How to Fit a Home Safe

Last Updated: December 22, 2016Updated underfloor safe to include the Churchill Euro Sapphire ES3.

Many homeowners prefer to install a home safe to protect their valuables such as jewellery, passports, bank statements and legal documents.

Compared to a desk or other storage spaces, home safes provide protection against burglary and theft. In addition, many of them are also fire-proof and can save precious personal belongings in the event of a fire. When buying a home safe, some homeowners may assume that fitting the safe may require specialised services. However, many of these safes are simple to install and can be fitted in the home using some common tools and materials. Here are some steps to install a home safe in the wall and on the floor:

You can easily install a safe in your wall

Compact safes, featuring all-steel construction and a dual-locking mechanism, are commonly used to protect precious personal belongings and documents. These wall safes may be opened using a key or a three-digit number combination. Some basic tools and materials such as stud finder or hammer, drywall saw, wood shims and screws, will be required to install the safe. You should find a suitable room, which is least suspected of being used as a storage space, to install the room safe. To begin installing a safe, you should locate two wall studs with a stud sensor or hammer and nail. After drawing a point around 12 inches ( 305mm) up from the floor, use a drywall saw to cut out an opening between the two studs on the wall. You should carefully cut this opening to avoid any damage to electrical wiring. The opening, which should extend ¼-inch (6mm) beyond the studs, can be filled with wood shims or plywood strips. You are now ready to insert the safe into the opening. With the door of safe open, insert it into the opening and press against the wall. You should use screws to fasten the safe to the studs. The safe is now ready for use and storing your valuables.

An underfloor safe can also be easily installed in a concrete floor or below floorboards

Although the installation of a floor safe may differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, such type of safes can be easily installed in a concrete floor. You will require:

a pencil,
electric jackhammer,
shovel,
plastic sheeting or weatherproof sealant

to install the underfloor safe. Using a pencil, mark the safe's body shape on the floor. You should leave an extra width of four inches on each side of the marking. Now using an electric jackhammer, break through the concrete floor by closely following the markings. You should use a shovel to dig around three inches deeper than the safe's height. To prevent any build up of moisture, line the hole with a plastic sheeting or weatherproof sealant. After pouring concrete, place the safe in the hole and level the concrete. You may also use a stick to stir the concrete and pour little at a time to fill the space around the safe. Once the concrete is dry, you can remove any excess concrete from the floor. To fit into the cavity under floorboards you would need to build some wooden shuttering underfloor large enough for both the safe body and the concrete mix. Otherwise the fitting is similar to that in a concrete floor.