{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2b\/Build-a-Secret-Laboratory-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Build-a-Secret-Laboratory-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2b\/Build-a-Secret-Laboratory-Step-1.jpg\/aid100307-v4-728px-Build-a-Secret-Laboratory-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>

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<\/p><\/div>"} 1 Learn something about building foundation engineering. This doesn't mean get a degree, but what good is a secret lab if it caves in on you, especially if it takes your house with it? This doesn't mean get a degree, but what good is a secret lab if it caves in on you, especially if it takes your house with it?

2 Build under the house.



If the house doesn't have a basement, but has a foundation, you can cut through the foundation and dig out a new 'basement' for your lab. This is where the engineering knowledge comes in handy. Depending on local laws, this is also likely to be illegal without permits, and very very difficult to get approved for a permit. See How to Dig Out a Basement in an Existing House. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/eb\/Build-a-Secret-Laboratory-Step-2Bullet1.jpg\/v4-460px-Build-a-Secret-Laboratory-Step-2Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/eb\/Build-a-Secret-Laboratory-Step-2Bullet1.jpg\/aid100307-v4-728px-Build-a-Secret-Laboratory-Step-2Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>

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If the house is a stilt house, there is less hassle in legality, but just as much engineering knowledge required to ensure the house doesn't slump or crumble down around you. Digging out the crawlspace to a decent height for walking around in is the method here. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/80\/Build-a-Secret-Laboratory-Step-2Bullet2.jpg\/v4-460px-Build-a-Secret-Laboratory-Step-2Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/80\/Build-a-Secret-Laboratory-Step-2Bullet2.jpg\/aid100307-v4-728px-Build-a-Secret-Laboratory-Step-2Bullet2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>

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<\/p><\/div>"} 3 Decide on an entrance method. Secret door, false closet back wall, 'trap' door in the floor, Secret door, false closet back wall, 'trap' door in the floor, classic bookshelf-door , stairs or ladder? A ladder takes the least floorspace from your excavation, but makes it very hard to bring in equipment and furniture. Stairs can take up a lot of space, but under-stairs storage can be very handy. Consider putting in two exits.

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<\/p><\/div>"} 5 Obtain necessary materials slowly and inconspicuously, preferably from towns or cities 2 to 4 hours away. Collect materials in a hidden area, possibly a storage unit rented in a near-neighboring town, under a pseudonym if you can.

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<\/p><\/div>"} 6 Make sure you have somewhere to put the excavated dirt. This isn't a video game; dug out dirt doesn't just disappear! Large mounds of dirt in the back yard are sure to raise questions, though if you start a parallel garden makeover and spend time landscaping with the dirt, the questions are answered. More work, but more secrecy. One idea is to build a terraced garden, with levels held back by retaining walls (see This isn't a video game; dug out dirt doesn't just disappear! Large mounds of dirt in the back yard are sure to raise questions, though if you start a parallel garden makeover and spend time landscaping with the dirt, the questions are answered. More work, but more secrecy. One idea is to build a terraced garden, with levels held back by retaining walls (see How to Build a Dry Stack Retaining Rock Wall ).

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<\/p><\/div>"} 7 Shore up your dirt walls. Dirt always wants to settle, so make sure it is braced to stay in place as you dig! This is especially important in areas and seasons with a lot of rain. You cannot over-shore!

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/ba\/Build-a-Secret-Laboratory-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Build-a-Secret-Laboratory-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/ba\/Build-a-Secret-Laboratory-Step-8.jpg\/aid100307-v4-728px-Build-a-Secret-Laboratory-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>

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<\/p><\/div>"} 8 Ensure structural support if you are tunneling to make a larger lab than your initial downward hole. This is related to shoring, but even more important. Failure here can mean death. Tunneling is not recommended unless you are a skilled tunnel engineer used to designing permanent tunnels like subway systems.

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3c\/Build-a-Secret-Laboratory-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Build-a-Secret-Laboratory-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3c\/Build-a-Secret-Laboratory-Step-9.jpg\/aid100307-v4-728px-Build-a-Secret-Laboratory-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>

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<\/p><\/div>"} 9 Make sure your walls are structured enough to hold back the dirt, hold up the structure above, and keep each other from falling inwards. Integrated beams between the walls can help maintain outward structural pressure, sacrificing a little headroom for safety.

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<\/p><\/div>"} 11 Provide power to your lab. Pull multiple taps off of several existing bedroom circuits (if newer wiring) or tap off of the least used house circuit (if older wiring). Know your house wiring techniques before doing any wiring, there are many books on the subject. If your lab power needs are too great for this wiring, get a new circuit installed by a licensed electrician, claiming for a high-power requirement laser printer, electric tankless water heater, new dryer, or power tools, depending on where the circuit will go, then tap off of that.