Fireproof Safe Installation

First, hack a hole in the floor or wall

Just kidding, you’ll need a few tools to start, like a measuring tape, means to cut the hole, pencil, and installation hardware that should have come with your safe. Exactly how you’re going to cut the hole in the floor or wall will depend on the material you’re dealing with, but if you’ve got the means and muscle to handle it, we recommend a reciprocating saw.

Floor vs. Wall Safes The floor or wall safe is the most secure way to keep a safe in your home, but really we prefer the floor safe if we had a choice. This is because they are easier to conceal, less likely to be discovered by thieves, and, once in, are tougher to get out. Mainly because people are very familiar with the portrait or large photograph that conceals the wall safe, the floor safe concealed by a rug is a little less obvious. Likewise, floor joists and floor boards are a little more robust than typical wall studs, meaning you can install a sturdier safe and know it will be tougher to get out if a particularly industrious thief wants to try and remove the safe. Floor safes, however, are often not rated for fire, meaning they are better for protecting precious metals and jewelry, but not as good for documents or cash. This is a broad observation - there are, of course, some floor safes out there that are fire rated.

Some Considerations for Fireproof Safe Installation
A floor safe is secured when enshrouded in concrete on the bottom floor. However, if this isn’t an option, simply make sure it is firmly secured between the joists and add extra support for it from the ceiling underneath. Depending on the level of security you want, you may want to affix some thick steel plates to the joists instead of leaving them bare or using concrete. This has the advantage of providing a firmer footing for the safe and makes it more difficult to cut the safe out.

All things considered, you may prefer to pay somebody to do this job. But, despite what salespeople or contractors may tell you, installing a floor safe is not an impossibility for anyone with some carpentry and handyman skills.