Properly installing a gun safe offers an extra layer of security. It also protects your investment by ensuring your safe is level and functioning properly.
The following outlines how to properly install a gun safe, the benefits of hiring a professional gun safe installation team, and the best places to install a safe.
6 Steps to Properly Install a Gun Safe
1. Measure the Location
Before you move your safe, do yourself a favor and measure the location. No one needs to waste the time and effort of discovering their safe doesn’t fit when installing it. You’ll want to measure for:
- Width
- Depth
- Height
- Door Swing
2. Prepare the Area
Before installing your gun safe, prepare the area. Make sure the surface is clean and level. You’ll also want to ensure a clear pathway to your desired location. The more direct this pathway is, the easier it will be.
3. Gather Necessary Tools and Equipment
Gather all the tools and equipment you’ll need for the installation. This includes:
- Power drill and appropriate drill bits
- Level
- Screwdriver
- Anchor bolts or lag bolts (depending on the safe and installation surface)
- Pencil or marker for marking drill points
- Shims for leveling the safe
4. Move the Safe into Position
Carefully position the gun safe in the chosen location. Depending on the size and weight of the safe, you may need a hand cart, hydraulic lift, or moving straps. This is one of the most difficult and dangerous parts of installing a safe.
If you have any concerns about safely installing a gun safe, it is strongly recommended that you hire a professional installer. An experienced gun safe delivery and installation team will have all the proper gear to safely move your safe and protect your walls, door frames, and floors.
5. Level Your Safe
Leveling your safe is one of the most important aspects of installing a gun safe. Ensuring your safe is level helps:
- Promote proper air circulation, limiting moisture buildup inside your safe.
- Ensures a proper door swing, ensuring the door keeps functioning properly.
6. Bolt Your Safe to the Floor
Bolting your safe to the floor is another critical step to protecting your valuables. When a safe is properly bolted to the floor, it can’t be tipped over or hauled away — making it exponentially more difficult for a thief to break in.
Why Hire a Professional to Install Your Gun Safe?
When you buy a gun safe from a big box store, they typically only offer curbside delivery. While moving and installing your safe may seem like a project you and your friends can handle, most gun safes are a far cry from a couch or even a refrigerator.
Most gun safes weigh a few hundred pounds (if not a thousand-plus). Without the proper tools and skills, it’s highly likely that you might be left staring at a safe on the curb. You might also find that attempting to move the safe can be dangerous and potentially damage your home.
Hiring a professional to deliver and install your safe mitigates these risks. A gun safe delivery expert can also help you evaluate where you are installing your safe. If you have more than one option, they can help you weigh the pros and cons.
Best Places to Install a Gun Safe
Generally speaking, it’s best to install your gun safe in a discrete location, such as in a closet or under a stairway. After all, someone can’t steal what they don’t know is there. And considering how much guns and ammunition cost, you’ll want to keep them securely stored.
Can I Install My Gun Safe in the Garage?
Because garages tend not to be temperature-controlled, most people caution against installing a gun safe in one. Fluctuating temperatures can cause moisture to build up in the safe, putting your firearms, ammo, and valuables at risk of damage from corrosion and mold.
But with the proper installation and safety precautions, you can mitigate the risk of moisture. Leveling your safe is the first step. The second is utilizing a dehumidifier to eradicate any moisture that does get into your safe.
Can I Install My Gun Safe on the Second Story?
Weight is a common concern when considering a second-story installation. Gun safes weigh a lot, and you may wonder if your floor can handle the weight. But consider all the other extremely heavy things installed on the second floor of homes—like a bathtub that ends up getting filled with water. The most popular gun safes are roughly this size and weight. To be double sure, check with an engineer or homebuilder to verify that the floor is strong enough. Of course, any concrete floor will likely be okay.
Should I Hide My Gun Safe?
As we said before, someone can’t steal what they don’t know is there. Hiding a gun safe can be a good way to prevent people from knowing it’s there. You can hide it by installing it in a discrete location. Alternatively, you might consider using a gun safe cloak, which makes your safe look like a closet!
Sam Jacobs is a passionate advocate for Second Amendment rights and an avid historian. As lead writer for Ammo.com, he delves into the intersection of firearms, freedom, and corporate power. With a penchant for defending individual liberties, his work sparks discussions in various publications and platforms.
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