Adding a storm shelter

[gsganzer]

Every spring, when the tornado season kicks up, we always wish we had a shelter. This year, I'm going to get out in front and put one in this winter. The most common one we see around here is the concrete in-ground with the sloped front like the attached link. I got some pricing and it will run about $4K delivered and set in a hole I have pre-dug with my Kubota BH77 backhoe.

Concrete storm shelter

I'll run an electric line to it. It's not practical for me to put in a perimeter drain and pipe to a lower point, as I don't really have a place low/close enough to drain it to. Another thought is to put in the perimeter drain pipe and make a sump just outside the shelter, that I can drop a submersible into if water is an issue.

For those that have a similar shelter, Is the drainage really that big a deal? I guess it's better to prepare for it and not need it. Perforated drain pipe is pretty cheap.

 

[Oaktree]

No tornadoes where I live, but that seems a reasonable price. Around here concrete home foundations are usually coated with some sort of tar-like waterproofing, maybe do that before setting it since a perimeter drain isn't practical where you live. A lot would depend on the water table & soil type where you are.

You might want to go with a battery bank and 12V lighting, ventilation, etc. If a twister comes thru most likely power would go out.

 

[gsganzer]

You might want to go with a battery bank and 12V lighting, ventilation, etc. If a twister comes thru most likely power would go out.

Agree. The only reason to run the 120V is to run a sump pump, dehumidifier and charger for flashlights etc. I'd expect to lose power if a storm hit.

 

[lman]

Every spring, when the tornado season kicks up, we always wish we had a shelter. This year, I'm going to get out in front and put one in this winter. The most common one we see around here is the concrete in-ground with the sloped front like the attached link. I got some pricing and it will run about $4K delivered and set in a hole I have pre-dug with my Kubota BH77 backhoe.

Concrete storm shelter

I'll run an electric line to it. It's not practical for me to put in a perimeter drain and pipe to a lower point, as I don't really have a place low/close enough to drain it to. Another thought is to put in the perimeter drain pipe and make a sump just outside the shelter, that I can drop a submersible into if water is an issue.

For those that have a similar shelter, Is the drainage really that big a deal? I guess it's better to prepare for it and not need it. Perforated drain pipe is pretty cheap.

Wouldn't it be better to have something like that in your basement?

 

[RSKY]

Wouldn't it be better to have something like that in your basement?

I think the problem with a storm shelter added to the basement would be waiting for somebody to dig you out if the house collapsed on top of you.

RSKY

 

[gsganzer]

Wouldn't it be better to have something like that in your basement?

I'm in Texas, we don't have basements. Most buildings are on a slab or pier and beam.

 

[ponytug]

@gsganzer Great idea to get ahead of things. I agree that I wouldn't want to live in a tornado area without a below ground shelter.

Good drainage will help keep the shelter dry, and comfortable as well as generally free of things like mold. I'm all in favor of at least one backup electrical system to power lights, phones, radio, etc.

I think that anything that you can do to keep moisture away from the walls will be helpful. We used Mira-drain on a recent project (one side toward the wall is plastic dimples, and the other is drain fabric toward the soil). Water hits the drain fabric and drops to the bottom, keeping the wall dry. There are lots of brands. I would line the backfill trench with geotextile, and fill the geotextile with 1/2-3/4" washed drain rock, if you can get it.

If your water table isn't high, you might be able to get away with a dry well attached to the drain system to drain water away from it. Whether it works will depend on your soils, rainfall and water table.

All the best,

Peter

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[lman]

I think the problem with a storm shelter added to the basement would be waiting for somebody to dig you out if the house collapsed on top of you.

RSKY

Or the tornado could blow you away while you're running to the shelter.

 

[grsthegreat]

Id be afraid of entering my own tomb. Too claustrophobic for that. I could imaging debris blocking exit door and being trapped.