walls with a waterproof material, preferably a membrane, and then use wire mesh on both exterior and interior. When roofing as well, remember to add an extra layer of wire mesh to strengthen the building. 

 

Install Roof & Door

Plywood is often enough for your roof. For a stronger structure, however, you can opt for metal and wood. Note that if you built your shelter in the basement or an already existing building, only reinforcement to the previous roof is needed.

For your door, I’d suggest a frame made from steel and concrete and carrying three deadbolts. Your door has to open outside, so install your hinges outside.

 

Building A Storm Shelter Aboveground

Do Some Architectural Drawings

Just as when constructing an underground shelter, the first step in an aboveground structure is to draw up your designs. Usually, an above ground storm shelter isn’t as large as its underground counterpart, as it is often less durable. Still, it should house one family comfortably. Remember, your shelter should be square-shaped.

 

Excavate The Square

This is often touted as the dirty part of the deal. The excavation should be about 3 inches deep and then lay 1x4s—typically 10 feet long—along the sides of all squares. Proceed to make wooden stakes outside the square to maintain the verticalness of the boards. When sure that the structure is level and steady, nail the wooden stakes to the 1x4s.

Afterward, lay the edges of the pad with ½ inch rebar pieces—typically 9 feet long. Ensure the pieces are in a parallel arrangement.

 

Construct The Floor

Following the arrangement of the rebar pieces, pour concrete on the square for your flooring. I suggest that you raise the framed pad so some concrete can get under the rebar, which will make the structure more stable. 

You can choose to pour just a layer of concrete initially, make holes for metal frame anchorage in the layer using a hammer drill and then apply adhesive glue to the entire surface before pouring the second layer of concrete.

 

Build The Frame

Make holes in the bricks and pass the metal frame rods through the holes. After completing one bricklayer, you can opt to strengthen the walls further by filling the cells of the bricks with concrete. 

If you’re financially able to, you can use a precast building as the shelter’s foundation, such that the structure is built around it. However, this is very expensive, which explains why most stick with bricks.

 

Install The Roof & Door

Building the roof requires you to bend the metal frames to a horizontal shape. As you bend, add and attach more metal frames until a metal mesh is created. Finish the installation process by placing a wooden frame on the metal mesh and then pour concrete on it. The wooden frame is merely to ensure that the concrete assumes the shape of a roof when dry. 

For the door, select an option that is certified “tornado and stormproof” by FEMA. The door must be able to resist winds of at least 200 miles hourly.

 

Conclusion On Building A Storm Shelter

When building a storm shelter, keep in mind that it must be of excellent quality. Every step must be expertly carried out while all materials should be of high standards. And, if you’re unsure of erecting an underground or aboveground structure, do research on the potential risks associated with your region before deciding.