Do I need a building permit to install and anchor a storm shelter in my garage or room inside my house? How difficult is it?
In order to purchase a safe room some cities require a building permit. Contact your local Building Inspection or Code Enforcement department to find out. Storm shelters are typically treated as an accessory building for permitting purposes. Some cities consider them...
How do I know if my concrete slab foundation is thick enough and reinforced with steel for an above ground storm shelter?
The quickest and easiest way to tell if your concrete slab foundation is thick enough for a Tornado Alley Armor above ground storm shelter….. Drill a small hole through your concrete slab using a hammer drill and masonry bit. If you’re a minimum of 3.5”- 4” in before...
Above Ground Storm Shelter customer feedback in Little Rock, AR- Tornado Alley Armor Safe Rooms
Review Date: August 26, 2013 Member: Judy Little Rock, AR Category: Builders - Garages/Barns/Sheds Services Performed: Yes * More Weight is given to a review where work has been completed. Work Completed Date: July 22, 2013 Hire Again: Yes Approximate Cost:...
Above Ground Safe Rooms/ Storm Shelters Saved Lives in Moore OK EF-5 Tornado
Researchers who toured Moore after the May 20, 2013 F-5 tornado said above ground storm shelters held up great in the storm and can be a better choice than underground storm cellars. Aboveground storm shelters held up exceptionally well in the tornado and could be a...
Drilling Wedge Anchors with a Rotary Hammer into your Reinforced Slab Foundation with Tornado Alley Armor’s DIY Option
If you choose to you can DIY your Tornado Alley Armor Safe Room and save some sweet moolah, while at the same time turning it into a family time hands on project. Here's a video from our YouTube page showing the wedge anchors being drilled into a reinforced slab...
Feedback from DIY Customers in Winnipeg, Manitoba about Tornado Alley Armor Safe Rooms
I'd like to share some feedback from customers in Canada: Hello everyone at Tornado Alley Armor, Well, we hauled the pallet with our shelter encased from Pembina, North Dakota to home in Winnipeg (about 4 hour round trip) on Saturday without concern from the...
I’ve seen houses ripped off slabs during a tornado. How do your storm shelters not blow away as well?
I've seen lots of news reports that show houses and other buildings being torn off of slab foundations during tornadoes. What keeps your storm shelters anchored to the slab? It seems like they would be sucked away also? Houses lift...
Can I Choose Where the Storm Shelter Door will be Located and what about an Inward Swinging Safe Room Door?
Can we have the safe room door assembled on the end of the storm shelter (and swing inward) as opposed to the middle of the front? It depends on the size safe room you order. For anything from the Rampart 7 adult safe room or larger the door can be placed just...
This is how easy it is to DIY your Tornado Alley Armor Safe Room using a Rotary Hammer
Thinking of doing it yourself but not sure about the anchoring part? Here's a quick video that demonstrates just how easy it is to drill your reinforced slab foundation with the right tools. We recommend using a right angle rotary hammer. It makes quick work of the...
Do I need to add upgrades to Tornado Alley Armor Safe Rooms?
If your Tornado Alley Armor above ground storm shelters are EF-5 certified, what's the purpose of the "Secondary Steel" and "Fort Knox panels?" And if one were to select one of these safe room options here, "Secondary Steel" and "Fort Knox panels," what would be...