In a few years I would like to build a hardened "green" house using ICF (insulated concrete) construction.
I live in tornado country so it also needs to be tornado/storm resistant.
These are some ideas I am throwing around in my head:
I could possibly make the entire basement a giant safe-room/storm-shelter/bunker, but I think building codes require egress windows.
This will not be an extravagant by any means, just a average looking 2500 square foot ranch style home.
Does anyone have any suggestions in terms of strategically hardening the house? This will be 100% custom, built from scratch so anything is possible (within financial reason).
Hope this doesn't sound too nutty.
I live in tornado country so it also needs to be tornado/storm resistant.
These are some ideas I am throwing around in my head:
- 1 story ranch style with basement.
- ICF exterior/interior/roof/floors.
- 10" reinforced concrete cores.
- Fully below grade basement (not a walk out).
- Hip roof, possibly steel roof over the ICF.
- Fiber cement hardie siding.
- Steel exterior shutters on the windows.
- Steel exterior doors with strong frames and deadbolts.
- Reinforced interior door frames.
- Pre-wired with CAT6 network cable for IP cameras.
- A safe room accessible via closets in the bedrooms (maybe even secret stairs going to a basement safe room).
- Possibly some kind of escape tunnel from the basement to a hatch in the yard .
I could possibly make the entire basement a giant safe-room/storm-shelter/bunker, but I think building codes require egress windows.
This will not be an extravagant by any means, just a average looking 2500 square foot ranch style home.
Does anyone have any suggestions in terms of strategically hardening the house? This will be 100% custom, built from scratch so anything is possible (within financial reason).
Hope this doesn't sound too nutty.