Good morning!
I'm looking for insight. I've got some resources, and I've got a goal, so perhaps you can tell me the best way to get there.
I intend to build some
underground storage. It will serve as a
root cellar, wine cellar, and storm
shelter. I'd like to do it right the first time, and make it plenty large. Say, 10' x 20'
(3m x 6m).
Here are the circumstances:
1. The
water table is high and the frost line is low. The houses on my roads don't have basements, which is rare in Michigan. It's because we're at a low point in the county, and groundwater is a big problem. Building code here calls for a 42" frost depth.
2. The soil is high in clay, high in sand, low in organic matter after the first 8" or so.
3. The soil is rocky. Glacial till. So I have access to a big quantity of smooth, round fieldstones.
4. It's wooded around here. I could cut little poles or big timbers. I don't have any that are already cut, so I'd be working them green. I have a chainsaw and its accoutrement.
5. I could spend maybe $200 on this. Less is better.
6. I have a small backhoe (compact
tractor with a loader on front and an excavator arm on the rear) for a month. After this month, I don't know if or when I'll ever have one again.
I figure the best plan will be to dig, say, 4' deep, then build an 8' room, and
berm over the top of it. Right?
What kind of wall and roof system can I use to make this happen in just a few weekends and evenings?
Thank you all!
