Earthbag Survival Shelter (click to enlarge)
Specifications: 20’ DIA (314 sq. ft. interior plus pantry), Footprint: 23′ x 31′
Description: This round earthbag shelter for up to 4-5 individuals is designed for survival through disaster, plague, etc. It is low cost, durable and practical. This shelter is designed for DIYers on a tight budget who will do most everything by hand. Instructions include numerous key details not evident on the plan: venting, roof framing, how to reduce excavation by 50%, drainage, water supply, etc. I have not seen a better, more practical survival shelter plan.
Earthbag Survival Shelter
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Hello, how do I obtain the free “Earthbag Survival Shelter” plan ? Thank you
This plan isn’t free. I’ts $150 from Dream Green Homes: http://www.dreamgreenhomes.com/plans/survival.htm
(Someone mistakenly said it was free on a blog, but it never was.)
Free plans are here: http://freehouseplans.wordpress.com/wp-admin/
can other designs, for example the earthbag lodge, be built on top of this?
Yes. Excellent idea! I hadn’t thought of this yet. The main drawback is the difficulty and cost of digging deeper.
Here’s one possibility that would minimize excavation and building costs:
First, choose high ground with soil that’s not too difficult to dig. Build the top of the survival shelter just a little below grade (1′-2′ deep). This would give you good protection against any fallout, fire, etc. from above. Then build the main house (Earthbag Lodge, etc.) on top. Then add earth against the sides of the Lodge and over the roof (earth sheltering).
Also, choose designs that work well together. Example, the main structure should be larger than the Survival Shelter. That way the weight of the top structure isn’t bearing on the lower structure. [I just checked the dimensions. The Lodge is larger than the Survival Shelter, so this would be a good combination.]
Also note, the soil from the Survival Shelter could be used as berming around the top structure.
[...] This Triple Dome Survival Shelter provides much more space than my first earthbag survival shelter. This design is for long term survival for a family. It is earthquake and fire resistant, bullet [...]
Hello, I can’t afford the plan but I was just curious what is the building structure and walls made from?
The walls are made with earthbags — same thing as polypropylene sandbags, but filled with tamped soil instead of loose sand. This creates a solid tamped earth block. You can stabilize the soil in the bags with lime or cement for greater durability and water resistance. Protect the walls with black plastic sheeting. The roof is made of large wood timbers.
So you probably can afford to build a shelter like this. Get recycled grain bags from farmers, use local soil, make a few simple tools, harvest local wood, etc. and it’s super affordable. Read our Earthbag Building Blog for lots more details: http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/
What about stabilizing with Emulsified Asphalt? It water ‘proofs’ along with the stabilizing properties. “Code Compliant” adobe bricks use it instead of concrete or lime. This is virtually the same composition as adobe, no? Unless it would dissolve the bags…
You could add it to the lower 1-2 courses if you live where there’s high risk of moisture problems, but it’s easier and better to add lime or cement. My general recommendation is to raise soil filled earthbags on gravel filled bags (gravel bags) and then you don’t need any stabilizers.
Is there any natural sunlight?
Not in this design. This shelter is primary for short periods of time to weather a tornado,etc. You could add a solar tube/sun tube type of skylight, although this would create an opening into the shelter that could cause problems. For instance, a tornado could break the cover and allow water to enter.
Radical
Very clever, nice design
So this protects against floods as well?
This design is for a typical climate. It is not suitable for areas with high water tables or areas with high risk of flooding. In areas like these, you’d want to build ‘on grade’ on high ground and use earth-sheltering (earth mounded over the whole structures once it’s complete). Feel free to ask questions.
Hi, can you coat the exterior side of the wall or even the whole bags with tar? I am asking this becouse of moisture from earth and air (dont want to get it in the house), or will it interfere with the drying of the earth in the bags? Does the earth even need to driedout in the bags ?
The earthbags need to dry to obtain full strength and moisture needs to transfer through the wall, so moisture barriers are typically not recommended except for below grade applications.
What about when buliding a shelter underground, can you collect water from the moist soil thats in the bags and in the soil covering the bags, with a dehumidifire? What i want to ask is, do the bags let out moisture (inside the house) or is that an unpractical use
Not sure what you’re getting at. Yes, moisture will be released into the home as the earthbags dry. But once they’re dry, that’s it. You want the earthbags to stay dry and strong.
The bags are made with woven poly fabric that allows moisture to pass through.
Is this a problem when you build underground? My plan is to make a dome shelter and than bury it with soil so it wont be visible, so every time it rains the water will eventualy reach my earthbag roof, and thats going to moisture the soil in the bags again and again, this in a way is not a problem if you use a dehumidifire, becouse you have a constant supply of water in the water tank, but is it safe, becouse it never dries out? should i build it, cover the exterior wall with tar, bury it and dry it from the inside ?
My earthbag dome article explains how to do this: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Earthbag-Dome/
(Read this and then the full article to get all the details.)
The earthbags have to stay dry and hard or the dome will collapse.
I THINK I GONNA BUILD A HOUSE BY THIS WAY
Living in Oklahoma, we’d like to have a shelter/basement. I suppose we could use a traditional square or rectangle design as well? I was also wondering about building on top of this. Or perhaps over a portion of it so as to enter the shelter from the main house?
The main issue is building above the water table. It’s best for drier climates. Build on high ground where water flows away from the building in all directions.
No problem building on top. Earthbags have 10x the bearing strength of 2×4 walls.