Raymond WhitneyIt doesn’t matter if you’re living a childhood wish of having a private fort or are prepared in the event of an emergency, learning to create an underground space inside your backyard can be a thrilling project.
While not every backyard is perfect for digging an underground space provided you have the proper circumstances and adhere to the guidelines listed below to build an elegant and secure area in your yard!
Ways To Use Your Underground Room
Before you even start designing your underground room it’s best to spend some thought on what you intend to utilize your underground room to serve.
In this part of this article, we’ll be giving you some ideas on how to make the most of the space you have created.
1. Use it as a “Bugout” Location
The underground rooms are set up almost anywhere: under your house or in your backyard or in an unrelated field you bought in the event of an emergency.
If you’re a war veteran the idea of having an underground space or bugout area, is a great way to ensure that you’ll be able to get your family safe and hidden in the event of a crisis.
Underground rooms can also control temperature efficiently and can keep water and food things better than places higher up. They are also great for regions where tornadoes are common.
The underground rooms also are less likely to get observed and possibly robbed during your absence (if they are located outside of your property).
2. Increase the Value and Space in Your Home
The addition of underground space will instantly boost the worth of the house. It will only increase by adding bathrooms, kitchens as well as a bedroom space in the room.
If you’re a member of a large family, the newly constructed underground room could be used as a bedroom, playroom, family theater, or a second space for a lounge.
3. Turn it Into a Man Cave
The majority of dads enjoy having the time to sit and enjoy a game, play poker or just sit and unwind in peace. Making an underground room and area for men to relax is a fantastic way for dads to have an area to themselves.
The room can be decorated according to his preferences and, if he’s an avid collector, he could put his collections on a display (even those that mom would not allow him to put in the rest of the home).
The underground rooms can be dressed up with a bar, barstools, a large TV as well as dad’s favorite recliner sofa, as well as any other items of decor you think he would like.
4. Use it as a Personal Gym
If you, the spouse, or the entire family is obsessed with fitness and sports then you could turn your basement space into a gym for your personal.
For many, a home gym is an extra room within the garage of the house or scattered throughout the house.
By choosing an underground fitness center, you will be able to put aside the above-ground areas for activities with family and leisure and reserve the space below for tough work.
It will also provide you with the space you need to store all of your equipment.
Additionally, you can customize and design the space to work out, while your home might not have the right tools or the surfaces for doing so (for instance, concrete floors that are easy to clean flooring).
5. Turn it Into a Pantry or Storage Space
The addition of a pantry is a fantastic idea for big families and food preppers alike. Utilizing your basement to serve as a huge pantry is an excellent option to clear space elsewhere in your home, giving you more space for relaxing family activities, and also removing the food items that are stocked up you’ve got in your kitchen that are bursting out of the cabinets and pantry in your kitchen.
Include a few shelves for storage fridges, freezers, and shelves in your basement room and you’ll be filled in weeks (if it’s not years) in food items for your family.
This space is perfect to store the food of animals and is ideal for a farmer or a homesteader.
As we’ve mentioned before the underground room, even though they do not have cooling or heating systems, can regulate the temperature in the space far better than rooms located above the ground.
This is due to the fact that the temperature stays constant under the surface of the earth.
6. Use it as a Guest House
A room that is underground is the ideal spot for guests staying for a long time.
Be it your friends or family members or family members, an underground space can be a place that is close enough for you to have a social gathering but far enough to provide privacy for you, your family, and guests when you’d like to take a break.
Another benefit of having your own underground space for guests is that you could let it out to your relatives, friends, or even people who are struggling with their luck and are unable to find an alternative to move.
This is a great opportunity to make money without lifting the finger.
Building Your Underground Room
After we’ve covered methods to utilize your underground space Let’s get started on our step-by-step guide on how to construct an underground space inside your home!
Step 1: Prepare And Plan
Before you decide where to construct an underground room within your yard, you’ll want to be sure to think about a few things.
In the first place, you must ensure that you’ve chosen an area that is legal on your property and you’re permitted to build an underground space there.
If you are unsure contact your local government to verify the presence of utility lines that are in the area your digging will take place.
You must be sure that the location you’re going to dig is free of any sewer, gas, or electric lines.
For more details on digging your backyard, check out the following article.
Check for Debris
Alongside the suggestions above, it is also important to check for any debris in the area. Areas with a lot of trees and rocks will make digging a difficult job.
Avoid areas that are wet or where water tends to accumulate since this can cause flooding in the future.
If you reside in an area that is prone to flooding and you want to stay clear of making an underground space to protect yourself.
Explore different locations by digging up a tiny amount of dirt and observing what’s beneath.
The space you pick will have adequate drainage and be free of any sharp objects, and mostly be made of earth.
Determine How Big You Want Your Room to Be
Are you planning to build an easy fort that can be used to use for emergency situations only? Perhaps you’re looking for some space that has more flexibility.
To construct a simple underground space at your home, beginning with a 3-foot-wide pit is the best way to go.
If you’re planning to design an area that has more room, try 5×5 feet of space.
Although you might want it big enough for you to walk about in, digging further than 6 feet below could be hazardous.
The deeper you dig, the greater the chance there is of the room collapsing which could cause injury to the person inside or anyone else in it.
To prevent walls from collapsing, be sure not to dig further than you are digging across. Maintain the ratio at the minimum.
Map it Out
When you’ve got an idea of how large the underground room you’d like it to be, begin by sketching the area.
This will let you visualize the finished product and also identify any structural problems that could arise.
Create your map after you’ve chosen a place to give you an idea of the zones you’ll have to navigate, for example, the tree’s roots.
Make use of markers or pegs to sketch out the precise dimensions you’ll need.
You can sit in your “box” to see how it feels before beginning digging. This will provide you with an idea of the legroom and arm room you’ll be able to use once the project is done.
Step 2: Start Digging
Be Safe
Even if you’ve taken all the appropriate precautions, there’s still the chance of having an emergency. While we’d like to think you’ll get through the procedure without a hitch but it’s better to be prepared instead of being sorry.
Before digging, be sure you inform who you are. Even after you’ve had the room dug you should let anyone be aware of where you are.
If you know anyone in your family members or friends that can help with this job great! It’s not just more secure, but you’ll also be able to complete the digging process much faster.
Begin to Dig
If you’ve got an idea of how your space will look as well as feel, you are able to begin digging. Start with the shovel to scrape the top of the soil to the size you’ve decided on.
Make sure you double-check the measurements Then, go ahead and begin digging into your space.
Make sure you are digging evenly as you can, and be sure to check your measurements throughout the process to ensure that you do not go too far from the plan you originally created.
The process of digging could require a few days, particularly if you’re working on this project by yourself. Be sure to plan your preparations for this with this in your mind.
To protect your work, be sure to cover the hole in an overnight tarp. Utilize stakes or rocks to secure the tarp place, and give you confidence that it will remain unharmed.
If you’re worried that someone might walk by the pit you dug, it’s recommended to put something in place to alert the person. For instance, put small flags at the four corners of the pit or utilize the dirt you’ve dug to build smaller “walls” around the area.
After you have finished your day, be sure to be able to exit and enter the next day in a safe manner.
Slope the Walls
To keep your space from collapsing it is recommended to cut your walls to ensure that they’re larger and more open in comparison to your floor.
Remove some dirt from the room’s top while you stand above it. Be careful to go down and try to make the upper part of the room six inches larger than the bottom.
Make use of a small shovel to scrape the walls to ensure that every wall angles out.
Create Cubby Holes and Shelves
Instead of just having an underground box that is small You can also create shelves that are small in your living space. This will make it easier to keep things such as lights or flashlights.
Do not put candles or any other items that could ignite in your underground room. A burning fire within a narrow area can result in excessive carbon monoxide and could cause the person to choke. It is also possible that debris to fall, causing injuries to someone.
To build shelves to create shelving, gradually scoop dirt from the areas you prefer using your hands or using a small shovel. Apply pressure to the area to firm the dirt and make smaller “boxes” within the wall.
Create a Way to Get in and Out
One of the main aspects you’ll have to think about while building the underground space at your backyard is to have an access point to go in and out.
You can create steps in the same way as you build shelves.
To make it easier using cinderblocks, you can simply make stairs. If you choose to do this, make certain that dirt remains evenly distributed over all the blocks, at least 1 inch to protect sharp edges and sharp corners.
Finish Up the Walls
The walls appear smooth and free of branches or rocks. To make your fort as sturdy as it can be make sure you smooth the walls using either the flat end of a shovel or your hands.
If you are rubbing the walls using your hands, make sure not to remove your gloves. Continue pressing and settling until the walls do not appear fragile and smooth to the feeling.
For extra stability, consider using plywood to build a fort wall. If you decide to do this, ensure that the plywood is in line with the walls beginning at the foundation on the wall of the fort.
Set two posts at every corner and then secure the edges of the plywood to the posts to form the siding. The posts should be positioned to touch an edge in order to create an enclosing space from the top.
Furnish Your Room
In this stage of the process, you are able to begin to make your underground room cozy. An excellent place to start looking for items is to visit the local thrift store.
Find a seating option for your guests, like tables or stools when you have space for them. Utilize a blanket that you found at the thrift shop or one you don’t want to use for your floor.
After you’ve finished your time in your area, ensure that you get rid of any furniture that has fabric to avoid them becoming moldy. This is for blankets, clothing pillows, cushions, and so on.
Step 3: Add The Roof
Option One: Use Plywood or Wooden Planks
Another option for an alternative for a roof to your underground space is a piece of plywood. It should be at minimum several inches bigger than the space on either side.
To make a handle, make a hole in the wood to connect rope or cord through. Once you’ve secured it, you can utilize the rope to raise the roof once you’re ready for your fort.
Option Two: Use a Tarp
A tarp is an excellent method of keeping your underground space protected from moisture and rain.
The tarp can be tied to nearby trees, or by driving steaks into the ground to anchor the tarp. Be sure to take the tarp in a straight line to form a solid roof.
To build an A-frame roof, using your tarp to create an A-frame roof, tie a string across the fort. The tarp should be draped over the string, then secure the four corners of the tarp into the ground.
Whatever method you decide to use It’s always a good idea to put up a marker to stop anyone from falling in.
Option Three: Build an A-frame Roof
You could create your own A-frame over your living space to raise it up a little. This will help shield it from the weather.
The initial logs to build the A-frame. A piece of lumber will stand by the point of intersection between two shorter logs to create the “A” shape.
The pit should be in the middle of the triangle on your roof. Place the sticks next to the two other short logs until they reach the length of the wood.
Once you’re done, add a thin layer of mud to your roof. You can then include pine cones, leaves, and any other organic materials to conceal.
Option Four: Build a Lean-To Roof
To build this Learn-to roof, begin by smashing two poles into the ground and letting them hover slightly over the space. A board is secured by the poles, making a slanted roof from the ground.
It is also possible to nail sticks to the top of the roof. Then, you can build it with smaller sticks until you get to the bottom.
An alternative is covered with an underlying layer of mud that is covered with pine needles, leaves, clay, or any other natural substances.
Final Words
The process of creating your own underground space in your backyard is an enormous undertaking to embark on, but it’s a rewarding one.
So long as you understand how to build an underground space in your backyard, and observe all the guidelines and you’ll have the most secure and comfortable area.
