Building a dugout with our own hands

If you set out to build a shelter in the land with your own hands, this article will become an instruction on how to build a dugout.

A dugout is usually a small shelter in a forest, field or other isolated area, partially submerged in the earth, which is built using improvised natural materials available in the place where it is built.

In many cultures this type of housing has been and is the main one, it is known to mankind since ancient times.

This structure is the simplest, fastest and most reliable way to build a shelter for weather protection, and possibly for permanent residence.

Inside the dugout there is usually an oven, a bed and a minimum of necessary things.

Selection of a site for the construction of the

The place for building a dug-out with your own hands should be chosen very carefully. Usually choose hills from the sunny side, the ground is always drier.

On a level surface, for example in a forest, marshy areas should be avoided, and, digging a pit under your house, you must take into account the water table.

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If the occurrence of water is close to the surface, due to the constant dampness, the processes of decaying the tree, spreading the mold, will begin, which will eventually lead to collapse of the entire structure.

If your task is to build a dwelling for a long stay in it, then it is necessary to approach construction with your own hands with all seriousness.

Advantages and disadvantages of the construction of the dugout

First, let's look at the merits and advantages:

• A small amount of used building materials and as a consequence - a small material cost;
• Stealth from the eyes due to a small elevation;
• Holds heat well. With the equipment, the stove warms up quickly, it keeps the heat even better than the village wooden house;
• It does not take a lot of effort to build it - you can build it by yourself;
• Fast - construction takes no more than a month;
• Easily recovers. Even if there is a collapse of the structure or a fire, it will only be necessary to clean the pit, erecting the rest will not take a long time;
• The lack of a foundation makes it much easier and faster.

Now about the drawbacks:

• Large volume of excavated land from the pit;
• Dampness in the cold season. If a few days do not burn the stove, condensation appears on the walls;
• Darkness due to lack of windows;
• In heavy rain, water can pour down the steps into the house.

Tools required for the construction of

It is not difficult to build a dugout even alone, for this you will need:

1. shovels - one bayonet, one shovel;
2. sawed the tree;
3. ax;
4. measuring tape;
5. hammer;
6. scrap;
7. nail driver.

It is important to take care of purchasing all the necessary tools in advance. That everything was at hand.

Preparation for construction of dugouts.

If you need a cheap construction that will last you a long time, the dugout with your own hands is a great solution.

Let's consider the stages of preparing for the structure of the dug-out with your own hands in more details. Before the beginning it is important to calculate everything to the smallest detail, even small defects will entail consequences.

Once you have decided on the construction site, you can proceed to define the boundaries of the future home. Begin construction is necessary with a pit.

First, indicate the size of the building.

This is usually 3x4 meters. The depth depends on your height, an average of 1.5 meters. Make an approximate project. Calculate the necessary building materials.

Make the order and delivery of the necessary materials in advance - this will save you time and money.

Please be aware that an unprepared person will need a small percentage of the marriage during the construction process. When calculating building materials, consider it.

Once everything is ready, you can proceed directly to the construction of the dugout yourself.

Video instruction for the preparation and selection of a place for construction.

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Construction of a dug-out

So, in the first stage of construction, it is necessary to dig a pit.

If the top layer of the earth is covered with turf, then it must be removed by layers and laid aside, later on it will be needed for the roof device.

Of course, it is most convenient to excavate a foundation pit with an excavator, but in a certain locality it is impossible.

If you are building a dug-out in a forest or a field, then, armed with a shovel, we begin to dig a hole with our own hands, it is important that your markings are level, without distortions, in the future this can cause problems, such as cracks in the skin.

Once the pit is dug, you need to carefully level the bottom, walls and slopes.

In the second stage, it is necessary to install supporting poles, lay the rafters and strengthen the walls.

To prevent decay of the tree, it is desirable to treat all the elements with antiseptics and to paint with special protective paints.

Rafters can be dug in the ground or lean on logs lying on the ground. Posts and rafters are made of round logs or metal pipes are used.

Their main task is to withstand what will be stacked on top.

The next step is to first remove the chimney pipe from the stove. Next, on the installed rafters lay the crate of the beams. Beams should be laid as tightly as possible to each other.

They are attached to the rafters with the help of nails or wire. In the conditions of the forest, it is possible to use bundles of rods, canes or reeds instead of beams.

The end faces are sewn vertically, as well as the roof, on one side it is possible to form a window, on the other hand make a doorway and hang a door.

Before installing the roofing on the roof, you can lay strips of roofing felt, it will help to keep the heat inside the dugout. Further, the whole roof frame is laminated layer by layer with a soft clay.

Each new layer is laid after the previous dry. The thickness of all layers should be approximately 15 centimeters. Over the layers of clay, the turf is spreading. The ends should also be coated with clay.

It is necessary to build drainage channels around the dugout so that during the rain, the water does not drain into the house.

These all stages will help answer the question: how to make a dugout? Upon completion of all these actions, the external work on the construction of the dug-out is completed, and you can move on to finishing inside.

Finishing work

If you plan to equip your dwelling for housing, as a warehouse or a cellar, you can make a minimal inexpensive finish.

First you need to install the oven, you can make it from stones or fireproof bricks. Since there are problems with ventilation, we installed a chimney in advance, a kind of exhaust.

Furniture can also be assembled on site from the remaining boards, for a normal and comfortable stay, beds, tables and a couple of stools are enough.

This does not require much skill and skill. You can also nail shelves in some places where they will not interfere.

For maximum heat resistance, the walls can be trimmed with thinly sawn boards, in addition you can make a wooden floor, it will protect your feet from moisture.

The wall to which the oven is attached is not recommended to be covered with boards to prevent fire.

During construction, do not forget about safety measures, use only reliable fasteners, fixing beams, quality tools.

If you are in the backwoods of the forest and you need emergency medical care, then you will have to yourself it yourself.

Therefore, always have a first aid kit with everything you need: iodine, cotton wool, bandages, tourniquet, and a minimal set of medications.

Now, after reading this article, you know how to build a dugout. And at its construction you will not have any questions and difficulties.

And if you are worried about the worth of building a dugout, then the answer, of course, is worth it.