Haha, ankle-deep water at 3 am...been there, done that, got the soggy slippers to prove it. Good call on the aluminum benches—plastic shelving is handy too. Sure, reclaimed wood has charm, but charm doesn't dry out fast enough when you're half asleep and bailing water. Practicality definitely deserves some love here. Glad your shelter passed inspection though; that's gotta feel reassuring after dealing with flooding headaches!
Haha, soggy slippers are practically a rite of passage at this point. Definitely been there...not my favorite 3 am activity either.
- Aluminum benches are a great idea—easy to clean and no mold worries. Good thinking there.
- Plastic shelving is pretty underrated too. I know some folks think plastic looks cheap, but honestly, when practicality counts, it's king. Plus, you can hose it down afterward without worrying about warping.
- Gotta mildly disagree on reclaimed wood though. Yeah, drying out at 3 am is a pain (been there too, unfortunately...), but if it's treated and sealed properly ahead of time, it can handle moisture surprisingly well. And it does add that cozy factor when you're stuck waiting out a storm. But yeah...I see your point—charm isn't exactly comforting when you're ankle-deep in water.
- Also, might want to consider those waterproof storage bins for emergency supplies—nothing worse than soggy granola bars or damp blankets when you're already having a rough night.
- Glad your inspection went smoothly! It's always reassuring knowing the shelter's good to go before the storms roll back around. Must feel like one big thing checked off your list.
Anyway, hope you won't need to test it out anytime soon—but it's nice knowing you're covered if you do.
Good call on the waterproof bins—learned that lesson the hard way myself after losing a perfectly good stash of emergency snacks. On reclaimed wood, I see your point about sealing it properly, but from experience, even treated wood can be unpredictable over time, especially in consistently damp conditions. Still, nothing beats that cozy feel when you're hunkered down waiting out the storm... Glad your shelter passed inspection smoothly; that's definitely peace of mind.
"even treated wood can be unpredictable over time, especially in consistently damp conditions."
Totally agree with this. I've flipped a few homes where reclaimed wood looked amazing at first but warped badly after a couple of wet seasons. If you're set on that cozy reclaimed look, maybe consider adding some ventilation or a small dehumidifier to keep moisture levels down. Glad your inspection went smoothly though—nothing beats knowing you're ready when the weather turns rough.
"maybe consider adding some ventilation or a small dehumidifier to keep moisture levels down."
Good call on ventilation, but have you thought about sealing the wood with a breathable finish? I've read it helps manage moisture without trapping it... might be worth looking into for extra protection.
