Hunter197 Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 Morning, I’m thinking about locations for a gun safe should I be granted SGC. The house is a new build with typical traits; stud walls & thermalite. option 1) In my dining room I’ve got a false wall consisting of floor to ceiling height cupboards, at the back of these cupboards is the plasterboard covered external wall. The integral shelving could be removed in one of these compartments to allow concealed fitment of a safe. option 2) there is the under stairs cupboard but this is kitted out well with a stacked washer and dryer, extractor, and my alarm control panel. Not worth messing with, it’s a good set up. option 3) board, light & ladder the loft and fix the safe to the end gable. Not that difficult, but possibly pointless if the false wall would be a better place? It would be great to get some discussion going, hear your thoughts and see your set ups? Especially those in new builds. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 In the loft on end gable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 I fitted a... OK the wife built it 😁.. A wardrobe around my gun safe. Coats, shirts etc hide it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter197 Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 12 minutes ago, London Best said: In the loft on end gable. Lovely set up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 12 minutes ago, London Best said: In the loft on end gable. Tease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 Thanks. The only problem is that it gets a PITA unlocking the lockable loft hatch and climbing up/down the ladder every time I want a gun or rifle in or out, which, normally, is frequently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggy74 Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 fit it to the gable wall in the loft, it will be signed off ok by the f.l.o. or whatever they are called these days. while he/she is there ask them about the cupboard and see what they say, it is out of sight and fixed to the fabric of the building so should be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 Depends on how easy or practical your loft access is; if it’s a pain then first option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 Don't think any Firearms Dept are doing home visits at the moment so you have plenty of time. Living room not ideal IMHO as easy access thru the doors and I'm guessing plasterboard walls behind cupboards? Stairs cupboard only if you remove the electrical items as condensation could be an issue so the loft would seem best. If you line the inside of your cabinet with Polystyrene Tiles and keep a sachet of VP90 inside you will prevent condensation/corrosion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPhantom Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 Don’t rule out lying the cabinet on the floor. I had the same issue when I moved to my new build and ending up bolting it to the floor joists in one of the built in wardrobes. Quite a tidy job but obviously would depend on the size of your safe. Mine is only a 3 gun safe but I reckon I could fit a 5 gun safe if I tried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demonic69 Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 With the right fixings the cupboard and external wall should be fine. You might need to attach it to wall and floor and resin the bolts into the wall. A mate had his declined in the loft because it was a pain to get to and the FLO reckoned he was more likely to leave a gun out than clamber up the loft ladder. He then fitted it as I described, though not concealed specifically, just out of sight for normal visitors and was approved no worries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 Use threaded bar and a two part epoxy resin anchor to fix your safe to any masonry wall. The gun safe should ideally be out if site and located in a position causal visitors to your house would not have access too. I like to be able to service & slip the guns without the children accessing or seeing them. I built a full gun room with lockable reinforced door in a dead space in a room on first floor; with the safe fixed inside of it. It’s great and no one knows that the room is even there or what’s behind the locked door.. If I did again I would plate the walls with ply before plasterboarding and include an extract vent to stop kit getting musty. My old gunroom in the last house was in a purpose built store room on the 3rd floor and it was a PITA dragging kit up and down the stairs. Ideally I would have a kit room off a garage and a lockable gun room off a dressing room in the master suite - need to wait until I have made some serious money for that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 (edited) Quote 1) In my dining room I’ve got a false wall consisting of floor to ceiling height cupboards, at the back of these cupboards is the plasterboard covered external wall. The integral shelving could be removed in one of these compartments to allow concealed fitment of a safe. I am told, but have no direct experience, that metal bolts to EXTERIOR walls are not ideal. The reason is that they allow temperature change in the cabinet and so promote rusting and/or wooden stock damp. Ditto the understair option with the washer and tumbler dryer. So that leaves only the loft. My concern would then be that an FEO may have worries that if the loft were difficult to access that you'd not lock the guns away if returning late or going out early. Is not another option under the floorboards and through bolted either side to the joists below? Edited April 30, 2020 by enfieldspares Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 they like it in upstairs bedroom, out of site of the public. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 Two good points for loft storage. If it’s difficult for you to access, it’s also difficult for anyone else. Apparently, burglars are not fond of climbing into lofts as they have no convenient fast exit, effectively being trapped up there should anyone enter the house whilst they are there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 Loft is certainly very safe, as long as the rifle or shotgun is actually up there locked away! If you have to access your gunroom via a hatch and ladder there must be a risk that when you get back in from lamping and your wife is asleep that the rifle doesn’t go away until the morning? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udderlyoffroad Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 2 minutes ago, mossy835 said: they like it in upstairs bedroom, out of site of the public. I know, but as long as you don't get caught, or touch any gate posts, whilst out on your one walk a day... Back to gun safes however. Cupboard with the correct fixings is your only option (resin anchors or specialist fixings from Screwfix/toolstation). Loft is massive PITA, and your FEO might not approve. Wouldn't worry about the tiny surface are of the bolts forming a thermal bridge, as you say the wall is insulated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoBodyImportant Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 4 hours ago, London Best said: In the loft on end gable. That’s a cool looking shooting room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter197 Posted April 30, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 Update Having looked again at the loft space, the gable wall is covered by chipboard. To be compliant with its energy rating I think. Would it be worth cutting it away, or alternatively pursuing the built in cupboard idea downstairs? Another thing worth mentioning, the entire downstairs is underfloor heated - so I can’t drill down into the floor anywhere downstairs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 Looks like a timber frame construction for at least the gable or it could be a spandrel panel on the party wall line. Are you completely sure you have a masonry inner leaf? It’s a ‘cold roof’ (insulation at joist kit rafter level) so the gable does not need to be insulated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 5 hours ago, mossy835 said: they like it in upstairs bedroom, out of site of the public. They are not alone in that one then ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 🤣🤣🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoBodyImportant Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 7 hours ago, MrPhantom said: Don’t rule out lying the cabinet on the floor. I had the same issue when I moved to my new build and ending up bolting it to the floor joists in one of the built in wardrobes. Quite a tidy job but obviously would depend on the size of your safe. Mine is only a 3 gun safe but I reckon I could fit a 5 gun safe if I tried. That’s a nice setup also. It doesn’t take up any space from your hanging clothes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoBodyImportant Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 5 hours ago, enfieldspares said: I am told, but have no direct experience, that metal bolts to EXTERIOR walls are not ideal. The reason is that they allow temperature change in the cabinet and so promote rusting and/or wooden stock damp. Ditto the understair option with the washer and tumbler dryer. So that leaves only the loft. My concern would then be that an FEO may have worries that if the loft were difficult to access that you'd not lock the guns away if returning late or going out early. Is not another option under the floorboards and through bolted either side to the joists below? I have stored guns out side in a non heated barn for years. I run a golden rod that keeps the safe temp a few degrees warmer then the outside. Condensation can’t form and guns can’t rust. This is in the Southern US humidity. If you do buy a golden rod buy the USA made one. It cost a little more but has a lifetime warranty, and I have ran them for 15 years with zero problems. The China ones last about 1-2 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 6 minutes ago, NoBodyImportant said: I have stored guns out side in a non heated barn for years. I run a golden rod that keeps the safe temp a few degrees warmer then the outside. Condensation can’t form and guns can’t rust. This is in the Southern US humidity. If you do buy a golden rod buy the USA made one. It cost a little more but has a lifetime warranty, and I have ran them for 15 years with zero problems. The China ones last about 1-2 years. Whats a 'golden rod'? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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