Concrete block DIY Storm Shelter 12x20 foot

Early in 2012 I built a storm shelter for my family. It's a twelve by twenty concrete block structure designed to be bermed over. Total cost was just over $3,000.
I made a video to walk people through the process; I had never done anything with concrete before this project, so this video is designed to take a beginner and explain everything I had to learn in order to do this. Well, maybe not everything, but a lot - the important stuff. The version of the video here is only the first half. I'm selling the whole video, and plans, etc at my website: www.diystormshelter.com

[@6300994558419886]

You say you aren't an engineer, so you didn't build it like an engineer though you built it like a boss :) Good job.

[@davidbotkin6032]

Thanks!

[@samuel2875]

Kudos for the Video! Excuse me for chiming in, I would love your opinion. Have you thought about - Saankramer Debacle Collapse System (do a google search)? It is a good one off guide for learning how to conquer the coming world collapse without the headache. Ive heard some extraordinary things about it and my work colleague after many years got amazing results with it.

[@rafostraficak5424]

Great Video! Sorry for butting in, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you ever tried - Saankramer Debacle Collapse System (Have a quick look on google cant remember the place now)? It is an awesome one of a kind guide for learning how to conquer the coming world collapse minus the headache. Ive heard some decent things about it and my m8 got cool results with it.

[@blakeslocum2732]

Any chance I can get the rest of the video> haha

[@taylorvettory5270]

I have spent months studying survival and discovered a fantastic website SurviveWithFamily.blogspot.com

[@moisesfierro1538]

My friend. I am proud of you. The man has to do for his family, what he has to do and you did it very well. God bless you.

[@fistpunder]

For someone who never did mason work before, you really did your homework and a great job. I am thinking of a small shelter myself. I do not need the size you have but you gave me great tips.

[@superiorcarpetpaintllc4351]

LOL!

[@johngritman4840]

My experience: In CT I built a house with walls 8" thick and reinforced with rebar ONLY at the corners The walls sat on massive footings, the grade dropped 8' away from the house and the downspouts were led through 6" solid schedule 40 pipe to "the light". The foundation had weeper drains with perforated 4" schedule 40 pipe set on clean gravel, covered with silt cloth followed by 2' of pea stone and then back filled. House #2 in OH was built with block, otherwise the same. The foundations were waterproofed on the outside and painted with two coats of Ultra DryLok on the inside followed by 2 coats of highly reflective white paint on the inside. Worked very well, except OH, when we got the storm of the century - 8" in one week followed by 7" in less than 60 minutes! I went from one very dry basement to 2' of water in 17 minutes! The water came in the basement windows so fast that it moved a 5 gal. bucket of horseshoes and stakes 76'. House #3 in OH is built of poured concrete 8" thick, reinforced with rebar and has a brick pattern on both sides (steel forms). The outside was sprayed with one of those new rubberized compounds, covered with a fiberglass mesh, sprayed again and then insulated with rigid 4" Styrofoam on the outside only. By law, OH requires sump pumps. I have two with the second water powered. The basement stays warm and dry all year.

[@catherineburns425]

Do u live in fla, and are u the builder who's house still standing after major hurricane that , if I remember correctly was in panhandle. Because if u are so many people were amazed. I could go on ! Hope and pray people listen to your recommendations

[@strategicprepper2648]

This is EXACTLY what I have envisioned for me and just started my research. Thank you. THANK YOU. You saved me so much work and have given me great encouragement.

[@lmccluer]

Imagine my surprise when I found out it would cost $10 to get more info. I don’t think so when there are several mistakes he made in the build. First if some one lives in earthquake areas, the rebar needs to be bent to go up into the wall, tying it in to the wall. You also need to have “L” shaped rebar from the wait into the top. And it wouldn’t hurt to put rebar vertically through the wall blocks themselves to hold the walls together. Sure it adds money, but keeping the walls together would save lives. Another even bigger mistake is not using sand in the concrete if you mix it yourself. Sand is what holds the cement mix together. I haven’t read all the former comments, but it seeks other people thought it was wrong for you to charge $14. After all, you could literally be saving life’s with the info.

[@MAGAMAN]

To get more info from someone who is NOT qualified to give that info. That makes it even better.

[@slanwar]

Plus for someone who lives in parts of the state with freezing temperatures the footing (foundation) needs to be 3 feet and not 8", not using rebar in the walls is a big mistake as well, also if the roof is covered with dirt then is more weight plus the weight of wet dirt when raining and some reinforcement would be safer.

[@samtatenumber1]

@@slanwar wait he didnt put rebar inside of the concrete blocks? i though that was basically required if you want it to last a week

[@komoru]

You do realize that he built it for HIS circumstances and not for every single possible environmental/geological hazard. He never said his construction plans are universal. He even said to consult with a local structural engineer. For $10 it's well worth it to give you an overview of the process and see what's wrong and then have a better idea what you're getting into and I'd rather give $10 to get an overview of the process and learn from someone else's mistakes than to make all those mistakes myself.

[@MrNastytrucker44]

$10 per view of his plans... seems like someone is trying make his storm shelter into a profitable venture. Plans and requirements are all available online for free as they should be for a life saving feature of your home. It's just hard to sift through all the ads and 🐂💩 to find the free info.

[@davidhuett3579]

It never ceases to amaze me how Americans are always trying to work out how to make a buck! Having said that, this guy is 'saving' you the time and effort of having to work out all the details, by providing all the information he spent a LOT of time gathering, into a single package you can download for $$$. If you don't consider YOUR time is worth anything ... don't buy it!!

[@seaskimmer]

I'm not an expert builder but I am expert in getting people to watch part of a video and paying to watch the rest.

[@michaelmathis1961]

To handle the extra concrete that will be left over, make some forms for sidewalks, planters, etc. where you can use the surplus. You can make the sidewalk forms like a box which will give you a smooth bottom and a top. Be sure to place rebar in it to keep it from breaking. You can make them at different lengths and use them as paving stones later.

[@Rejoice1631]

Well done, good sir, WELL DONE.!.!.! And you say that you aren't an engineer.. BAH, you sure researched it like one.!.!.!.! Gratz on the build.!.!.!

[@grindus24]

80 bucks a yard for concrete is 1983 pricing

[@KTSLAY]

It's about 350-400 a meter³ on western Canada

[@josephastier7421]

100 bucks a yard for concrete (3k, 3/4") is 2021 pricing.

[@frankh.3849]

Lol I wish we still had 2019 prices 🤣😂

[@tedhart4468]

I haul ready mix for a living it’s up to 179 a yard for 3000 sog grade as of 3/2022

[@vincentfreeman2593]

@@tedhart4468 that's insane

[@nephilimborn]

Great video I'm in the process of starting my shelter and I've done all the research you've mentioned. Yet still learned alot thank you 😊

[@2003Harleyguy]

Plenty of haters here for some reason but for 3k, not bad. Thanks for the info

[@johnhare513]

Oh, and rebar should be sticking out of the foundation to anchor the walls . fill the cavity of the block where the rebar runs up the walls. allow enough rebar to anchor the roof slab too. Just saying...

[@bassomatic1871]

That is how houses in South Florida used to be built in the 50s and 60s. The roof system was tied into the foundation via rebar running up through the concrete block walls. Not many of those type of build were total losses during Hurricane Andrew; unlike the newer stick/frame tract house subdivisions which were completely demolished by the storm.

[@Anjanya1948]

Does rebar come with a loop on the end to make it an anchor?

[@Anjanya1948]

@@bassomatic1871 I wonder if I got rebar here? House built 1973

[@bassomatic1871]

@@Anjanya1948 Go into the attic and look where the roof trusses meet the sill plate at the top of the exterior walls. If you see metal banding or hooks where the two come together then the house is tied into the foundation.

[@Anjanya1948]

@@bassomatic1871 tyvm

[@dmwi1549]

This popped up in my YT feed following the recent December 2021 storms. Thanks!

[@fistpunder]

That was a nice gift from your fellow Church member. $300 for an 8 hour day including a backhoe. WOW!!!! You must be good friends.

[@alexgulino335]

+James Demos nah good friends would at most do it for cost...I charge nothing when doing trade work for friends.

[@fistpunder]

A good friend would always insist on paying me when I helped him. He said, it was mostly selfish, "I want to be able to call on you again if I need you" Yeah, he gave me three times what I asked for. So you have a good point.

[@lejink]

You're not an expert, you had no experience prior to building this, but you want us to pay for your video? This is all information you learned just from online research, which anyone can do for free. I don't mind watching it on your website so you get the ad revenue... $14 bucks to learn from an amateur though?

[@Osiwan960]

well said sir

[@nachtderuntoten7120]

Dee Jay lol easy, don't buy.. no need to complain about the price if you know you can search it online.. why even bother comment about the price in the first place.. by the way, he did not force you to buy it? no? lol

[@melbournaut]

@@nachtderuntoten7120, I like his comment. It was exactly what I was thinking. I was also found it interesting to learn that this guys delusions run to the tune of $14. I hope he gives some of the proceeds to the suckers he got to help him build that thing

[@korlimservices4180]

@@nachtderuntoten7120 dj is not commenting about the price...lol. the remark made is about the video he put out there for sale. And i agree on that. cuz its free to make any comment on the video. No one is forced to buy, but we r all forced to speak out our opinion right ? lol !! Good try though David Botkin, only a fool wont understand this .

[@tonyvort3881]

DJ is right. Why is the creator of this video trying to profit from it? What ever happened to free knowledge. But for those who dont want to pay theres plenty of DIY on KZbin. For free.

[@lanceehansen]

I live in California. The way you built this shelter is a death trap. Any lateral movement and it will collapse. You need rebar every 32" bent up out of the slab and into the blocks with vertical rebar continuing up and bent into the roof concrete. Horizontal rebar every other row wired to the verticals making a rebar box encased inside the concrete . The block would have to be 100% fill with a pea gravel mix. and don't tell me it can't happen in the Midwest, there was a 5.0 last week in Kansas. The largest earthquake ever recorded was in the boot area of Missouri. Your type of structure is why buildings collapse in Mexico and elsewhere.

[@davidbotkin6032]

I've lived in earthquake prone areas before, and you are right, mine isn't designed with earthquakes in mind. If you live somewhere with earthquakes, then get an engineer to design something that WILL be safe. You didn't see the rest of the video, but all block cores were filled with 4KSI 'crete with fibers, and nearly all columns had rebar in them. Could we have a 'quake out here in TN? Yes. But at the exact same time we are having a tornado in our area? Um, no. I'm only in this thing when a tornado is active in our area.

[@lanceehansen]

I would think of a shelter like yours as storage on a day to day basis and shelter in an emergency.in any case I envy you. as here in santa ana california it would be very difficult for me to build anything. God bless.

[@alemalemayehu2799]

lance hansen

[@TheQuinian]

same is true in MT. The extreme cold will cause the dirt to crush his building.. this is freaking terrible and he charges people for the video

[@cheetobandido4242]

Good eye , no steel or concrete in center block No good

[@andrewminty]

Save money building your shelter by buying up all the torn open bags of sand, peat gravel, cement, etc at your local building supply if you have a dry place to store it. Just mix all that crap together and pour it into forms with some rebar. Just make sure the roof is well supported and don't skimp on cement then as you need a roof that can stand the test of time.I'd suggest an arched roof as they are fairly simple to do, and safer. The torn open bags are usually about 70% off, just have a good method of getting it home and into storage intact, and check back every week. They end up throwing most of it out as nobody wants to bother with it.

[@refusoagaino6824]

Fiber glass fibers (less than 1" long?) are the bomb. I put them into the mortar mix used to coat a cement block wall, both sides, one coat and 9 years later there is not a crack anywhere. You can't find one looking carefully. The cost of the whole 200' of 4 1/2 foot high wall was half a $18 box.

[@MrNicofrog]

fiber plastic or mullite fiber work just as well,and are a hundred times safer ,fiberglass is nasty stuff

[@Padoinky]

The amount of detail shared regarding the options assessed, decisions made, components selected and rational thereof, as just outstanding - great info and many thanks for sharing!

[@KeillorChristopher]

Lot of very good information and you talked instead of playing weird music thank you and I didn't know the water in concrete stayed there that never occurred to me thank you for this video

[@markbonham3477]

Wow Dave, these u-tubers can be brutal, well done research and hope all works out well for you and your family!

[@MAGAMAN]

Not if they have to use this death trap.

[@edwardjones9631]

Best way is all cast in place, reinforced structural concrete. In my past consulting business I detailed formwork drawings for many small town tornado shelters in Arkansas. Most were high school gymnasium sized structures with design engineered specs and drawings that would have multiple usage beneficial value. Those structures were totally above grade. Block masonry is more cost efficient but should be designed and constructed only by qualified professionals. Tornadoes vary in their wind velocity and safe shelters should always be built per applicable codes and specs! Shoring the elevated cip roof slab and the decentering ie extremely critical in releasing the properly cured slab to assume it's own load. If decentering process is not done correctly the whole roof slab could possibly and catastrophically collapse!! This is always critical on elevated floor slabs and cip slab and beam bridge structures. Use of a licensed structural engineer will also spec the rebar and the mix design specs for the whole project. An architect can also help you.

[@robw748]

If you wanna pay then pay. If you dont then dont. Remember that he done what he thinks is best for him. Codes are all different depending on where you live. It could even be different in each city in the same state, you will need to check for yourself. For me, im not gonna pay for something that i will still need to research and do for myself. Besides, your watching youtube right? There are a BUNCH of video's that show you how to do this step by step. Most people are to lazy to research and do stuff themselves. Stop trolling this man. Let him make a few bucks if he can. You dont wanna pay for this then DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND WORK.

[@techgeek1162]

Great job on first shelter building. Appreciate of all your effort to make the video for all novice people. GOD bless you.

[@Liofa73]

Tech Geek --- God won't bless him, mainly because god doesn't exist, but because he's charging his 'neighbours' $14 for advice when his neighbour kindly gave up his time for free excavation. If hell existed, this dude would be straight down to see Old Harry.

[@miker200711]

some of the ppl commenting need to take a breather. i don't know if he is missing any critical design points because he is not a "pro" but depending on the price, the info cd could be a useful introduction at least to the concepts involved. sometimes the "pros" are not that good at explaining what you want to understand when you build one of these or have one built, and you benefit from the perspective of a another "layperson" who went through the process. the info cd can be a starting point just for education, or if you choose you can follow the design, but it's nothing to lash out about.

[@DennisMilesEVprofessor]

Check for books from the cement institute for the best advice. We used their publications for references in the contractors license preparation class I took in 1990.

[@OldAngryNormie]

We aren't talking about building a bird house, this is a structure that is built out of and surrounded by materials that would easily crush a family if not properly constructed. And yes, during a storm is typically when the earth gets over-saturated and weighed down, so it would likely happen while being used for it's intended purpose. Judging by what was done in this video, I would feel safer under a wooden picnic table in the middle of a back yard than in that future rubble tomb being tossed together in this video.

[@Mike-rk6hw]

@@OldAngryNormie Not to mention a good earthquake might pancake that thing, with nothing holding the walls to the foundation other than the weight of the roof. There is no floor against the bottom of the wall and no rebar up through the wall so nothing holding the walls in place other than gravity.

[@handmadedome]

Well Done!! A 20 ft Diameter dome would accomplish the same goal and actually give you space for 30 people. I believe that structurally it would offer more protection in the event of high winds also. BEST

[@Nirrrina]

I agree that a storm shelter should be big enough to be comfortable. I also think that they should be able to be at least partially used as a root cellar/storage for important things like photos. I'd also want some animal cages as well for my cats and for any neighbors pets. Because you can pretty much guarantee I'd want it big enough to share. But barring all of that my 2 cats and I am perfectly happy to share with the spiders. Actually there wouldn't be spiders for long. My cat Micah thinks bugs are just moving kitty treats. My family on the other hand goes outside to watch for the storm. At least I have first dibs on the tub.

[@duffdoesstuff]

It's a great video. well done. I would like to see more....but I won't pay for it. at any rate....I appreciate this one.

[@johnniewalker7690]

duffdoesstuff 000

[@BrokenMonkeyProductions]

$14 for the video and plans is very reasonable in my opinion. The amount of research and time designing, and learning from mistakes is easily worth that. Knowing what not to do is sometimes as important as knowing what to do!

[@unkman1000]

He must not. Break it into parts. Everyone wins. Love your comment. I would never give him 14 bucks but I would watch and re-watch them to learn more. Good call

[@jasoneckhart1997]

A 2X4 will fly right through a concrete block. If you fill the blocks with mortar first it will be safer. The best thing to do is to pour the walls of solid reinforced concrete.

[@funkadelicvideogametechnol4903]

WOW! your talking my language. this is the best video I have seen for what I was looking for & looking to do. THANK YOU! It saved me lots of research time!

[@redraidermathias5439]

You realize that if you just post the whole video on here instead of charging $14, you'd probably made more via Google AdSense or whatever right?

[@unkman1000]

He must not. Break it into parts. Everyone wins. Love your comment. I would never give him 14 bucks but I would watch and re-watch them to learn more. Good call.

[@brantgrimes1]

Hope it doesn't flood, blocks should hold from cracking , of course it is not really underground so it should hold up good. Like the video. Great work in laying out concrete.

[@outbackcountry512]

Everything you talk about for concrete and block specs I learned about over 35 yrs ago in my Brick Layers course , with building a storm shelter like that , and pouring concrete , you also need to have proper forms (oiled type forms are only used ) and proper type of reinforcing steel . Ordinary rebar is not acceptable , must be coated or use Stainless Steel wire mats (4x8) or wire mess that has a coating not to allow rust to start, unfortunately less expensive products are available and used due to trying do it on the cheap. With over 38 years in construction industry from being Certified Bricklayer and Stone Mason , Certified as well for Blue Prints to Class 3 Tandem driver with 17 Ton cable Crane credentials , several flaws as well in your construction . Never build on side of a bank , Hydrostatic Pressure on 3 sides will cause Subsidence or moving of the structure for storm shelter , must be backfilled on all 4 sides and tamped the earth every 2 feet as well with Class A Gravels , redish clay or clay type soils for back fill allow for freeze thaw cycles , even with mildest winter climates, frost can occur at the most unforscene times , climates change without notice . Using Aggregate mixed type soils and tamped also allows for drainage away from structure and you also never used any drainage conduit around the structure , mould will occur even in block type structures without notice and the air will become stagnant and toxic . As I say I'm certified now 36 years and have built several these type structures of the same . Research is only small part , lits if wrong info as well on the internet . As for Engineers , well I'll leave it at that , they all have thier own versions of how it should be done , most could not mix cement in a wheel barrow. I might ad as well Today I work for a Brick and Block Manufacture , and filling the cores you must also vibrate the Concreate in order for proper Airation of it for proper and full PSI set up , not doing so can cause premature failure if the block due to inner hydrostatic pressures during cure time , I've seen several walls fail for lack of proper Airation of pouring Cement into cores and try to blame the block products , when in fact short cuts were taken

[@Bigsoot7393]

You don't need to use stainless steel, the rebar can't dust if it's incased in concrete there's no oxygen

[@outbackcountry512]

Best take a real good look next time a demo is done on aging concrete reinforced with steel , we live in Atlantic Canada , Everything rusts here . I can garantee there is rust and corrosion with in the concrete

[@Bigsoot7393]

@@outbackcountry512 yeah well I dunno maybe different over there? But steel needs oxygen to rust so if you fully encase steel in concrete it can't rust, maybe the snow can seep into the concrete I don't know

[@outbackcountry512]

Think for a minute , all concreate cracks at some point in any climate , allowing water and air to penetrate , hence rust issues, snow does not penetrate , but eater , earth shifting , natural settlement of ecavation . It all causes cracking at some point . Water , air both get inside plus concreate is pourous material .rust happens . Going on 38 yrs in Masonary Trade I believe I know what I'm talking about

[@Bigsoot7393]

@@outbackcountry512 if your concrete is cracking you are doing something wrong

[@maryrenaud6732]

Wow…very ambitious and impressive…10 Yrs later, how well has it held up? As it is now March 2022…thank-you.

[@kensterling5217]

I am a Master Builder with over 40 years of Coast to Coast experience. Most Contractors just have a Vague Idea on how to Build a Safe Room. In Most States the Building Codes are a Joke. Southern California and Vegas has the Best. If I wouldn't put my kids in there, I am Not Building it. The Safe Room Needs to be able to Withstand a Truck Smashing into it. I have been in F5 Tornadoes. You Need an Expert, and Good Luck with that.

[@highwayhypnosis8840]

I can’t believe this but I’m considering heading over to your website and paying.

[@familymatters2]

So you tell us not to go with your advice but you're selling it 😂😂

[@ignusa749]

the one thing you missed was tie of corners and tie of base to the blocks... and then there is the water soak issue on cinderblock.. and no rebar in the blocks... as well as roof tie to the walls.. things move and shift on these projects over time... also dome the top up a bit in the center for more strength... one of the cool things I have seen was the use of spray bed liner material to coat the inside of the blocks.. pain to deal with... but would be super nice if it would work for the outside of the slab and walls as well as the roof outside... some have tried membrane under the slabs... it works but mice and rodents can make a mess out of it!! hard to vent these if they sub grade level... you did well building in a bank... good for storms... make sure you have a good door that opens in that can never be blocked with trash from a storm.... this style is better for tornado shelter!!

[@rkb6783]

I am not an engineer... Or an expert ! Therefore when my family drowns in the structure I built... IT'S NOT MY FAULT ! Or gets impaled by flying objects ! Or gets sucked out ! Or ? Or ? Or ? HOW EVER LOOKS GREAT ! AND NOW I WANT ONE TOO ! THANKS FOR THE IDEAS & VISUALS !

[@bobbymega]

I've found some problems in this video. 1. First of all, if you live in a place like Moore Oklahoma we get a lot of floods, and building it in dirt makes it even worse and makes the storm shelter easy to pop out. 2.Do more research about tornadoes, you gotta know rather or not strong tornadoes hit that area often, even if it doesn't than you still gotta be safe from a tornado because after a few years of the tornadoes hitting the storm shelter it's going to pluck out of the ground and killed a women who was in her storm shelter during the Bridge Creek tornado this year because of floods. 3.If you're going to make a storm shelter, make a car port if you don't have a garage, that helped me during the May 6th 2015 outbreak where there was flash flood emergencies issued a lot.

[@superiorcarpetpaintllc4351]

Don't forget, the only purpose of a "storm shelter" is sheltering your family from a TORNADO with lots of high winds and plenty of rain, this shelter is a death trap, trees within 20 ft., that will snap and drop through his concrete roof like a knife through cardboard and then sitting at the bottom of a hill with no drainage and the only time you use it, is when it's raining like hell...What a maroon...(Bugs Bunny)

[@Agorante]

I think I'd take my $14.00 and buy a bus ticket to someplace where didn't have tornadoes.

[@Agorante]

***** I'm sorry I guess my point was too subtle for you. Every place has some sort of problem but some places more than others. Go ahead build you house on a flood plain. Almost no place in the US is in much danger of tornados - except this one.

[@caitleyneider7682]

If You Want To Build A Reliable Shed, You Need Knowledge of Foundations, Piling, Planning and More ... So I'm giving you a comprehensive "how-to" guide on the basics of woodworking. Go here ==> *WoodBlueprints. Com*

[@heru-deshet359]

I thought this was really a DIY video, not a nine minute commercial for a video you're selling. Thumbs down!

[@3nertia]

A thumbs down has the same effect as a thumbs up in KZbin's algorithm ...

[@JuanSumChninezeFue]

@@3nertia No fucks given has the same effect as fucks given in the Human Brain ...

[@unguidedone]

even viewing this little bit i know how the structure is made

[@msgottaneedtoknow]

I agree... I was disgusted and angry after taking the time to go to his website to see, what I was led to believe, a decent full video- not an advertisement to pay for it. Glorified carney move right there. 👎🏻

[@whyask8044]

@@msgottaneedtoknow but have you been able to find an alternative? any sources that shows you this type of work?

[@crosby3108]

This is awesome thanks for sharing the process and you experience level before you started

[@sleepy03]

Big neg for you, I wish I would have read the comments before watching your video.

[@davidtaylor9508]

I learned everything I need to know by reading the comments! :)

[@scar3xcr0]

Ive heard the best way to keep a storm shelter or bunk clean is to use it as a clubhouse/hangout space. Spiders and bugs are found and removed before there are to many and you get to use it the rest of the time for fun.

[@j.d.2703]

Nice shelter Dave.

[@robmorrow3458]

using regular rakes in concrete can leave week spots ..it pull the rocks separates it from the mix ..very nice structure ...

[@Manuel_Z_Kayaks]

If it's above ground it would have to be anchored pretty deep and I think every hole in the cinder blocks should have anchored rebar going from the slab all the way up to the roof and filled with concrete.

[@jilatinus]

I have worked for a concrete company for 10 years so I feel it necessary to advise that 3/4" plywood is not a good option for the form on the slab. Use a 2x8 or Form-A-Drain for a form and go to your local building materials store and buy steel stakes a $2.99 a piece. Finally, place your stakes 3-4ft. apart and drive your stakes so that it does not stick up past the top of the form board as you will use the top of the form to set your strike board so that you can even out the concrete.

[@clangerbasher]

Good video. I like laying concrete it becomes addictive. ;) How you go about things reminds me of how I approach my projects.

[@randyfin8751]

8 minutes I'll never get back!

[@refusoagaino6824]

Re-bar shouldn't be attached at 90 degrees, 180 degrees only. That's why the shape, it interlocks when encapsulated by concrete but held tightly together with wire, it can't slip. For a corner, bend a piece about 3' long to 90 degrees, and put one in each corner. Attach straight pieces to it. The re-bar shouldn't be rusty. Near salt air it's usually painted for that reason. Each gage # is 1/8" so a #4 is 4/8" inches or 1/2". # 5 is 5/8th etc.. I didn't know about the water and weight thing. We would have a short path, some patio stones formed or anything, to accept any excess concrete from our estimate.

[@stromboli2131]

Nicely made video.

[@Hyuts]

I still learned from this video so thank you.

[@scotmandel6699]

what not to do

[@tim4962]

I for one can't understand why there are so many evil people leaving nasty comments. I find this information helpful with my continue research. Also, anyone who attacks other people is not a nice person. One of God greatest commandment, love one another. All these bad comments only prove what I already believe that we are living in the last few years before the 2nd coming and many have sold their soul to Satan. So Sad! There is more to the $14.00 for those who truly understand that if your evil in your heart a shelter won't do you any good, you'll be destroyed before Christ 2nd coming. So you guys should learn to love one another as I pray for you who persecute this man for posting a great video. What a great starter video to get your thinking process going. Most will never build a shelter but will complain because putting down others makes them feel like there better and yet they shame their self in front of God. I pray that God will forgive those evildoers who put down anyone, instead of showing love. I for one am very grateful for the information package and have learned so much in the 5 years I purchased it. A great way to learn and get started. It is up to anyone to use common sense and continue research. Thank you, brother David Botkin, for the information, I'll be using it along with other research to complete an awesome underground shelter. God bless

[@josephastier7421]

You built a shelter-shaped object. I could tell you at least five mistakes you made, but will require payment of $14 first.

[@rv442conv]

Just a simple square box - teenager's could do this diy

[@superiorcarpetpaintllc4351]

@@rv442conv It could be that simple, except this guy built a storm shelter at the foot of a forrested hill... So what, right? First thing to consider is: 1. when will this square box be used? 2. What is the square box supposed to be used for? 3. Who will use this box for its intended purpose? Those are some very simple, basic questions, right? The square box will ONLY be used during extreme weather and is designed to protect his family from high winds, tornadoes and possible flash floods that may come down the hill along with trees that have blown down and the hillside terrain. Now, would you suggest that your loved ones climb into that tomb at the base of a hill or do you have a huge life insurance policy that you would like to collect from an accidental death in a tornado?

[@alaskadeepsurvival9973]

@@superiorcarpetpaintllc4351 he forgot the drainage pipe and gravel around the perimeter to keep water hydrasyse out from seeping in but hopefully he puts a pump in or some other drain system. But he did say he was on a budget.🤔

[@davidnapemaskwa7251]

I'll do it for $13.99 and I won't bore you with those mistakes!

[@kaptein1247]

@@davidnapemaskwa7251 I will do it for 13,98!

[@jimbojet8728]

3 x 3 x 3 is not a yard ! It is a cube of course. If you measured in yards or in metric measurements then your result would be in a m3 of ft or yds3. Cubed! Get it?

[@stacy4422]

as far as water proofing I'm going to use Ame's Blue Max, and for the bottom of the slab I will put down Black Visqueen . You just Roll The Blue Max on with a paint roller and you have water tight walls and roof!

[@butchtheiw]

That is some thin form board!! And not compacting your soil and then not using gravel under the concrete for drainage is a major no-no.

[@MostlyVintageVoices]

You could buy this guy's (who has no experience) video or you could just go to FEMA's website and download plans for a storm shelter (devised and tested by experts) for free.

[@MAGAMAN]

But being in a storm shelter designed by a greedy idiot makes the storms much more exciting.

[@certaindeed]

At first glance it looks like you put it too low below the bottom of hillside. The hillside is the best place for it and never straight down into level ground...but the bottom of the concrete floor pour should be at least 1 foot higher than the level ground at the bottom of the hill, with a bed of crushed stone and perf pipe underneath. I did not view your entire video on your site but I hope you put a lot of crushed stone and perforated pipes around the back and side walls of this. The hillside is the best place for this as you have a place to gravity the water, but the #1 thing about building this...especially with concrete block, is drainage.

[@daniele.f.2963]

Good introduction to much needed information. I'm not too skeptical because government involvement is not always necessary bc they go to the extreme and have a control issue.

[@maurasmith-mitsky762]

Wonderful presentation. Thanks. 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽❤️❤️❤️

[@curtdoe1755]

I agree burying sea cans can be extremly dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. It is possible but I would suggest if you choose to do that hire a construction company with experts to do it for you. Plus one thing you also mentioned is you would have to surround it with crushed rock or gravel to allow any water in the ground nearby to drain into a sump pit under your sea can to be pumped away or somehow drained away through gravity. Water is not a friend to metal underground.

[@billnict]

The only possible issue I can see with your design is I believe FEMA and Texas Tech recommends that with concrete block construction you fill the cavities with concrete and possibly reinforce with rebar. Did you do anything like that?

[@BiginAlabama]

I think its pretty sorry of you to charge people on your website for the full video. Knowledge of something like this should be something you would want to share with people for no other reason than it might save their life and the lives of their family and neighbors in the event of an emergency. Knowledge is power and should be free to all that seek it. Any good deed that at its core is tainted by the lust for money is no longer a good deed.

[@euroriderdk]

people are just greedy.

[@taliarose6573]

Euro Rider PEOPLE ARNT NATURALLY GREEDY, its the system they make us live in that makes us greedy, have you ever heard of the divide and conquer tactic. also people are a compassionate species, until this beast system came into effect along time ago. never heard of indians killing each other, except for self defense. also all the indigenous tribes, well the handfull that are left. before they came, we were in perfect harmony with earth. look at us now, they have our children kill for thier objectives, if anything people are weak minded.

[@euroriderdk]

***** ok I try again. Some people are just greedy. And you do not need to SHOUT, I do understand you even with normal letters.

[@taliarose6573]

Euro Rider sorry my mistake about caps, but what im trying to say is when we are born, most all of us, are not greedy. we are taught to capitalize, we are taught to be greedy. greed isnt a core instinct. greed is a learned ability. that is my belief, and what i see all day every day.

[@DieselRamcharger]

Bigin Alabama Thats why its free to go to college……

[@bassomatic1871]

I want to help my friend's and neighbors be safe in a tornado but you have to pay me first.

[@thecheapgamer9634]

So 8 years later are you still trying to sell it or do you want to let us watch it on your site with adds?

[@borisscott9156]

Nice work Bruh. Well laid out and user friendly. I'm sure you'll recoup the cost of your shelter plus a some extra.

[@joansheffield2122]

Lol... Why not pay for knowledge....or go take your lazy self and do what he did...stop complaining...pay or don't pay...THANK YOU SIR FO R THIS VIDEO!!!

[@epokqc]

Informative and concise. Thank you for taking the time to make this video and sharing it.

[@parwezfaizi]

This is the first time ever where someone was going to charge $14 to watch the rest of the video.

[@larissamattingly4355]

This video started out great, but pissed me of because it only showed a piece of the Storm Shelter build and when you go to his website to watch the rest of the video, he wants you to pay for it!

[@floriotj]

You should have been up front on what this video was and what it wasn't. It wasn't a video about a storm shelter, it was a video about selling a video.

[@jojorenee]

Oh, and we must be the only places (Oregon and Wash. St.) That pay close to $3.00 per concrete block! Everything here is higher priced.

[@abushua]

I don't mean to "troll" your video...but why pay for the full length when this information is available for free with a little bit of a Google or KZbin search.

[@TexasGTO]

+Haven It got it a downvote for that

[@charliefoxtrotsky4104]

well people have varying priorities based on the demands on their time etc.....so what works for you, might not work for them. I thought that kind of thing would be completely obvious to anyone who is older than 4yo. some people would prefer to spend a measly 14 bucks to get some information immediately and in well produced format rather than milling around on the internet, here and there searching for it themselves. some people enjoy going to high priced restaurants and enjoying a meal that costs in excess of $500 and some people eat beans out of a can. You know....there is room for people in the world to have their own priorities and there is no obligation for everyone to live their lives as you would have them live. Something you might want to think about there, junior

[@superiorcarpetpaintllc4351]

All you really need to look for on YT is "building a block shed" Concrete roof is not necessary to build a structure that isn't even under ground. A shipping container would work a lot better than this and be much safer than a concrete tomb!

[@anewstarttoabrokenlife8662]

@@superiorcarpetpaintllc4351 The thing with this shelter shown in the video above is that it is a storm shelter at best. If you want to actually know about the construction of a general use bomb shelter, look up what the atomic energy commission recommended during the 50s 60s and 70s. shelters build under the parameters they define are still structurally sound today if maintained properly, the shelter in this video is a root cellar its not under a yard of soil, it doesnt have 2 foot thick walls and doesnt have an L hallway for atomic protection. air supply, filtration and its resistance are poor for extreme conditions. like a 4" floor ? triple that and you'd be about there, not to mention the lack of steel in the poured concrete, what is mentioned in this video about concrete fracturing due to rusting steel is a basic in construction, the I learned statements make it seem as if the viewers are stupid. and you would be better to have a monolithic pour with full reinforcement for maximum structural integrity, I have worked in trades for 23 years and concrete is one thing I have plenty of time working with. if you use concrete blocks double up your walls and pour solid, this guy has a poor understanding of how structure works hence the lack of reinforcement, also know that concrete and cement are not even close to the same and concrete ranges from 1,200PSI to 20,000PSI depending on the mix.

[@superiorcarpetpaintllc4351]

@@anewstarttoabrokenlife8662 I am a general contractor and that thing does not qualify as a storm shelter or any sort of shelter, it has probably fallen apart by now, or is full of water and critters. If you want to follow bad advice, go right ahead, but don't reference junk science when your talking about a structure that was designed to protect people in emergency weather situations! We have building codes in America that are created to PROTECT people from shoddy construction and half ass contractors that don't know what they are doing! When people jump into a storm shelter they expect it to shelter them, not become a coffin. Like I said, I could care less if you do something stupid, just don't impose your stupidity on others, as if you know what you are talking about!

[@Justaguyyoutubin]

People complaining about spending 14$ for info on how to build a storm shelter, probably dont have the disposable income to build a storm shelter.

[@aardhond]

The shelter is better built than most houses in the usa lol

[@aaronshoyt]

Should have put rebar in the slab pointing upwards so your walls would have more support.

[@sammydavis408]

Wow. Great job on the video, very informative 👍🏼👍🏼

[@capefearstormtrooper437]

Have you considered volcanic ash, lime, water, and agragate as opposed to portland cement? Its closer to roman concrete, hardens more as it ages, and is naturally waterproof.

[@MDC2020]

This video isn't only good for building a storm shelter but just plain good for general knowledge. Gud Stuff Man :) Bravo!

[@oakld]

I think there are quite few mistakes like: The gravel bed is not thick enough, not compacted. Those blocks, I believe, are meant to be filled with concrete, not cemented together like bricks, they don't have enough surface for that. There are more things. But overall, I'd say "good job" for someone doing his first concrete build. Maybe it's a kind of a build, where it's OK to do some mistakes. It will still withstand a storm or F4 tornado, I guess.

[@webwillie1]

A great help for a project like this would be by using Mortar Joint Spacers. The Spacers enable the DIY'er to lay Block like a PRO!

[@davidjimenez8865]

Hollow cement bricks. Should have poured them full of concrete. In Arizona. Monsoon seasons blow's over brick walls all the time

[@davidbotkin1650]

They ALL got filled - most have rebar down them also.

[@agustasister5624]

Well done intro..well done.

[@ricktimmons458]

at the time i constructed my full basement the decision was to get full pour of concrete for my walls. at that specific time pour was cheaper than block. We know now that my 4 trucks had the wrong mix it had pea gravel river-rock. with all that rebar and the way it was constructed it stood against a f4 tornado that left my town with 11 dead.

[@84marcow]

So you just made a video on how to create a death trap.

[@DaveonTap]

I've been in construction all my life. What you have done is very impressive!

[@noxdark1]

you are teaching us how to build a regular house in middle east

[@1STGeneral]

Summary: my wife and I saw others misery and decided to profit off of it even though we had no expertise. Class act

[@vieuxacadian9455]

You forgot to pitch the floor and add a sump with a sump pump for condensation removal . You should have put a french drain to take table water away from the box

[@petiebowen8746]

That’s crazy took 8 hours to dig Ik a 14 year old that dug a 25 foot hole in 3 hours

[@trinkladd]

Block companies must have seen this video. Blocks are now 2.25 ea in Tn.

[@sarge27271]

@David: You have done an awesome job sir. Cheers