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For handy homeowners, concrete projects are DIYable, and DIYing is a good way to save on the cost of a concrete slab, walkway, or other concrete work. If you’re completing a larger project or one that’s subject to building codes, you should always hire a professional to ensure the job is done safely and correctly.

It’s possible to pour concrete if the temperatures are expected to dip below freezing at night, but you need to take some special precautions before you do. Most importantly, you need to make sure your concrete won’t freeze, so the best thing to do is enclose the area and heat it. You should also make sure you’re using cold-weather concrete that’s designed for pouring in cold weather. Use accelerants to help speed up the curing process and avoid cold temperatures from resulting in weak concrete.

Concrete houses cost 10% to 20% more to build than stick-built homes, and maintenance on home systems is more invasive and expensive due to pipes and wires being buried in concrete. Concrete homes can also look more industrial and less comfortable if you don’t cover the concrete with finishing materials. It’s also more challenging to make changes to concrete, so reframing doors and windows or building home additions will cost more. Concrete needs time to cure, too, so the timeline to build a house out of concrete is a bit longer.

Aim for a concrete thickness of at least 4 inches for the walls of your above-ground storm shelter and 3.0 to 3.5 cubic yards of concrete for the base of your storm shelter. If you’re concerned about the thickness of your concrete while building a storm shelter, get in touch with a professional storm shelter builder to make sure your work is up to code and safe.