The most common materials for storm shelters are:
If using concrete, the walls should be a minimum thickness of 5 inches – which means your storm shelter will take up much more space in the ground than its interior size. This is because you will need a lot of extra room for working.Īlso, don’t forget to consider the thickness of the walls when planning the size of your storm shelter. When building an underground storm shelter where you need to dig (i.e., not in a basement), don’t forget that you will need to dig a much bigger hole than the actual storm shelter. Also, account for supplies you want to include in the storm shelter. If you plan on furnishing your storm shelter or adding a bathroom, you will need more space. For hurricanes (which last longer than tornadoes), you should calculate at least 10 square feet per person. Size of the Storm ShelterįEMA recommends that you make your storm shelter a minimum of 7 square feet per person for tornadoes. If the storm shelter is further away, you won’t be in compliance or eligible for any rebates. Storm Shelter Inside the HomeĪccording to FEMA building codes, outside storm shelters cannot be more than 150 feet from your home’s entrance. There are pros and cons to each of these locations. Storm shelters can be inside your home or outside your home. The storm shelter will remain if the rest of your home is blown away. This doesn’t mean they can’t be inside your home, but they must be bolted down to the concrete slab. What is important to remember when planning these DIY storm shelters is that they must be independent of the home. You’ll probably be building an above-ground storm shelter if you live in a hurricane area.
Whether the freezing soil during winter will create stress on the storm shelter wallsĪbove-Ground Storm Shelters Safe Sheds storm shelter.Whether there’s solid bedrock to dig into (this will cost a lot!).Whether you have high water tables which could floor your storm shelter.The title of the person who does this is a geotechnical engineer. If you plan on digging an underground storm shelter outside of your home, then you will need to pay for ground analysis.ĭo NOT skip this step. You can use the existing basement slab floor (assuming it is reinforced and meets FEMA requirements). The easiest and cheapest way to build your own storm shelter underground is to put it in your existing basement. Underground Storm Shelters Example shelter from groundzeroshelters However, underground storm shelters are generally unsuitable for hurricanes because they can flood. Underground storm shelters are usually used in tornado zones and often double as bomb shelters. The Two Types of DIY Tornado SheltersĪll storm shelters can be divided into two main types: Underground and Above Ground. Again, if you don’t have experience with construction and are on a budget, this is probably the best route.ĭon’t risk making a DIY storm shelter if you don’t know what you are doing!īut, if you are up for the task, you can save even more money by building your storm shelter. These are just two examples of prefabricated storm shelters. Since they are so heavy, they can be put just about anywhere and don’t require a reinforced concrete slab. The delivery truck sets them down somewhere outside your home, and that’s it. They weigh 24,000 lbs and are delivered already fabricated. Safe Sheds: These storm shelters are meant for installation outdoors.Ground Zero Shelters: They sell outdoor underground storm shelters which come ready-made.Here are two examples of prefabricated storm shelters: You are more likely to pay around $5-$12k with shipping and installation.
Don’t expect it to cost less than $3000, though. However, these are probably the best options if you aren’t a contractor and are on a budget. Prefabricated storm shelters are relatively cheap but aren’t the most attractive or comfortable options. Some of these can even be “dropped in” to your home or yard in just a few hours.
#CUSTOM UNDERGROUND STORM SHELTERS INSTALL#
The simplest option for a storm shelter is to buy a prefabricated shelter and have them install it. There are many different types of storm shelters and factors that will affect the cost. How Much Do Storm Shelters Cost to Build? With these tips, a DIY storm shelter can be made much cheaper than you’d imagine. And, in a Force 5 or C5 storm, your home could be blown off its foundation. If you live in an area prone to tornadoes or hurricanes, you should consider building your own storm shelter.Įven if you live in a new “modern” home, the materials used to build the house aren’t likely to withstand the high-speed winds of a tornado or hurricane.Ī piece of debris flying at 100 mph will smash right through your home, which is why more than half of storm injuries and death are caused by flying debris.
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