root cellers

[user 6493]

I am thinking about building one.it does not have to be large,maybe 10 x 6 or 10 x 8 I am thinking of digging a pit about 3 ft deep and coming above ground with 4 course of concrete block and then put a roof on it and back fill and cover with a minimum of 18 inches of dirt,,,,,

 

[Maverick]

I am thinking about building one.it does not have to be large,maybe 10 x 6 or 10 x 8 I am thinking of digging a pit about 3 ft deep and coming above ground with 4 course of concrete block and then put a roof on it and back fill and cover with a minimum of 18 inches of dirt,,,,,

I would put about 4" of pea gravel on top of your sealed roof then add 18" of ground cover. that would help moister flow between roof and dirt and help keep it cooler.

 

[Brent S]

I am thinking about building one.it does not have to be large,maybe 10 x 6 or 10 x 8 I am thinking of digging a pit about 3 ft deep and coming above ground with 4 course of concrete block and then put a roof on it and back fill and cover with a minimum of 18 inches of dirt,,,,,

Look up my posts on building one. I put it in and then got busy and really haven't done anything with it in a while. I'm afraid to open it and see what it's like inside. I have a feeling it will be covered in mold. I'll post what I find in the next couple days on it for ya. The biggest thing to consider is moisture build up.

 

[user 6493]

Look up my posts on building one. I put it in and then got busy and really haven't done anything with it in a while. I'm afraid to open it and see what it's like inside. I have a feeling it will be covered in mold. I'll post what I find in the next couple days on it for ya. The biggest thing to consider is moisture build up.

my main concern is digging DOWN 3 ft and it holding water

 

[Brent S]

my main concern is digging DOWN 3 ft and it holding water

I ended up cutting into a hillside to advoid that issue. I agree that just digging a hole in the ground isn't the best way to keep things dry. If you don't have hills you could even build a mound over your structure.

 

[Mountain trapper]

The plans for my new house calls for a 10'×20' root cellar under the house. It will be accessed from the outside. Originally I was going to dig one in to the bank near the house, but I'd have to cut too many big trees.

 

[Brent S]

One thing to consider is access from inside the house. If there is an emergency and you need shelter fast, going outside isn't a great plan. My cellar is about 50ft from the back door. If there's a tornado going outside is the last place you want to go.

 

[Maverick]

If you have a small creek, you can build a springhouse over it with the floor cut enough to expose the creek (floor should almost be on the creek) along with heavy white walls and roof, the creek should help keep it cooler. It's old school.

 

[Brent S]

If you have a small creek, you can build a springhouse over it with the floor cut enough to expose the creek (floor should almost be on the creek) along with heavy white walls and roof, the creek should help keep it cooler. It's old school.

The water here is in the high 50's year round. I've seriously thought about running it through a truck radiator and using a fan to cool the house. Not sure if it would condensate and add too much moisture in the house or not though. I have too many projects going to start another right now though.

 

[user 6493]

this would solve all my problems

 

[Brent S]

View attachment 6885 View attachment 6886
this would solve all my problems

That puppy looks heavy!

 

[user 6493]

That puppy looks heavy!

precast concrete I am sure it is heavy

 

[Mountain trapper]

One thing to consider is access from inside the house. If there is an emergency and you need shelter fast, going outside isn't a great plan. My cellar is about 50ft from the back door. If there's a tornado going outside is the last place you want to go.

Good point. The design of the house would make it difficult to put the stairs inside. We don't get tornadoes here. But there's always the possibility of grass and forest fires during the summer. The only problem that I see with having the entrance outside is that the snow will need to be shoveled away from the doors.

 

[Brent S]

precast concrete I am sure it is heavy

Have you considered a precast septic tank? There not too expensive and they deliver them.

 

[user 6493]

Have you considered a precast septic tank? There not too expensive and they deliver them.

yes I have,I just need to find a dealer close by

 

[Brent S]

yes I have,I just need to find a dealer close by

Just go through the company that makes them. If you go thru a septic installer he would just mark it up. One thing to consider too is if your ground it really wet, these things can float. They are designed to be filled with fluid, but empty they could potentially float up out of the ground.

 

[toexist]

View attachment 6885 View attachment 6886
this would solve all my problems

This is a beautiful thing. I'm just curious but is this intended to be used as a smaller bunker/living space or storage unit? Also how much does that particular unit cost?

 

[user 6493]

This is a beautiful thing. I'm just curious but is this intended to be used as a smaller bunker/living space or storage unit? Also how much does that particular unit cost?

it is a storm cellar,but it would serve double duty as a root cellar also

 

[toexist]

it is a storm cellar,but it would serve double duty as a root cellar also

I see...do u have an idea how much something like that unit would cost installed?

 

[user 6493]

I see...do u have an idea how much something like that unit would cost installed?

the unit itself is under $4000.00, installation will very depending on your location

 

[user 6493]

the unit itself is under $4000.00, installation will very depending on your location

http://www.texasshelters.com/

 

[toexist]

http://www.texasshelters.com/

Thanks Ghost.

 

[user 6493]

anything to help

 

[Brent S]

I had a pleasant surprise today! I opened up my root cellar/shelter for the first time in probably 9 months. I was expecting a blue green mold monster to jump out at me and attack, but it was in really good shape. The cardboard jar boxes were kind of rough, but everything else was in good shape and dry. I probably have barely over a thousand dollars in the whole project, but a lot of labor.

 

[Brent S]

This is where I will store the potatoes soon.

 

[user 6493]

This is where I will store the potatoes soon.

is it into a hillside or under ground

 

[Brent S]

is it into a hillside or under ground

This is cut into a hillside and then reburied, except for the front of course. It does really well with holding a cool temperature. Not as good as a fridge, but pretty good for no electricity.

 

[Maverick]

Very very Nice Brent, hey Ghost, Brent has the project of building this somewhere on this site w/pictures, I think like two years ago

 

[Maverick]

Ah found it...

http://doomsdayprepperforums.com/index.php?threads/under-ground-shelter-root-cellar.4895/