Tornado Shelter

[ceyko]

We're moving when our place is sold and will have a little more land to be able to do a storm/tornado shelter.

It's always been nagging at me to live in this area and not have one. I know, most we get here are not terrible, but we'll be going further north. To me it is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

With that said, does anyone have any recommendations on (must be underground)...

-Who to install one?
-The prefab vs say a concrete one?
-Any tips and so forth to be aware of for one?
-Placement? I assume close to the house, but not too close in case the house were to fall on it.

I understand that some may feel this is overkill, but it's not to me. Just curious if anyone has done anything with these on their land or know anything that maybe of assistance for me choosing. Right now, I'm going to work on estimates and understanding cost. However, I need to know what to ask for prior to asking for estimates. Google is going to help, but people's experience is important too IMO.

Take care,

[KBScobravert]

We're moving when our place is sold and will have a little more land to be able to do a storm/tornado shelter.

It's always been nagging at me to live in this area and not have one. I know, most we get here are not terrible, but we'll be going further north. To me it is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

With that said, does anyone have any recommendations on (must be underground)...

-Who to install one?
-The prefab vs say a concrete one?
-Any tips and so forth to be aware of for one?
-Placement? I assume close to the house, but not too close in case the house were to fall on it.

I understand that some may feel this is overkill, but it's not to me. Just curious if anyone has done anything with these on their land or know anything that maybe of assistance for me choosing. Right now, I'm going to work on estimates and understanding cost. However, I need to know what to ask for prior to asking for estimates. Google is going to help, but people's experience is important too IMO.

Take care,

How much land/yard do you have? Burried shipping containers (20') encased in a few inches of concrete is the route I would go if it has to be underground and you have the land to do it.

You HAVE to flip the container upside down. The roofs are not designed to carry a load only the floors are. I have built many a bunker out of shipping containers and just 2-3 feet of sand above them will cave the roof if it is not supported. To solve that problem we just flipped them over.

All the ones that I have seen were very small and very expensive.

I have the land but I think neighbors would become suspicious of my mental health if I burried a shipping container in my backyard and we are on 1.34 acres.

I was acually considering building a 4-5" (sides/roof) concrete room in my proposed seperate garage.

[ceyko]

How much land/yard do you have? Burried shipping containers (20') encased in a few inches of concrete is the route I would go if it has to be underground and you have the land to do it.

Ya know, we're not 100% sure yet. Our place has to sell (just relisted after improvements with 4 showings this week) before we can finalize on a place. All the ones that make our list range from 1-10 acres.

I'm going to assume 1-2 acres though, being realistic. It seems like the standard shelters run 3-5K installed. Their purpose is real basic, but I'm trying to make sure I avoid flooding and critter infestation. I know the critters will be an issue and can only be..maintained. Just would like it as sealed as possible.

[KBScobravert]

Ya know, we're not 100% sure yet. Our place has to sell (just relisted after improvements with 4 showings this week) before we can finalize on a place. All the ones that make our list range from 1-10 acres.

I'm going to assume 1-2 acres though, being realistic. It seems like the standard shelters run 3-5K installed. Their purpose is real basic, but I'm trying to make sure I avoid flooding and critter infestation. I know the critters will be an issue and can only be..maintained. Just would like it as sealed as possible.

What area are ya'll looking in if you don't mind me asking?

We are in Haslet in a great 1+ acre lot neighborhood. Our HOA is VERY reasonable (but pricey) and I have seen a few storm shelter entrances poking up out of the ground in our subdivisions. I also know a guy with a concrete bunker in his second garage structure has a vault style door and everything.

[ceyko]

What area are ya'll looking in if you don't mind me asking?

We are in Haslet in a great 1+ acre lot neighborhood. Our HOA is VERY reasonable (but pricey) and I have seen a few storm shelter entrances poking up out of the ground in our subdivisions. I also know a guy with a concrete bunker in his second garage structure has a vault style door and everything.

Pretty much a 30 mile radius of Plano (NW, N, NE). See if I can rattle off some places (I know I'm not capitalizing...lazy)...denton, aubrey, celina, nevada, wylie, murphy, lowry crossing, forney, rock wall, parker, gunter, prosper, princeton, melissa, allen, oak point and a load of others.

We're being fairly specific on our search. In ground pool is a must, shop is prefer'ed minimum of one acre, minimum of 2600 sq ft (prefer 3000-3500 if no shop) and of course a price point.

HOA is okay, as long as I can put up a shop and of course the shelter. I hate HOAs, but I think some of the more rural "communities" it's more of a "don't be an idiot" thing as opposed to a nazi environment like I'm in now. I'm also going to put up 3 large flag poles. One for each state the wife and I are from (TX and PA) and of course the American flag up the highest. If all that can happen, I can generally deal with an HOA.

[90vert]

I would go with precast as opposed to anything cast in place. Simply for the peace of mind on quality assurance. This company is a big boy in the utility construction business and make precast concrete structures for damn near any application: http://www.theturnerco.com/products/storm-shelters

I'm a PM for a utility construction company and we install their manholes, inlets, headwalls, etc. everyday, when I put one in at my house I'm going to buy it from them.

In regard to where to put it, make sure there are no existing utilities in your location of choice and don't put it in a low point of your yard. If there are existing utilities and you just have to put it there, you can pay whoever to move out of your way. Keep in mind too, that to install it they are going to have to bring in a fairly large excavator. Picking a place that has easy access and doesn't require them to take down a fence or walk the machine on your concrete driveway should make it cheaper.

Tell the contractor you want it bedded in 3/4" gravel min. of 6" on all sides, all joints sealed with Ramnek, and internal joints wiped with non-shrink grout or hydraulic cement. Make sure the 3/4" gravel is not recycled crushed concrete, make sure when they backfill they do it in 12" lifts and use a jumping jack for compaction. If you really want peace of mind that it is water tight, tell them you want it vacuum tested, 7 psi for 15 minutes.

Or send me a PM and I'll come put it in for you one weekend when you're ready.

[347Mike]

30k for a storm shelter!? Holy crap. That is no where near what I was guessing.

[90vert]

30k for a storm shelter!? Holy crap. That is no where near what I was guessing.

Where did you get that price? If from the website I posted all I see is 30k as in the size of the adobe file. Strictly a guess but I think the small structure would cost well under 10k.

[ceyko]

30k for a storm shelter!? Holy crap. That is no where near what I was guessing.

Everything I've read for a base install is 2K-5K depending on size and some basic options. Looks like it could go up to 8-10K if you want cedar lining and all that crap. Although 90vert may want to tell those folks he works with about your feedback. No indication it is filesize if you're just quickly scanning the site.

[ceyko]

I would go with precast as opposed to anything cast in place. Simply for the peace of mind on quality assurance. This company is a big boy in the utility construction business and make precast concrete structures for damn near any application: http://www.theturnerco.com/products/storm-shelters

I'm a PM for a utility construction company and we install their manholes, inlets, headwalls, etc. everyday, when I put one in at my house I'm going to buy it from them.

In regard to where to put it, make sure there are no existing utilities in your location of choice and don't put it in a low point of your yard. If there are existing utilities and you just have to put it there, you can pay whoever to move out of your way. Keep in mind too, that to install it they are going to have to bring in a fairly large excavator. Picking a place that has easy access and doesn't require them to take down a fence or walk the machine on your concrete driveway should make it cheaper.

Tell the contractor you want it bedded in 3/4" gravel min. of 6" on all sides, all joints sealed with Ramnek, and internal joints wiped with non-shrink grout or hydraulic cement. Make sure the 3/4" gravel is not recycled crushed concrete, make sure when they backfill they do it in 12" lifts and use a jumping jack for compaction. If you really want peace of mind that it is water tight, tell them you want it vacuum tested, 7 psi for 15 minutes.

Or send me a PM and I'll come put it in for you one weekend when you're ready.

Great feedback and I appreciate it. I have to research a few of the products you recommended, but I think I generally get it. I was going to silicon any seams from the inside as well. However, the products you recommended are probably better and the method is better. I like the stone idea too.

Do you know what their warranty is off the top of your head?

[Lone Sailor]

Overrated.


Just kidding. Good luck with that though. Post pics when it's all done, or even during the building process if you can, I would enjoy seeing how they are building them these days.

[ceyko]

Overrated.


Just kidding. Good luck with that though. Post pics when it's all done, or even during the building process if you can, I would enjoy seeing how they are building them these days.

I'll do that just for my own records too. Honestly, I'm thinking prefab at this point though and the process seems simple. Dig hole...drop it in...fill-in...etc. Not quite like dropping a onion bulb in, but similar.

[Denny]

Have you looked into the concrete canvas shelters?

http://www.concretecanvas.co.uk/

[ceyko]

Have you looked into the concrete canvas shelters?

http://www.concretecanvas.co.uk/

So, no. That stuff looks really cool though.

For an F4/F5 though I'd prefer underground and for my own preference I'd prefer actual concrete.

The above ground stuff, I just don't trust it holding up against a car being slung across the yard at however fast. The storm rooms that are above ground would be a lot easier to deal with - just not as safe.

However, glad you posted that. I can think of a million residential things it would be useful for - assuming not overly expensive. I saw some of the military uses too. I remember them refilling sandbags every month - I'd imagine that and other things it helps with.

[Denny]

So, no. That stuff looks really cool though.

For an F4/F5 though I'd prefer underground and for my own preference I'd prefer actual concrete.

The above ground stuff, I just don't trust it holding up against a car being slung across the yard at however fast. The storm rooms that are above ground would be a lot easier to deal with - just not as safe.

However, glad you posted that. I can think of a million residential things it would be useful for - assuming not overly expensive. I saw some of the military uses too. I remember them refilling sandbags every month - I'd imagine that and other things it helps with.

Actually, I'm looking into one of these. Putting in 1/2 way under and covering it with enough soil to make it look like a hill. grass and other vegetation will grow over it in no time.