Retreat plans? Free ones available?

[Ak_guy]

Anyone have a source of some free retreat plans? I am really looking at a in-ground storm shelter/ gun room / shtf hole-up place. My house is located on a hill and I figured I could make it on the back side of my garage. My main issue is worry about moisture, sweating of the walls. I am on a hill so most water should run down-hill but I am still worried about sweating of the walls.


Also, anyone know what the cost of a typical concrete storm shelter runs? If fiberglass cheaper? I have seen them also.

[308/223shooter]

Howdy. Depending on how high your water table is, you could probably construct a good shelter out of reinforced concrete for the floor, ceiling and walls, and use a non-permeable insulation barrier to help with the moisture problem. Also, if you use enough sand and gravel below the floor and walls, that would help to keep water from sitting against the concrete. If you can give the water a place to drain away to in a hurry, the less time it has to wick through the floor and walls. You didn't state how much grade you have to your hill side. A good steep grade works quite well. Also keep in mind that if you plan on staying inside for a while, air gets stale real fast. A ventalation system is a must to circulate air for breathing and to reduce the chance of mold forming. I've spent some tome staying in a soddy, dug into the side of a hill, and mold and mildew is a real problem. Somewhere I have some old Mother Earth News and American Suvival Guides. They have some great articles on survival housing. I'll try and dig up a couple.[ No pun intended. ] Shooter.

[Imaexpat2]

I saw at one time, a plan that used a section of 10' in diameter corrigated culvert that had the ends sealed up as a storm room/bunker. It looked pretty functional and cheap. Once a floor was put in, you still had stand up walking clearence, additionally the guy had made the floor in sections that could be pulled up and had stored supplies there. Bunks were installed running with the culvert to provide sleeping accommodations. The bathroom facilities were at one end and the kitchen area was at the other with living areas in the middle of the two. I was impressed on how something so ghetto could be so simple, cheap and workable.

I liked it so much I am planning to put 2 or 3 of these set ups on my property as additional accommodations should the SHTF and I find myself needing some additional living space for others. Untill then I will just use them for stroage space as needed.

I cant remember the link but if I can get my old computer to reboot...I think I might still have the link available to it and I will post it if I can find it.

[Ak_guy]

How much does 10' culvert usually run?? Use it as a form, put it in the ground, seal the ends and pour concrete around it. If it rusts out then no problem. If the culvert is decently priced then it'd be a good deal.

I am looking at a rough-hewn cabin-type thing mainly.



I saw at one time, a plan that used a section of 10' in diameter corrigated culvert that had the ends sealed up as a storm room/bunker. It looked pretty functional and cheap. Once a floor was put in, you still had stand up walking clearence, additionally the guy had made the floor in sections that could be pulled up and had stored supplies there. Bunks were installed running with the culvert to provide sleeping accommodations. The bathroom facilities were at one end and the kitchen area was at the other with living areas in the middle of the two. I was impressed on how something so ghetto could be so simple, cheap and workable.

I liked it so much I am planning to put 2 or 3 of these set ups on my property as additional accommodations should the SHTF and I find myself needing some additional living space for others. Untill then I will just use them for stroage space as needed.

I cant remember the link but if I can get my old computer to reboot...I think I might still have the link available to it and I will post it if I can find it.

[Jim West]

How much does 10' culvert usually run?? Use it as a form, put it in the ground, seal the ends and pour concrete around it. If it rusts out then no problem. If the culvert is decently priced then it'd be a good deal.

I am looking at a rough-hewn cabin-type thing mainly.

Ive been trying to find a price myself. Heres a link to what expat was talking about.


http://waltonfeed.com/old/cellar3.html
The Granddaddy Of All Underground Storage Areas

[Imaexpat2]

Thanks for the back ground assitance Bro'. I just researched on the web and finally found it and was about to posted but you beat me to it! That indeed is the link I was talking about.

I have worked in the military with explosives for years, 21 to be exact and many of our bunkers amount to little more than quanson huts of galvanized metal with about 12 inches of concrete and covered in 24-30" of dirt. Moisture was never an issue, even in northern costal Washington! Then again they werent heated either...but the temp was rarely below 55-60 degrees inside depending on the time of the year (summer vs winter) whether the outside temp was 20 degrees or 90 degrees.

[Jim West]

Expat are you still typing with the original tenpack? Ive known some EOD guys. Ive seen the old huts up close. I did not know you could cover them in(type of?) concrete. My dad buried some in theater during the Vietnam mess. But he did not go into detail. Man I would love to find some older milsurp huts. They would make great storage. And as to the thanks bro. You are most welcome. Just curious. Expat from where? We get a number of brits in my general ao. Jim

[Goldenspurholderx2]

Those plans look good. I wonder what kind of diameter you would need to make an EMP resistant, under ground garage?