My current gun safe could stand an upgrade in the not too distant future. I'm in no rush to do this and just starting the "homework" phase. I have a basement closet available that I think could be turned into something to fill that need. The closet is 20" deep, 48" wide, and 8' tall with poured concrete walls on 3 sides. The existing door is 3' wide. There is no light or power in the closet currently, but I have power adjacent to it and I'm comfortable with adding the necessary lighting/outlet inside.

So far, I'm thinking:

I want something that LOOKS the part of a normal door at first glance. I don't want to go with a traditional "vault" door that would stand out. Maybe a steel exterior door in a similar style to my current interior doors with higher end/more heavy duty locks?

I think a goldenrod and LED overhead lighting would be sufficient for my power needs on the interior. Is there anything else I should consider?

What's the best storage system around now for different types of guns? One of the slat wall setups? Any preferences on brand?

What else should I be considering? Anyone who has done this, what's the one thing you wish you had thought of prior to building it out?

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
This is the best gun closet I've seen (or at least remember seeing) on Sigforum

Thanks for the link!

I searched and nothing came up. Not sure how I missed this one.

A Dade county rated hurricane impact door and frame is what you're looking for. They look like normal doors. The best gun safes are the ones you can't find. So a false wall might make more sense for what you're looking to do.

My son is building a home for someone and it will have a hidden gun room .The entrance will be behind some bookshelves with a concealed latch . It will have a couple of the client's gun safes inside so a separate door was not requested .

quote:

Originally posted by bryanZ06:

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
This is the best gun closet I've seen (or at least remember seeing) on Sigforum

Thanks for the link!

I searched and nothing came up. Not sure how I missed this one.

You obviously didn’t read the waiver.

-Rob

When we built it, my previous house had a dedicated "gun" closet in the master bedroom, with a keylock door. Mainly to keep the kids out of stuff. I had plans to build a bookshelf that attached to the door to disguise it, but never got around to it.

If it's not hidden , it's not safe

quote:

Originally posted by selogic:
My son is building a home for someone and it will have a hidden gun room .The entrance will be behind some bookshelves with a concealed latch . It will have a couple of the client's gun safes inside so a separate door was not requested .

I have always wondered about this situation. I worked in construction in college and I either sub-contracted directly, or co-subcontracted with my builder on several different construction projects.

I say the above as a preface, because I know firsthand that some of the labor that subcontractors hire are not exactly the most upstanding people in the world, and in a situation like this, I would expect different subcontractors and their people would be around the construction of such a room. In other words, a lot of people would know about it.

How does your son handle that? Does he do anything special to "guard" this part of the construction? This may not be practical, it is just a question that has always bugged me.


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I would keep the existing door, and add a true safe door behind it.

Some companies will sell just a door with frame, or the same with the entire safe front. Invincible Safes in Sacramento does this, they make extremely tough safes.