What Separates Us from the Competition
- We have been in business for 12 years and have been accredited with an A+ rating from the BBB since 2011.
- We have a state-of-the-art showroom like no other in the country where you can see full-scale models of each of our storm shelters.
- We have our own manufacturing plant, and a highly trained crew to do our own installations. Some companies may either have their shelters built by a third-party manufacturer, or have the installation completed by a third-party independent contractor.
- Our installers are company employed (not independent contractors), have years of experience, and they each go through a background check and drug screen before hired.
- Our product has a lifetime warranty (does not include paint or electronic add-on options) that is transferable should you sell your home.
- Our storm shelter can also double as a panic room, as well as a vault-like storage room.
- Our shelter is constructed from ¼” plated steel (including a full floor) with ¾” reinforced corners.
- The door weighs in at over 300lbs and has three 1 ¼” stainless steel locking pins and has an industrial pick and drill resistant deadbolt.
- We anchor our shelters with ¾”x7” concrete cutting anchors placed every 24” around the perimeter of the shelter floor, and also use our patented corelock installation system that includes 4 additional carbon steel bolts anchored 2 ½ feet into the ground.
- If you really want to see The Valley Difference, just look at the gruesome testing we put our shelters through in comparison to the competition. https://youtu.be/IK1Z1tHV48E
Above Ground vs Below Ground Shelters
- There is a much greater risk of entrapment due to fallen debris in below ground shelters. While the hydraulic doors can lift an incredible amount of weight, there is still a risk of malfunction due to damage from falling debris that may prevent the door from opening.
- Below ground shelters have a high risk of flooding. Even if your home is not located in a flood zone, there are much greater amounts of rain downfall associated with tornadoes. Also, if your below ground shelter is installed in your garage, most water heaters are located in the garage of newer homes, posing a high flood risk should the water heater burst.
- It is more common to have pest problems (insects, spiders, snakes) or mold problems in a below ground shelter unless you have the area frequently treated for these issues.
- Over time, the below ground shelters will inevitably corrode and develop leaks.
- The stairs in an underground shelter make it inaccessible for the elderly and the handicapped, as well as can make it very difficult to get pets into the shelter.
- An above ground shelter is still functional as either storage or temporary living quarters after a devastating storm has demolished or flooded the surrounding area.
- With above ground shelters, should you sell your home, you do have the option to relocate your storm shelter to your new home.
Indoor vs Outdoor Installation
Our shelters can be installed both indoors and outdoors.
- With the shelter installed in your garage, you don’t have to worry out going out into the weather to get to your shelter.
- In order to install the patented CoreLock System, we do need an additional 6” of clearance between the wall of your garage, and the wall of your shelter. If placement of the shelter is wanted flush against the wall, we will replace the CoreLock anchors with 4 additional ¾”x7” concrete cutting anchors.
- Should you choose to have your shelter installed outdoors, you will need to have your concrete slab poured at least 28 days prior to installation. The slab will need to measure a total of 4’ more than the dimensions of your shelter (ex. For a 4’x6’ shelter, the slab would measure 8’x10’).
- Regardless of whether the shelter is installed indoors or outdoors, the concrete cannot be more than 6” thick and cannot contain rebar for the CoreLock system to be installed. If either of these conditions are not met, your shelter will have to be installed without the CoreLock system in place and will receive 4 additional ¾”x7” concrete cutting anchors in their place.
- Outdoor shelters require an additional primer and topcoat of paint specifically designed for outdoor conditions.