How to Build an Above Ground Storm Shelter

We have seen it in the news recently about the rise of tornadoes and just how deadly they can be. Being able to have a shelter against these deadly natural occurrences can literally safe your life as well as the lives of your loved ones. A concrete storm shelter is the easy solution to keeping your family safe. Besides tornadoes, the above ground storm shelter will protect you against hurricanes.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring Tape
• Shovel
• Concrete
• Nails
• 2 x 4's
• Plywood
• Saw
• Rope
• Pulley
• Concrete Screws
• Drill
• Paper
• Pencil
• 1/4" Thick Sheet of Metal
• (2) Handle
• (16) Angled Brackets
• Sliding Door Tracking
• Latching Mechanism

Instructions

1. Determine the size of the shelter you wish to build and design it on your paper. Make certain you include a doorway.

2. Dig a hole that is a foot deep, making sure it is level and to the total area of your design.

3. Measure out the height and width of your shelter and cut the 2 x 4 beams and plywood to match.

4. Build three wall frames out of the wood you just cut by nailing one sheet of plywood to the 2 inch thick ends of the 2 x 4 beams for every 1 foot of length of your wall and flip and repeat for the other side. Add end caps to the frames.

5. Build your wall with the door in the same manner as the other three walls, but you will have two smaller halves instead of one larger one.

6. Create your ceiling frame the same exact way as the walls but leaving one side of plywood off as the ceiling will be made laying flat on the ground.

7. Arrange your walls in your hole making sure the frames are flush together.

8. Use a mallet and hammer the frames into the dirt about 1 to 2 inches.

9. Mix the concrete according to the directions.

10. Pour the concrete into your frames filling them to about 1 inch shy of the top.

11. Wait the time specified in the directions before checking to make sure the concrete is dry. If not, give it an extra day or two. When finally dry use a crow bar and remove the wood from the concrete.

12. Pour concrete into the hole to make a floor and add stabilization to the walls.

13. Attach the ropes and pulley to the ceiling piece and hoist up and into place on top of the walls.

14. Install the angled brackets with concrete screws where the ceiling meets the walls, two on each corner and two on the seems where the walls connect.

15. Measure your finished doorway and have the sheet metal cut to match the height, shy several inches and the width elongated by ten inches.

16. Fasten the handles to the sheet metal along with one half of the latching mechanism.

17. Install the sliding door track to the ceiling and floor with concrete screws according to the instructions, but so that they are on the inside of the shelter.

18. Affix the second half of the latch mechanism to the concrete wall then place the door onto the track.

Tips & Warnings

• Always check and double check your measurements.

• There are companies that make fabricated shelters you can buy and build for under $3,000.00.

• If your walls are not flush together it is easier to make your hole bigger.

• When working with any power tool or construction equipment always observe proper safety.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish