How to Build a Hurricane Safe Room

by DoItYourself Staff

In order to make sure you and your family are safe during a hurricane, you can build a safe room. Before you begin, the first thing you need to do is find an area in an internal spot with a solid foundation. The space should be surrounded by walls and have a cement base to attach the room to and should be above the flood line.

Tools and Materials:

Hammers
Screw drivers
16-penny nails
Deck screws
2-by-4-inch treated lumber
2-by-6-inch treated lumber
Three-quarter-inch plywood
14-guage steel sheathing
No. 4 and No. 5 re bar
8-by-8-by-16-inch Hollow Cement Blocks
Wire mesh reinforcement
Exhaust fans
HVAC ducts
Steel doors
One-inch deadbolt lock
Lag bolts
Anchor bolts
Construction adhesive
Circular saw
Jig saws
Drill
Bolt cutters
Adjustable wrenches
Miter box
Back saw

Step 1. Build Framing

Check your building codes in regards to framing and make sure it can withstand wind forces of 90 miles per hour to at least 150 miles an hour. The frame should be built with the 2-by-4 in pressure treated lumber on the sides and the 2-by-6 pressure treated lumber for the roof beams. Cut the boards to the height and width you want, remembering to cut the walls at an angle to gradually increase in height, the roof should end up being slanted. This is necessary to allow debris to slide off the roof so it does not cave in from holding the weight of the debris.

Step 2. Providing Roof Support

You want to give your roof support. In order to do this, lay 2-by-6 boards across the frame and attach them with hurricane clips. Once the rafters are connected, lay down two layers of three-quarter-inch plywood to support the roof.

Step 3. Provide Air

The occupants in the safe room still have to breathe and will need fresh air. Now is the time to install duct work in the roof, as well as ventilation fans.

Step 4. Build a Door

The door to your safe room should be made of steel or at least protected by steal sheathing. Build an alcove to surround the entrance or a wall to shield the entrance from wind when you are coming and going. Make sure you use a 1-inch deadbolt lock to help keep the door secure and from warping.

Step 5. Cover the Outside

In order to protect your room on the outside, you will need to cover it in the three-quarter-inch plywood. If you can, double layer here as well for extra protection. Then cover the entire area of the outside walls with 14-guage steel sheathing using galvanized roofing nails to secure in place.

Step 6. Prepare the Inside

You can add in storage benches, as these will provide seating as well as a place to store all your necessary items, like water, dry food, pet food, flashlights, batteries, etc. Make sure you have enough supplies to last for two weeks.