This is a video of a guy making a shelter out of a 20' Shipping container. He uses a reinforced concrete roof for the shelter and leaves a space around the buried shelter. It might be worth watching to get some ideas of what you need to do. You might need to have a second way out too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3EAJex1RVo&feature=fvsr
I'm not paranoid, but I do enjoy homes with basements, and an addition off of that would be great. I think everyone could use extra storage space. If I were going to build a new home I would be tempted to have some sort of secure area off of the basement. In the last several years we in the south have had more than our share of tornadoes, and some have been within miles of my home. I have had to run a de-humidifier in a basement in the past, and provisions would have to be made for it to be pumped up to grade to drain.
If it were me, and tornadoes were the primary concern, I'd build it out of preformed or poured concrete. You said you had slope on the plot so I'm assuming drainage and water table aren't a concern. even if it is you can put a french drain around it. It could also double as a root cellar.
As for moldy, tornado warnings don't usually last more than what, 15 minutes? I can live with moldy that long. Besides, they do make dehumidifiers.
They say everything happens for a reason. For me that reason is usually because I've made some bad decisions that I need to pay for.
An escape door would be good. A buried culvert pipe coming out a couple hundred ft. out in the woods could be advantageous in case you were trapped. Could allow you to get away unseen or get the drop on aggressors from behind and under cover.
I know some people down south of me burying them in the ground and stocking them with food and ammo. Don't know all the details as how it was done and what precautions they took.
Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most. - Mark Twain.
Why not put in a suspended garage floor, that way you'll have concrete on the floor, walls and ceiling. Requires thicker garage floor and more reinforcing, but would be much better than burying steel that is exposed to dirt. I'm assuming you'll be putting a basement in this house. I know some parts of the country don't have basements in their houses, so if thats the case, a suspended floor won't be an option.
This is a video of a guy making a shelter out of a 20' Shipping container. He uses a reinforced concrete roof for the shelter and leaves a space around the buried shelter. It might be worth watching to get some ideas of what you need to do. You might need to have a second way out too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3EAJex1RVo&feature=fvsr
Didnt read the whole thread, but if you notice in the clip, they didnt backfill around the sides of the container. It will not withstand the horizontal pressure. We've all seen trucks, hauling the containers, and the sides of the container were bulging out. That was cause from pressure from the inside. Now the earth on the outside will do the same thing, only it will probably be worse. Not saying it will collapse the side walls, but they wont be straight. Given a few years of rust, and they will eventually collapse, if backfilled.
Old Turd- Deplorable- Unrepentant Murderer- Domestic Violent Extremist
A friend of mine buried one, just about... The roof buckled before he could finish the job. I think the frame of the box can take the load but the coregated steel of the roof aren't designed to support, just enclose...
The sidewalls aren't designed to hold back the dirt. They are designed for vertical loads but not horizontal. I think it would be a big problem for you.
I wanted to do the same thing. The experts said No.
Thank you for the info. That is the kind of info I was hunting. I may have to seek another avenue if I wish to have some sort of shelter.
had a pard that used two of them to make an underground shooting range, don't think he buried them very deep, but do know he buried them and think I'd have heard about it if they'd caved in.
I'm pretty certain when we sing our anthem and mention the land of the free, the original intent didn't mean cell phones, food stamps and birth control.
Previous responders have pointed out that the walls are not designed to sustain horizontal loading and the roof is not designed to sustain vertical loading. If you want a bunker, then build it right, out of reinforced concrete. Waterproof the walls, roof & floor and make sure you have good ventilation. Don't have to worry about heating or cooling because the thermal inertia of the earth will keep the bunker at 55�F 24/7.
KC
Wind in my hair, Sun on my face, I gazed at the wide open spaces, And I was at home.
