How to build a cellar from concrete rings

Constructing a cellar using concrete rings is a sensible and long-lasting option for individuals seeking to enhance their property’s storage capacity. Particularly popular uses for this kind of building are root cellars, storm shelters, and wine cellars. Concrete rings are a fantastic option for both professionals and do-it-yourselfers because they offer strong structural support and are reasonably simple to install.

Careful planning is necessary before beginning the project. The first step is to choose the ideal location; you’ll need a place that is both easily accessible and not prone to flooding. Think about how big of a cellar you’ll need, and make sure you have all the licenses and authorizations from the local government. You’ll end up saving time and effort if you plan ahead.

You can start the excavation process as soon as you have your plan in place. This entails excavating a hole that can hold the concrete rings. The size of the rings and the cellar’s intended use will determine the hole’s depth and diameter. To give the rings a sturdy base, make sure the hole’s base is level and firm.

After the hole has been prepared, the concrete rings must be placed. Because the rings can be fairly heavy, heavy machinery is typically used to accomplish this. To guarantee stability, each ring needs to be precisely positioned and aligned. To stop water from seeping in, it’s crucial to seal the joints between the rings once they are installed.

You can finish the cellar by adding a roof after the rings are put in. A specially designed structure or a pre-cast concrete slab can be used for this. To keep the items in your cellar safe, make sure the roof is waterproof and well-insulated. Lastly, construct a door or hatch for access, and think about adding ventilation to keep the cellar’s atmosphere steady.

Constructing a concrete ring cellar is a worthwhile endeavor with long-term advantages. You can design a strong, useful area that satisfies your storage needs with careful planning and execution. An investment worth making is a concrete ring cellar, which can be used for wine preservation, vegetable storage, or building a secure haven.

Step	Description
1	Select the site and dig the hole
2	Prepare the base with a layer of gravel
3	Place the first concrete ring in the hole
4	Stack additional rings on top
5	Seal the joints between rings
6	Install a concrete floor inside the cellar
7	Cover the top ring with a concrete lid
8	Add ventilation pipes for airflow
9	Backfill around the rings with soil
10	Finish with a waterproof coating

Pros and cons of construction

If we discuss the benefits, we will emphasize:

• Ease of installation. You do not need to be a builder and study the requirements.
• Possibility of increasing the cellar. If at some point you decide that the structure could be deeper, you do not have to disassemble it. Sections can be added to an existing structure.
• Ease of use. In fact, this is a reinforced pit with a ladder in which supplies are stored.
• Resistance to sunlight and temperature changes. In addition, reinforced concrete is resistant to aggressive environments and chemicals.
• Durability of the material (rings do not deteriorate for 20-30 years). Reinforced concrete is the most affordable option. The cellar will not require repairs for a long time.

It is important to consider the drawbacks of reinforced concrete constructions. To begin with, these rings weigh a lot. They cannot simply be delivered and installed in the appropriate location. This implies that you will need to pay for the use of lifting apparatus or devise a winch-based device.

The absence of variety in shapes is the second drawback. This implies that round forms without faces won’t be very enjoyable for you if you’re a designer at heart. Conversely, the interior design shouldn’t be a major concern if we are discussing a basic underground cellar.

However, despite being straightforward, this design has some unique elements that are worth mentioning.

Constructing a concrete ring cellar is a cost-effective and long-lasting option for homeowners seeking to add additional storage capacity or a cool, well-insulated space for food and drinks. To ensure stability and longevity, this method entails carefully installing each concrete ring in the designated spot after preparing the ground. By using the right materials and careful planning, you can build a cellar that serves as a dependable subterranean space for a variety of purposes while also being reasonably priced.

Choosing rings

These products are all the same shape. In terms of diameter, two meters is the ideal choice. Selecting smaller rings will make the cellar more difficult to use (you can’t turn around in there, and food cannot normally be stored there). Rings that are too big will make installation more difficult.

Additionally, there are slight variations in the kind of ring fixation. In light of this, goods are:

• With special protrusions located in the upper part of the end. Thanks to the concrete flange, it becomes possible to quickly join two rings. This is a reliable locking connection. This is especially important if the cellar is installed vertically, not horizontally. In this case, the displacement of elements is excluded.
• With standard flat ends. In this case, additional steel brackets and concrete mortar will be required for fixation. If the fasteners are reliable, then the structure itself will not shift.

Practical! A small amount of cement mixture can be applied to the fixing elements themselves, even in cases where locking structures are used.

Although the first kind is better, installing the second option is also fairly simple.

There may be variations in the rings’ height. For instance, 40 cm or more products are available, or alternatively, reinforced concrete structures measuring meters in length. The decision in this instance will be based on how you install the goods. Shorter elements are easier to work with manually. However, there will be a lot more joints in this instance that require sealing.

It’s also important to think about the various ways that rings can be arranged to create a cellar.

Non-buried (horizontal) cellar

This kind of building is ideal for an area with high groundwater levels because it is small and above ground.

To set up a cellar like this:

• We dig a pit, which should be approximately 0.5 m deeper than the zero mark. In this case, the pit should be 30-40 cm larger than the rings on each side.
• Thoroughly compact the soil at the bottom of the pit.
• Pour crushed stone onto the bottom in a layer of 15 cm (after each layer of 5 cm, tamping is done).
• Add 10 cm of sand and compact the surface again.
• We cover the resulting cushion with polyethylene to prevent moisture penetration.
• We install formwork around the perimeter from boards, plywood, etc.
• We reinforce the future foundation. Steel reinforcement with 20 cm cells is suitable for this.
• We pour concrete in a 10 cm layer.

• While the concrete has not hardened, we form a so-called landing area on it. For this, metal and wooden elements are used, which should ultimately take the form of a “stand” or a lodgement corresponding to the shape of the rings.
• We wait for the concrete to harden.
• We roll the rings onto the lodgement.
• We lay the back part (ring with a bottom) with brick (1.5 thickness). At the same time, we install the exhaust pipe.
• We connect the rings with brackets.
• We arrange doorways.
• We seal the joints with cement mortar.
• We fill the finished cellar with soil.
• We insulate the internal walls.

On the other hand, the horizontal type might appear to be a more challenging task. In this instance, we proceed.

Deep cellar

Implementing vertical construction is far simpler. There are two approaches to building a cellar in this scenario. In the first instance, you must:

• Dig a hole of the appropriate size (for example, 2.5 meters deep).
• Pour a cushion of crushed stone and sand onto the bottom. Compact it.
• Pour a concrete screed.
• Lower the first ring to the bottom of the hole, coat the ends with cement mortar.
• Load the next ring.

Some people prefer not to expend additional energy on the screed. In this instance, the completed ring that has been closed on one side can be lowered to the bottom first.

Practical! For a single harvest, one ring suffices. But two or three materials are typically used to build a cellar.

The second choice is equivalent to digging a well. To accomplish this, install the first ring first, and only then start excavating the dirt around it. The ring will progressively sink beneath the weight of its own weight as the amount of soil diminishes. Its ends are thoroughly cleaned and covered with cement mortar once it has dropped to the desired level. You can then install the subsequent ring after this.

Regarding the structure’s depth, it ought to be sufficient for an adult to stand freely inside. Nevertheless, it is also advisable to add roughly 10 cm for the area above your head and 15 cm for the floor.

It is also worthwhile to consider the cellar entrance. Hatches ready to use are available for purchase. Some purchase round slabs that correspond to the ring diameter. The hatch in this instance, however, will be substantially narrower—with a maximum diameter of 80 cm—which will make the building’s operation more difficult. If you would like, you can use your hands to cast the ceiling—that is, the cellar ceiling—into the shape of a square slab.

The cellar cover should also have holes for the ventilation pipe to exit through. In the event that the room has lighting, wire holes will also need to be made. Usually, they are put in a corrugated hose, though a piece of pipe can be used in its place.

Building a cellar out of concrete rings involves a few more steps as well, which are worth going into further detail about.

Features of building a cellar from concrete rings

Prior to beginning work, you ought to be aware of:

• Waterproofing of the structure. If there are problems with groundwater on the site, then it is recommended to pre-coat the rings twice with liquid waterproofing (for example, bitumen mastic). Impregnations with a water-repellent effect are also suitable.
• Ventilation. Someone installs only one pipe. But the best option is to use a supply and exhaust pipe (as in residential premises). Accordingly, air will enter the cellar through one of them, and exit through the other. Of course, there is an option of a forced ventilation system, but its installation will be too expensive, which is impractical for a structure of this type. But you can’t completely abandon ventilation. In this case, mold will quickly appear in the cellar, and the entire harvest will perish.

• Arrangement of the interior. In this case, the arrangement of the cellar from the inside should be such that the cellar accommodates a sufficient number of shelves and at the same time leaves room for a person. In this regard, horizontal structures are much more convenient. Inside, you can place additional partitions and divide the room into zones.

Deepening the structure

After 60 centimeters of removed soil, water can occasionally be found. The cellar in this instance is situated above the water table. Still, this is insufficient. Furthermore, a material with good heat-insulating properties (like EPS) is wrapped around the portion of the cellar that protrudes above ground. Following that, soil is applied (embankment is performed).

Practical! You can set up a flower bed on the embankment to prevent it from appearing like a hump on the site.

Crushed stone sleeves can be used to drain the water from the structure if there are worries that moisture will still build up inside. This is accomplished by pouring the material in a layer that is at least 40 cm thick all around the building. On top, turf is laid.

But when groundwater levels are this high, there’s an additional issue: the lid allows water to seep inside. It is very easily solved. There is a double lid fitted. You can use concrete for this, or you can build a brick edging over the entrance. There is one installed lighter lid (wooden, for instance, with an additional foam sheath). Selecting a second metal one is preferable.

You could construct a tiny barn above the cellar to ensure that no moisture or precipitation gets inside the lid. But in this instance, building a larger concrete room rather than a storage facility out of rings makes more sense.

Constructing a sturdy subterranean storage area is feasible and efficient when done with concrete rings. In order to get the best results, the process requires careful planning and execution, ensuring that each step is carried out precisely. It’s crucial to start with a carefully planned excavation and take into account the size and depth needed for your cellar. This lays the groundwork for an effective build.

It’s critical to properly place the concrete rings after the site has been excavated. Your cellar’s walls are made of these rings, which offer stability and strength. In order to stop water from seeping in, it’s crucial to properly align them and seal the joints. In addition to extending the life of your cellar, proper sealing keeps the inside dry and ready for storing.

Installing a suitable floor and roof are the next steps. A well-built roof and a robust concrete base will shield the cellar from the elements. Incorporating insulation and ventilation will also aid in maintaining the perfect environment for storing items, maintaining their quality over time.

Lastly, maintaining the drainage systems, stairs, and access doors will improve the usability and convenience of your concrete ring cellar. You can build a dependable and long-lasting storage solution that satisfies your needs by carefully following these steps. An investment worth making is a concrete ring cellar, which can be used for food preservation, wine storage, or valuables protection.

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