[sparkyprep]

Ok, so my wife and I have been talking about a new home construction project. Our well pump house is currently a concrete block shelter 5'X10' with a wood framed roof. It was built by my great grandfather in 1940's, and is falling apart. The block grout lines are cracking, blocks are shifting, and the roof leaks.

Being a practical prepper, my new well pump house must serve double duty. Being a construction worker, with experience in industrial construction, I will do ALL the building myself, and our local laws allow for owner-builders in agricultural areas to build out buildings without a permit.

My plan is as follows-

The building will be expanded to 20' X 20', with block walls. To survive hurricanes, every block cell will be poured solid with concrete, with #5 rebar re-enforcing. The new roof will be poured solid 8" thick concrete with rebar re-enforcing. The well pump, and water softener system will set in a corner of the room. A sub-panel will be installed for power distribution to all electrical systems, with an external generator plug wired to the sub-panel. Lights, receptacles will of course be installed, and my chest freezers will be moved in here. I may add a block-out in one wall to install a window-shaker A/C for climate control. Floor will have a central drain to an outside ditch, and the floor will be painted with garage-floor coating from Home Depot. All of my food storage preps, camping and fishing supplies, and tools will be stored here. Several spare conduits will be installed for future installation of sprinkler controls, and internet cabling.

Anyone have any practical suggestions for anything I may have forgotten? Let me know what you think.

 

[BigCheeseStick]

Have you considered a solar panel setup for the roof? Or putting the generator up there in it's own dog house with an exhaust plumbed outside and through an additional Honda car muffler (help prevent theft and keep it up from flood damage). Were you planning for a garage door or something like a sliding barn door (Easier to reinforce)? A small steel door on the roof (available at industrial building supply or one from an abandon building)?

Just throwing some idea's out there.

 

[sparkyprep]

I was planning on a very heavy duty steel standard door, as I don't see moving anything very large in and out, being such a small room. The generator will be a small 5800w that will be stored inside the room, and wheeled out and plugged in after the storm.

 

[GTGallop]

Slab on grade?
Windows?
Door material?

 

[sparkyprep]

slab approx. 6" above grade. No windows, heavy steel industrial door with weather stripping

 

[Ripon]

Even if you don't do or want solar right now set the angles up so if solar is added the angle ( azimuth ) is perfect 180-188 degrees to the sun for optimal out put then.

Ok, so my wife and I have been talking about a new home construction project. Our well pump house is currently a concrete block shelter 5'X10' with a wood framed roof. It was built by my great grandfather in 1940's, and is falling apart. The block grout lines are cracking, blocks are shifting, and the roof leaks.

Being a practical prepper, my new well pump house must serve double duty. Being a construction worker, with experience in industrial construction, I will do ALL the building myself, and our local laws allow for owner-builders in agricultural areas to build out buildings without a permit.

My plan is as follows-

The building will be expanded to 20' X 20', with block walls. To survive hurricanes, every block cell will be poured solid with concrete, with #5 rebar re-enforcing. The new roof will be poured solid 8" thick concrete with rebar re-enforcing. The well pump, and water softener system will set in a corner of the room. A sub-panel will be installed for power distribution to all electrical systems, with an external generator plug wired to the sub-panel. Lights, receptacles will of course be installed, and my chest freezers will be moved in here. I may add a block-out in one wall to install a window-shaker A/C for climate control. Floor will have a central drain to an outside ditch, and the floor will be painted with garage-floor coating from Home Depot. All of my food storage preps, camping and fishing supplies, and tools will be stored here. Several spare conduits will be installed for future installation of sprinkler controls, and internet cabling.

Anyone have any practical suggestions for anything I may have forgotten? Let me know what you think.

 

[HuntingHawk]

What is you plan if the well needs pulled like having the foot valve go bad?

 

[sparkyprep]

The actual well will be outside the building, just the pumping equipment will be inside.

 

[Rigged for Quiet]

One way in and one way out?

 

[sparkyprep]

One way in and one way out?

Yes, this is a shelter from storms, not attack, plus, its a storage shed.

 

[Rigged for Quiet]

Yes, this is a shelter from storms, not attack, plus, its a storage shed.

I get that, but would sugest having your door open inward and have adequate bracing from inside. Storms produce debris which can block doors.

 

[PaulS]

I might recommend that your floor drain go into a pipe that empties out some distance down-hill from the shed to prevent flooding in the building from high water outside.
Since this is both a storage shed and a storm shelter having the door open inward is a good idea but you might consider slide-in 2 x 4 bracing on the inside that would keep the door from being forced open from debris in the storm.

 

[paraquack]

I'm envious for numerous reasons. Good luck. Please post pix when you're done.

 

[sparkyprep]

I'm envious for numerous reasons. Good luck. Please post pix when you're done.

Just in the planning stages right now, drawing up detailed plans, looking for problems. But, of course I will add pics once construction begins.

 

[Go2ndAmend]

Depending on your use, a sink is a handy thing to have also. At least plumb in the drain and a water inlet so you can install one in the future if needed. Sounds like a great shelter you are building.

 

[sparkyprep]

I might recommend that your floor drain go into a pipe that empties out some distance down-hill from the shed to prevent flooding in the building from high water outside.
Since this is both a storage shed and a storm shelter having the door open inward is a good idea but you might consider slide-in 2 x 4 bracing on the inside that would keep the door from being forced open from debris in the storm.

There is no such thing as "downhill" where I live LOL. I hope that being 6" above grade, that this will prevent most flooding.