We Did It !

     We finally did something we have been needing to do for years! I have been wishing for a new cellar for years. The old one is probably 100 years old or close to it. Nice big roomy but the middle of the ceiling is sagging low. Pitiful I know but it worked for a hidy hole. First tornado that seemed to be heading this way this year and hubby had a fit. NO! NOT GOING DOWN IN THAT THING! I CAN'T GET DOWN IN IT OR OUT OF IT WHEN IT'S TIME ! Very adamant for sure. I laughed and told him he could butt bump down the steps like kids do on stairs. When it came time we could tow him out with the tractor ! He didn't think that was funny either. LOL Something about Parkinson's that just changes everything.
    So we found a above ground cellar called a safe room. https://www.biggsbackhoe.com/concrete-safe-room-2
We got the one with Pitched roof with floor and decorative stamping  7’ x 9’ that was $6600 delivered and set up.
It is really nice. We had it put next to the cement on the driveway and all we have to do is step out of the garage and walk a few steps to get in it. Next year I hope we can find the money to put a carport covering to match the copper roof of the house that will cover it and the 2 trucks that don't fit in the garage that was built at a time before crew cabs. It will really be nice then! Won't even get wet going to the cellar!
     It was fun and amazing watching the kind of equipment it took to handle 24,000 lbs. of cement box!

    


They backed right up to my garlic / horseradish weed bed and could actually pick it up over the mess and place it where needed

  
You could tell they have done this a few 100 times! They made it look so easy!


One of the hydrolic levelers they used.
This is hard clay ground. It was under so much pressure it sunk down at least a foot to get everything balnaced good.

These are 32" long anchors. They screwed in 3 on the long sides and and 2 on the short sides. These aren't required for government FEMA rules but the company does it just because.


Look at this ! Just inches away from the cement and perfectly evenly spaced.
( I told them I'm one of those folks that straightens pictured when you walk into a room so even please)

    This is what it looks like inside. The vent on the lower door mice could get into so I cut some hardware with tiny squares in it so we could still get ventilation but no mice. There are also 2 vents on top. One is like those things that turn on top of a house. The cool part is it has staggered levels of metal inside so debris can't come in and hurt you.

    Hubby is having a good time making it comfy inside. I ordered indoor outdoor carpet and metal shelf for inside. We rounded up folding chairs and a old style sturdy card table for the inside. Will send pictures of that soon.
    I know it feels weird with a cellar above ground. This is FEMA tested and approved. The company has been in business long enough they can name at least 5 big tornadoes up to a F5 their safe rooms have not only been in but had direct hits and everything turned out great. I can't imagine the fun those folks went through! We are lucky enough we are in a area here with 100 year old houses still standing showing that generally speaking so far tornadoes have not touched down here.

Love
Ranchmama