How to Install Home Safe

We all have precious belongings that need to be appropriately secured. A personal safe for your cash, jewelry, legal documents, and passports can be a great burglar deterrent in addition to your home security system.

The installation and setup process of a personal safe is generally easy and does not require any additional professional help. This post will discuss the different types of safes and how to install a home safe to add a layer of protection for your valuables.

Types of home safes

Several different types of safes can provide burglar resistance and protect your valuables in the event of a fire.

The three types of safes are:

1. Floor/wall/fixed safes: These safes can be placed on a wall or floor with two or three bolts or as a standalone safe.

2. Underfloor safe: This type of safe can be buried in concrete or under the floor.

3. In-wall safe: A wall safe can go in the wall rather than on the wall. The safe door will be flush with the wall.

The best place for a home safe

There are many different places in your home that you can install a home safe. A burglar-proof safe is going to be heavy and thick compared to a fire-resistant safe. A fire-resistant safe is lighter and thinner. Since a burglar safe needs to be more inconspicuous, let’s discuss some options for where to place one.

• Consider placing the safe in a closet area or hidden from view, such as under the floorboards or behind a picture frame in the wall.

• Make sure the area where you want to install the safe is free of electric wires and piping.

• Check the building plans of your home to determine whether your chosen location will be able to bear the weight of the heaviest home safe.

• Be careful when placing a safe on floor joists.

Installing a home safe

The following sections will help you to understand how to install a typical home safe:

The easiest safes to install are floor, wall, and fixed safes

These safes are generally fixed to the floor or the wall with a few bolts. Expansion bolts are the best way to install these safes because as you tighten them, the bolts expand to make the safes even more secure. First, drill holes into the wall or floor before you do anything else. Then, mark where you want to drill with chalk, then drill holes with an electric drill and a masonry drill bit. Once the holes are drilled, fit the safe with the bolts over the holes and tighten them using a screwdriver or spanner, depending on the bolt.

Installing underfloor safes and wall safes are slightly trickier

For an underfloor safe, you first need to evaluate your floor. Is it made of concrete, or do you want to fit the safe under floorboards? For a concrete floor, excavate a hole around twice the size of the safe. Place the safe in the hole, and surround it with a concrete mix. Fitting a safe beneath the floorboards requires the safe to be placed in a pre-cut hole with wooden shuttering around it before the concrete is poured into the hole.

Wall safes are fit into a wall cavity

This type of safe requires a custom fit and is usually used in place of bricks. Wall safes are fairly secure, but not as secure as an underfloor option or good-quality, standalone safe.

Hopefully, this guide has helped you learn more about the benefits of having a home safe and how to install one once you purchase it. For maximum security, consider a professionally monitored home security system. Contact Brinks Home™ today.

Jason Stevens is a senior writer for Brinks Home. He is a "tech guy" who enjoys sharing home security and automation tips with others.