Storm Shelters Constructing Process You Ought to Know
Our clients at our storm shelter company in OKC often ask us why we don't sell concrete shelters or fiberglass or when they're comparing different options.
Concrete blocks are still used by homebuilders and homeowners to construct safe rooms. Our clients and their families are at risk when they try to save money by not purchasing a steel shelter.
Concrete storm shelters require 8" thick walls and concrete with a minimum strength of 4,000 PSI, reinforced every 12". Unless you do this, your shelter won't be able to withstand strong wind forces of hurricane and tornado.
Storm shelters Made of Fiberglass
There are several advantages to using this type of material for storm shelters: they are less expensive, lighter, and easier to shift from one place to another, and they are durable for over 500 years! It's impossible for a human being to live for that long. They do, however, have a number of drawbacks. This causes water leaks and mold growth over time. In addition, spider cracks tend to form due to the fluctuation of ground temperatures and changing earth conditions. A fiberglass unit will prematurely fail over time. Water pressure has also caused fiberglass shelters to float, according to reports.
A Storm Shelter That Isn't Properly Anchored
Steel-reinforced units with strong steel frames are the only ones we use at EF5. An epoxy resin and corrosion inhibitors such as "sacrificial" anodes are used to protect the unit if it will be buried.
Iron rods secure all of our underground shelters, and five cubic yards of concrete are placed around their perimeter to prevent them from "floating" out of the ground in the event of a flood.
In some cases, storm shelters aren't properly anchored. A Safe Shed storm shelter is anchored at all four corners to prevent it from sliding if it's hit by heavy debris after installation. Using an auger, the installer will dig a 4' deep hole at each corner of the shelter if it is installed directly on the ground or on a gravel pad. Thereafter, a 4'-long steel anchor is lowered into the hole and backed up with cement to hold it in place. A strong anchoring system for storm shelters is created.
When a storm shelter is not properly anchored, it puts everyone's lives at risk. Don't take shortcuts when it comes to securing and installing your equipment. A "do-it-yourself" storm shelter can be installed in your garage with little effort. A shelter that is improperly installed or placed on non-reinforced concrete, however, may prove to be useless when you most need it. Contact us at EF5 Tornado Shelters in OKC if you wish to choose a credible storm shelter company.