Installing a floor safe

Selecting a location for the installation of a floor safe

When you have determined that you want a safe on your residence, you will need to determine where the safe shall be located.  This is one critical factor in determining what type of safe as well as the size and shape you will need to purchase.  Another factor will be the degree of security that you feel you will need.  Wall safes and floor safes are best if you are storing valuables such as precious metals, coins, cash, or other items with easily transferable cash value.  These safes have an extra layer of security in that their presence is hidden from plain site.

I personally favor the In-Floor Safe because of the extra degree of protection it has from discovery and from removal.  Additionally when the floor safe is installed on the lowest level of the residence it can be installed in a completed home without reframing in the house.  This will of course require that a hole be cut into the ground floor or basement slab to accommodate the safe installation.  Careful consideration must go into determining the location and consultation with a licensed and very reputable contractor is highly recommended.  Often times plumbing lines (Water or Sewage) and electrical lines cross the structure and are either embedded into or underneath the slab.  Also sump drainage lines will often run near the foundation walls in a basement.

When determining the installation site, consider the natural paths of foot traffic. By that I mean that when people cross or move about a room they follow paths of convenience. These paths will be different with furniture present, and are dependent upon the actual arrangement of that furniture.  This is important because the dust or surface cover of the floor safe can be easily discovered should someone walk on it.  Remember, keeping the existence of the safe a secret is in of itself a major part of its security.

The floor of a closets and the base of semi-permanent fixtures such as cabinets provide good protection against accidental discovery, but may not provide much protection for experienced criminals, especially if they have reason to believe a home safe maybe present.

While hiding the installation of a floor safe under furniture may seem like an easy solution, as previous mentioned keeping the presence of the safe below the radar is critical.  If the safe is too difficult to reach, or requires a large disturbance in the furnishings to access it, keeping its presence discrete will be more difficult.

Bottom line – consider the location of the safe’s final installation site carefully.  Make sure that location supports the life style of your home, and can be kept discrete with little effort.