Gun Vault Installation (5 big photos)

[a1abdj]

I was contacted awhile back by someone who may or may not be a member of this forum. He or She was building a new house, and wanted something to secure a few inexpensive guns.

They picked out something used that they thought would do the job, and I drove it out and installed it for them recently.

Because of the weight, we had to have a crane come out and lower it in the basement for us.



The basement has very high ceilings, so it's quite a ways down.



You're looking into the vault here. It will be around 1,000 square feet with the same high ceilings as the rest of the basement. The roof of the vault will also be the floor of a garage.

Somebody has to be inside the vault to secure the door once it's in place. Typically, the roof is on the vault when we put the door on, leaving the possibility of being trapped inside in the dark. Eric drew the short straw this time, so he's shown in this photo.



This is Mike removing some rigging from the door after Eric secured it from inside the vault.



Job complete.

 

[MikePGS]

A few inexpensive guns? I can only imagine what they'd get for some family heirlooms Nice job, thanks for the pics.

 

[sierrabravo45]

I will need your assistance in about 5 years.


Thats freakin' AWESOME!!

 

[sierrabravo45]

What is being used for the ceiling?

Cement with Rebar Reinforcement.
Cement with Expanded Carbon Steel or something like that??

Or Both, make sure the ceiling is stout!!

 

[a1abdj]

What is being used for the ceiling?

The floor, ceiling, and wall are 12" thick, high psi concrete, with 3 layers of alternating rebar. I believe they are using some sort of prestressed panels for the roof/garage floor and pouring the concrete on top of it.

 

[kd7nqb]

I want one.

 

[MarshallDodge]

That's awesome.
I was thinking of doing something in my last house like that on a smaller scale....6'X10' with a door from Zanotti armor.

 

[ShunZu]

Contact Fort Knox and tell'em they've been outdone

 

[sm]

a1abdj,
Thanks for sharing with great pics!

I'm familiar with some of this.
-Its a long way up without a ladder...in a installation like this one.
-It is real dark inside if there is no top.

 

[Thernlund]

I think I'm having a spatial orientation problem. That 4th pic looks above ground, but that's the outside of the basement vault door? Maybe the house is on a hill (guessing from the last pic)?


-T.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Cost?

 

[Euclidean]

That's so awesome. The problem is though, you can only realistically afford it if you're making new construction. I wish it was simple and cost effective to install that level of security into existing structures.

 

[a1abdj]

Maybe the house is on a hill

Yes. The photo showing the steel beams is ground level in front of the house. Walls are roughly 14' tall. Walk out basement.

Cost?

Can vary wildly. In this case, the door, delivery, and installation (not including crane rental) was around $7,000. A new door similar to this would run in the $25,000 range for the door alone. Like antiques? That could put you in the $100,000 range for a fully restored circular door.

Those prices do not include the concrete work, which will also vary wildly depending on the particulars. In most modern homes, you could add an 8 x 8 vault with lighter weight door for less than $6,000 all inclusive.

That's so awesome. The problem is though, you can only realistically afford it if you're making new construction. I wish it was simple and cost effective to install that level of security into existing structures.

This is mostly true, even with the lighter doors. It is much easier to do this type of work during the construction process, especially with a house.

They do make modular vaults, which are much easier to assemble inside of an existing structure. It would still be difficult to do inside of a house.

 

[rkh]

The only way to improve that setup would be to have a vault door that swings inwards.

 

[Regolith]

Maybe its just the tinfoil hat speaking. but I'm thinking it might have been better had you covered the vault with a blanket or something until you had it down in the vault. Now anyone who was watching from the street can see that that person has a very large vault installed in their home. Although, now that they know that, they have to figure out a way to get in there......which may require explosives.

But....if I ever build a home, I am definately going to spring for a setup like that. Hell, I might just build the entire place out of reinforced concrete. I hear it insulates well.

 

[30 cal slob]

holy crap!

i like.

maybe i can sell the idea to the missus when we're thinking about moving on to the next shack.

"but honey, you can store your $700/pair manolo blahnik shoes in there too."

$6,000 all-in? actually, that's not as bad as i thought.

just to reiterate ... that's a used door, right?

 

[Kimber1911_06238]

nice set-up....the price actually doesn't seem that bad

 

[romma]

Whew! The Highpoints and Ravens are safe from thieves!

 

[El Tejon]

*tears of joy*

Two years ago they knocked down a bank across the street from my office. Demolishing the vault took two days. I knew I should have made an offer on that vault door. Where would I put it?

 

[Rumble]

Holy. Cow. I think that door weighs more than my house.

 

[RubenZ]

What actually holds the Door to the Concrete? Doesn't look like there is any real support for the door. Looks like you could chisel around the edges and door would fall down.

 

[strat81]

Although, now that they know that, they have to figure out a way to get in there......which may require explosives.

I could do it. I've seen Ocean's 11 *several* times.

Anyone friends with an Asian acrobat?

 

[a1abdj]

Demolishing the vault took two days. I knew I should have made an offer on that vault door.

Be glad you didn't. In most cases, vault companies such as myself get their hands on the good usable doors. If the door was being torn down with the building, it was probably only worth scrapping.

Let's say the door had some rust on it, and you had to take it apart and clean it off. You'd be looking at a few weeks worth of labor and thousands of dollars. If you needed anything plated because of pitting, then double that amount.

Holy. Cow. I think that door weighs more than my house.

This door had about 4.5" of alloy, and weighs around 5,000 pound. Modern day composite doors weigh less.

What actually holds the Door to the Concrete? Doesn't look like there is any real support for the door. Looks like you could chisel around the edges and door would fall down.

3 things. First are the jackbolts which extend from the door frame to the concrete. These put pressure between the two, and are used to level the door in the opening. Second is the rear trim, which is heavy plate steel, and is larger than the opening. Third is "grout", which is a high psi concrete type fill used to seal the void between the door and the wall.

Removing a door like this is not easy. It took me two days to remove this one from the bank it was in, and I had access to the inside.

 

[sully0812]

Can vary wildly. In this case, the door, delivery, and installation (not including crane rental) was around $7,000. A new door similar to this would run in the $25,000 range for the door alone. Like antiques? That could put you in the $100,000 range for a fully restored circular door.

So if one were interested in a similar project in the not too distant future, where would one shop for such a vault door? Did he get it from you as something that you had in stock? Is it just a matter of luck to find something like that? Or is there a marketplace you can tap into? How do you get started looking for something like that?

Those prices do not include the concrete work, which will also vary wildly depending on the particulars. In most modern homes, you could add an 8 x 8 vault with lighter weight door for less than $6,000 all inclusive.

No kidding! I always imagined it to be far more than that. And I've been budgetting accordingly, while saving for the next home. That's encouraging to know!

They do make modular vaults, which are much easier to assemble inside of an existing structure. It would still be difficult to do inside of a house.

I assume you mean some sort of prefabricated deal? Is there anyplace on line where I can research this? Any chance you could throw some company names out for reference?

Where does one get started on planning a project like this? I notice you are in MO, how would I go about finding a reputable similar company in my neck of the woods? Just look in the yellow pages? I think I might get some sideways looks if I walked into the bank and asked them who constructed their vault.

It's all very foreign to me, but something I am VERY interested in researching and learning more about.

 

[MilsurpShooter]

Wow, if I ever get the money and the land I'd love to do something like that... Wonder if the family would give me something like that for Christmas