I Like To Exterior Services

What fails on a house, why it fails, and what it should cost

Home/Storm shelters

Severe weather

Storm Shelters — problems, causes and costs

A storm shelter only works if it’s built to a recognized standard, anchored properly, and someone knows you’re in it. Everything we have on storm shelters: choosing one, installing it, and what it costs.

877-360-4657What shelters cost
Quick answerMost home storm shelters are either in-ground units (in the garage floor or the yard) or above-ground safe rooms anchored to a slab or built into an interior room. What matters most is the same for every type: it’s tested to a recognized standard, it’s anchored the way it was tested, the door still opens with debris on it, and local responders know it exists.

A shelter is a life-safety product. The questions to ask aren’t about finishes. Ask how it was tested, how it’s anchored to your slab, and how you get out afterward. Check local code and permit rules before you buy.

A house with a lightning bolt in the sky behind it
A house with lightning in the sky behind it. Decide where your family will shelter before severe weather arrives, not during it. Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash.

1Start here

Before you buyStorm shelter codeWhat code and standards apply to a home shelter, and what to ask an installer. Before you payStorm shelters cost: what to expect and what to skipWhat drives a shelter quote, and the extras you shouldn’t be paying for.

2Where shelters go wrong

ProblemWhy it mattersWhat to check
No recognized testingYou can’t tell whether it will hold in a tornadoAsk for documentation of testing to a recognized standard, such as ICC 500
Anchoring not as testedAn above-ground unit is only as strong as its anchors and slabAnchor type, spacing and slab condition, in writing
Door blocked by debrisYou may not be able to get out on your ownHow the door opens, and whether you can get out if it’s pinned
Nobody knows it’s thereResponders may not check for you after a stormWhether your city or county keeps a shelter registry
Poor ventilation or no suppliesYou may be inside longer than you expectVents, a light, water and a way to call for help
Choosing or installing a shelter?Talk to a local installer who can show testing documentation and explain the anchoring for your slab.
877-360-4657

3Storm shelter topics, any age of home

4What a storm shelter costs

The price depends on the type (in-ground, in-garage, above-ground or a built-in safe room), its size, digging or slab work, anchoring, delivery access, and permit and inspection fees. Retrofitting into a finished room usually costs more than a unit on an open slab. Some areas have run rebate or grant programs for safe rooms, so ask your local emergency management office.

Storm shelters cost: what to expect and what to skip

5Storm shelter FAQ

In-ground or above-ground?

Both can protect you when built and installed to a recognized standard. In-ground units need digging and can take on water. Above-ground units depend on the slab and anchors. Pick the one you can reach fastest and get into easily.

Can I put a shelter on my existing garage slab?

Often, but the slab has to be suitable for the anchors the unit was tested with. Ask the installer how they check it.

Should I register my shelter?

If your city or county keeps a registry, yes. It tells responders where to look after a storm.

What should I keep inside?

Water, a flashlight, a charged phone or radio, a whistle, basic first aid, and anything you need daily, like medicines.

Written by Jaylan Jones. I Like To Exterior Services earns a referral fee when a call connects to a contractor. See our business-model disclosure.

877-360-4657