How To Build A Gun Safe In A Closet?
We have all seen the headlines about burglars breaking into houses and stealing guns. It is a scary thought, but one that we can’t avoid considering. The question is, what are you going to do about it?
Why not turn your closet into a gun safe? A gun safe in your closet is an excellent idea for anyone with a large number of guns that they want to protect from theft or other damage.
A closet gun safe will not only keep your guns out of reach of burglars, but it will also keep them out of reach of children and other household members who might be tempted to get them.
It will also keep them away from the elements, which would cause rust or corrosion to form on the metal parts. Building a gun safe in a closet is not as complicated as it sounds. In this article, we will cover all the steps that you need to take to build your own gun safe.
Why Should You Turn A Closet Into A Secure Gun Safe?
A closet is a great place to store your gun. It is easy to get access to, and it’s out of sight. The only downside is that it’s not secure. If someone breaks in, they will be able to get your gun and use it against you.
That is why it is a good idea to turn the entire closet into a gun safe. There are many reasons why you should turn your closet into a secure gun safe.
First of all, you will be able to store your firearms in a safe place. You will also have easy access to them when you need them. You won’t have to worry about the safety of your family and friends when they come over.
Secondly, it will make your home safer for everyone in it. There is no need for a criminal to break into the house if they can’t find any firearms inside it.
It is also much harder for an intruder to steal firearms from a closet than from an open shelf or drawer inside the house.
Lastly, having a gun safe at home is more efficient and more cost-effective than purchasing one at the store and then installing it there yourself.
Step By Step Guide On Turning A Closet Into A Secure Gun Safe
There are many different reasons why people would want to convert their closets into gun closets. Some of these reasons include:
- A need for more storage space in their home
- Concerns about gun safety and the need for increased security
- A desire to have a place where they can store their guns that is not in plain sight.
There are many different ways that you can convert your closet into a gun closet. Some of these ways include:
- By installing shelves or racks inside the closet to hold your guns safely and securely
- By installing a locking door on the outside of the closet so that you can lock up your guns when you’re not using them
- By adding a small separate room inside your house just for storing your guns
This guide will show you how to turn your closet into a secure gun safe.
1. Choosing The Proper Closet
The first thing you need to do is to decide which closet in your house you want to convert. This will depend on the size of your house and how many closets you have. Next, determine what type of gun closet you would like.
You can choose from a basic gun cabinet, a lockable gun safe, or even a combination of the two. Your next step is to get the measurements for your chosen closet and then measure its height and width, and depth.
You should also measure any shelving that might already be present in this space if possible. Finally, make sure that there is enough room for all of your guns and other items you plan to store there.
2. Decide On The Type Of Safe
Next, you will have to decide whether you want a floor-to-ceiling or wall-to-wall gun safe. Again, this decision will depend on your closet’s space available.
A floor-to-ceiling gun safe would be best if your space is limited because it takes up less space than a wall-to-wall gun safe.
3. Going With A Closet Gun Safe
Some naysayers warn against installing a large biometric gun safe in your closet because it’s one of the places burglars look for valuables. However, despite stats supporting this assertion, a properly secured safe is incredibly difficult to move.
For maximum protection, every safe should be bolted into place. To ensure a proper door swing, you should also level your safe when it’s installed so that it will continue to function properly.
4. Update Your Closet’s Interior
It is common for home builders to construct closets that accommodate items such as clothing, furniture, and confidential material. This is not appropriate for storing firearms.
Can you always rely on your closet to meet your gun safety needs? Gun storage requires a different setup.
It’s best to start by removing any unnecessary features that may be taking up space on your computer. It may be necessary to remove the closet rod or small shelving that is too small for your slide out gun safe.
Keep everything organized in boxes. Closet shelves and rods, for example, would consume your larger spaces. It would be a good idea to remove them from the very beginning.
There will also be those who wish to include their gun safe in the gun closet. However, this extra layer may not be necessary for many people if they install a secret door to hide the closet as intended.
However, if you have a secure closet, you may need to store a mechanical gun safe there. It can easily be done with a few minor adjustments.
Another option is to reinforce the closet walls themselves. It’s good to have thicker walls or even add ballistic Kevlar panels to defend against firearms.
5. Organizing Your Gun Closet Interior
Now that you have more space, you can think about how you would like to store your guns. The first step in organizing your gun closet interior is figuring out what categories of guns you have.
This can be done by looking at the type of gun or by identifying which guns you use the most. Once you have figured out what categories of guns you have, it is time to figure out how you want to organize them.
The best way to organize your firearms is to install a free-standing or wall-mounted gun rack. Additionally, you will want to manage your ammunition and equipment storage.
6. Making A Secret Door For Your Closet
Organizing the firearms, updating the interior, and keeping all other gun accessories in place won’t make them disappear. On the contrary, if you don’t hide your gun closet, then you are simply making criminals’ jobs easier by putting all the “good stuff” together.
In other words, if you don’t have a secured door, criminals will be able to find all the firearms in one place much easier. There are many types of doors – made of wood, steel, and other materials.
I recommend getting a wooden one with a perfect lock system and deadbolt.
Of course, the door must match the size of your closet’s door. Otherwise, you are wasting your money.
So don’t forget to take the proper measurements of the opening before heading to the store.
Consider a mirror door if you want extra security. A gun safe for bedside table can also be used inside a closet.
It’s a mind game that leaves them empty-handed. Mirror doors would look like natural bedroom furniture. You’re better off getting a steel-made door with a lot of deadbolts if the mirror one doesn’t work.
7. Make A Stronger Structure
It is still possible to break into a typical walk-in closet through an adjoining wall even with a heavier door in place. The only way around these problems in the vast majority of cases is to reinforce the closet’s interior walls.
Doing so, however, often requires a lot of work on the part of the homeowner. It is popular to secure rebar or thicker wood layers between the perimeter walls of a safe room in order to prevent alternate access.
Although this usually involves tearing out existing drywall, few methods are better for protecting your makeshift gun room.
The walls of a closet can be reinforced to prevent intruders from bashing in with a pick or crowbar. For fear of being caught in the act, a thief won’t attempt to steal objects that are hard to access.
8. Install An Alarm And Motion Detector
Wouldn’t it be nice to be notified when there is an unwanted breach? It might be a good idea to install a motion sensor inside the closet to alleviate this concern. If a criminal trial happens in your closet, the motion detector will detect it as quickly as lightning.
You should set an alarm that rings your ears each time someone enters the closet without your permission if you don’t want to be notified.
As a security measure, you can also get an alarm installed outside your house. As a result, your neighbor can also be a good source of information and assistance when something goes wrong.
In reality, an alarm with a sound level of 130dB will suffice. However, it depends upon your choice. Also, install a moisture absorber for safes inside the closet.
9. Making It Fireproof
Could the closet be made fireproof? As long as you fix everything in specific places, you can make your closet a cheap gun safe that is fire-rated without spending a lot of money as well.
10. Installing A Digital Keypad Lock
Your firearms might appear to be secure and settled now. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a bit more security, though? There are digital keypad locks available online. They’ll improve your security.
You can unlock your doors with a digital keypad instead of keys. Oh, and did you know? We thought criminals were good at picking keypad locks, but they’re not always so good. It is therefore a wise investment.
From the old-fashioned keypad to a digital one, technology evolved. You can choose one with buttons or one with a screen. Both provide top-of-the-line closet security.
What To Keep In Mind When Choosing A Closet To Build A Gun Safe?
You need to keep in mind a few things when choosing a closet to build a gun safe. Depending on how you plan to use it, this will vary. For instance, are these weapons intended for emergency use? You’ll need to choose an accessible closet, such as one in your bedroom.
Alternatively, is it for the storage of firearms for sport? If so, you might want to opt for a larger closet located in another area of the house where quick access is not as critical.
Some Other Advantages Of Building A Gun Closet
Some people may not want to keep their guns out in the open, so a gun closet is perfect for them.
They allow you to keep your firearms hidden away from prying eyes so that you don’t have to worry about someone else getting access to them.
There are plenty of other advantages as well. For example:
- Even a large gun safe can be hidden
- You can make use of gun vaults for cars if you have more than one
- By creating a highly desirable addition to a standard closet, a gun closet increases home value
- You do not need to block the space in your home
- If you use a secret door, you can keep your guns safe from intruders or criminals.
- It is convenient to store your firearms inside a secure gun closet
Are Cedar Closets Good For Storing Guns?
Closets made of cedar usually have a high moisture content. People often don’t use them to store their guns because they’re not as dry as other types of furniture, so they rust faster than expected.
Nevertheless, this type of wood is also known for its durability over time. Despite the fact that humidity corrodes a bit, you still think about the damage it may do to your items.
It has nothing to do with moisture levels that wood gun safes have been popular for so long! It is possible, however, to get rid of the moisture problem in a different way. You can use a desiccant dehumidifier or electric dehumidifier.
Final Words
Guns are not only expensive, but they also come with many security issues. Let’s face it. A lot of them are not stored properly, which is an issue because they’re not protected if they’re stolen.
If you have large closet space and a lot of guns, it might be worth considering putting in a small gun safe that’s out of sight but still secure.
