Not sure either, I think you will get some good input here!! WELCOME, why not introduce yourself on "new member introductions", glad to have you aboard!What would you advise as a route to put up tornado shelter/root cellar cheap?
Something that also wouldn't take forever to build. I'd be doing it alone, stronger than average woman but no construction experience, except would hire for excavation.
I've been thinking of using earthbags and building it halfway underground, but this probably will take a long time, not sure hnow long realistically this should take.
They sell those metal box shelters that cost 5K-7K, but this is quite expensive.
What would you advise as a route to put up tornado shelter/root cellar cheap?
Something that also wouldn't take forever to build.
You go girlsEarth bags would work, I have seen pictures and designs of root cellars using them. Someone in Nova Scotia made one out of old tires packed with dirt, but my understanding is that was a heap more effort and time than they were expecting it to be.
A few things to think on;
Look into your ground water levels and drainage etc. If unsuitable for digging down there are many above ground root cellar plans out there as well.
As a woman who also does all my own construction, and started with not enough knowledge and experience, keep in mind it is going to take longer than you want. Progress will be slower than you wish. Not matter which method of building you choose. But just stay stubborn and stick to the project, you'll get there. And you'll get faster as things progress.
What would you advise as a route to put up tornado shelter/root cellar cheap?
Something that also wouldn't take forever to build. I'd be doing it alone, stronger than average woman but no construction experience, except would hire for excavation.
I've been thinking of using earthbags and building it halfway underground, but this probably will take a long time, not sure hnow long realistically this should take.
They sell those metal box shelters that cost 5K-7K, but this is quite expensive.
They have more than one great book, but I agree that is the best & everyone should read it that store winter vegetables, even without a root cellar. A old refrigerator or plastic 55gallon drum can keep root or winter squash from freezing. the temperature chart is golden by it self.very first thing to do is read this book...root cellaring by mike and nancy bubel
years ago i saw someone who built a sort of shelter-root cellar i thought was neat.. it was designed like earth bag shelter but he used bags of cement.
he dug down a bit a few feet and put a layer of cement bags down. i think he put some rebar here and there for stability. then he poked holes in the cement bags-soaked them very well with water and let them dry. then added another layer and repeated. after it dried good and cured he covered with some dirt-sod. i th nk his shape was more oval than round.
I'm living organic lifestyle and already have enviornmental illness from past chemical exposure.1 shipping container, around 2000$ or less.
Tar treatment of container around 100$
1 hole big enough to hold the container, whatever you can get it done for, make sure it drains well.
They have more than one great book, but I agree that is the best & everyone should read it that store winter vegetables, even without a root cellar. A old refrigerator or plastic 55gallon drum can keep root or winter squash from freezing. the temperature chart is golden by it self.
Earth bags would work, I have seen pictures and designs of root cellars using them. Someone in Nova Scotia made one out of old tires packed with dirt, but my understanding is that was a heap more effort and time than they were expecting it to be.
A few things to think on;
Look into your ground water levels and drainage etc. If unsuitable for digging down there are many above ground root cellar plans out there as well.
As a woman who also does all my own construction, and started with not enough knowledge and experience, keep in mind it is going to take longer than you want. Progress will be slower than you wish. Not matter which method of building you choose. But just stay stubborn and stick to the project, you'll get there. And you'll get faster as things progress.
My grandparents had a root cellar. It was built almost like a basement. The dirt that was removed from the ground was then put on top of the space. I believe that there were rafters at the top to hold the dirt up.
Honestly, I don't think there is an easy way to do this.
Some thing to consider is the water table in your area. Do people have basements? Do basements get water in them?
You mention metal boxes that people bury. I think you mean shipping containers. They do not have strength to hold up a dirt top. They will collapse. I could be wrong, but I think building a frame for concrete reinforced with rebar and metal wire reinforcement would be better. Cement blocks would be a way to do it yourself.
Yes, I considered fiberglass option. Some say they're fragile and not durable, but they're cheaper than metal or pre-cast concrete shelter and shouldn't block signals as much. I see, didn't know about those anchors - I heard of building a concrete slab under to prevent buoyancy, which seems like huge overkill to me.I don’t have any experience with these but fiberglass shelters would be more cost-effective and less time to install. A small backhoe would be used to dig the hole and place the unit in a few hours. There are loops on the bottom that they slide poles through to help anchor the unit in the ground and keep it from becoming buoyant with really wet ground.
https://www.integritystormshelters.com/storm-shelters/fiberglass-storm-shelter-models
I think I should hire someone with equipment to do excavation. Not sure though they can dig straight walls holes or such should be hand dug.Digging out your hole in the ground will be necessary, no matter what else you do. How deep you decide to go will be up to your back, your drive, your desire. Once you have the hole, you can decide from there. I do think if you start with dirt, you can change it up as time and money allow.
I don't think I need all the electrical and pumps setup, LOL. I will be fine without this. People did for centuries... Passive ventilation of course should be doneA "Root Cellar" is not MAGIC. "Most" root cellars do NOT work. In fact few actually work. You will need to run direct burial electric power to the root cellar. It is going to need sump pump, a dehumidifier, and a humidifier, an electric heat source, a cooling source, and a fresh air exchange ventilation system. At that point you may as well add electric lighting.
Note: If the "grid" goes down, you will have a deluxe mold/mildew factory.
The challenge with that would be the potential of water running into the hole in the ground when it rains and snows.And for safety of using bare earth walls hole I think the walls should be sloping away some to minimize collapse.
The old cellar schemes got the angle they used back then.
The challenge with that would be the potential of water running into the hole in the ground when it rains and snows.
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