Home protection

[Clerihew]

Ok now I am about to be a first time home owner (closing date is October 28th 2008) and I was wondering if I was remembering everything I need to.

First question is about a gun safe. I was planning on getting one of those 30 minute fire safes that will hold like 15 long guns, papers etc...My question for this is, where is the best place for one of these? My thoughts were bolt it to the basement floor so even if someone had some time on their hands they wouldn't get it without a good fight! Is that going to be a good place for it? Also does anyone have a recommendation for a good one, hard to break into and good quality, I was looking at spending from 600 to 1,000 and currently only own 4 long guns and 6 pistols that will need storage along with important papers and other hard to replace items.


Other things I was planning on doing after I get the keys was before even moving anything in...ALL of the locks get changed! I was also going to get some of those motion detection lights to put up in front back and the sides of the house (the sides of the house have gates to the fenced in back yard).


I am also open to any other info or pointers anyone has to offer.

Clerihew

 

[NavyLCDR]

I had really good security storm doors. The shatterproof (windshield) type glass that locked with deadbolt type locks in three places. The hinges were screwed into the door frame itself with 3" screws as were the striker plates for the deadbolts. In addition to changing the locks put in the heavy duty, high security striker plates with 3" screws.

The high security storm door with the heavy glass can't be distinguished from a normal storm door but is a heckuva lot harder to force by pulling open, vice kicking in your entry door.

 

[JCMAG]

You might consider keeping your firearms and important documents concerning them in two separate but equally secured areas.

Keeping your safe secured in the basement works for some people but not for others. Wherever you place it, there is a difference between a glorified locker and a safe.

Here is a thread that gives some good suggestions: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=268879&highlight=safes

Here is a thread that discusses safe locations: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=269322&highlight=safes

It sounds like you are coming into the homeowner business very responsibly. Cheers.

 

[JDoe]

I was planning on getting one of those 30 minute fire safes that will hold like 15 long guns, papers etc...My question for this is, where is the best place for one of these? My thoughts were bolt it to the basement floor so even if someone had some time on their hands they wouldn't get it without a good fight! s that going to be a good place for it?

If your basement has any possible chance of a flood either natural or man made like from a burst pipe or hotwater tank don't put it there unless you are positive it is waterproof.

Also if your safe is in fact hard to get into you can make it extra hard for people to move out of your house buy purchasing some lead at the local metal recyclers and putting a few hundred pounds or more of that in your safe.

I Also does anyone have a recommendation for a good one, hard to break into and good quality, I was looking at spending from 600 to 1,000 and currently only own 4 long guns and 6 pistols that will need storage along with important papers and other hard to replace items.

It may be worth getting real safe deposit box in a bank for the papers and hard to replace items. Ask me how I know.

Other things I was planning on doing after I get the keys was before even moving anything in...ALL of the locks get changed!

Good start just make sure you do it right the first time and get good locks that are hard to bump. Google "lock bumping" for more info.

I was also going to get some of those motion detection lights to put up in front back and the sides of the house (the sides of the house have gates to the fenced in back yard).

Good ideas, also consider putting in those motion sensor night lights in your house. They are designed to put the night light on when you move around them but they also work as another alert of potential movement in the house. If you are unlucky enough to have a bad guy(s) in the house and be close enough the night lights can help give away their position so you are a little more ready.

Don't forget the fire/smoke/CO2/radon detectors, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, etc. either.

 

[MinnMooney]

Bolting it to the basement floor is good IF you're 100% sure that the basement will NEVER get wet - even if the power goes out (think 'sump pump') during a storm. Raise it 6"-8" on an elevated concrete pad and bolt it that way. Why not have it on an upper floor? Fire danger is higher the higher you go but water damage is lessened.
Get a safe that is big enough for the future!! Seems like most everyone regrets buying HD-TVs and gun safes after a couple of short years because they bought too small.

 

[Clerihew]

Thank you for the replies. The house I am buying isn't in a flood plain and did not flood with this last spate with the hurricane left overs but I didn't think about a burst pipe. The house being a quad level has two levels under grade so maybe that higher level would be a better choice of a location.

I also never thought to put motion lights inside my house...interesting concept I will have to look into, be nice for midnight trips to the kitchen for a glass of water in addition to the security bonus.

Those other two threads have some good info in them also (yes I know search is your friend hehe). Somewhat scary what a motivated individual could do, maybe I will get a cheaper one when we move in with our limited funds and save up for a better safe next year.

On a somewhat funny last note about fire extinguishers. I have had almost every friend and family member come over and say "oh you have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen, thats a great idea". I find it surprising the number of people that have nothing to put out a small fire with. At least when they see that I don't get the same question I do about carrying a side arm. I am sure some other people have had the same question...what are you so afraid of, someone gonna mug you at the store? Two tools of the same in my opinion there if you need but you hope never to use.

 

[CB900F]

Clerihew;

Also think sewer backing up into the basement as well as a burst pipe. Think of the accumulation of water from the fire dept putting out a fire above the basement.

If your doors do not have deadbolts, have them installed. Decent deadbolts will run about $50.00 each. In most cases they can be keyed alike with your door locks, as long as they are the same brand as the knoblock & hopefully therefore the same keyway. Without getting into the rather expensive security set-ups, I'll suggest the better Schlage locks & D-bolts.

A good fire safe for long guns at or under $1,000.00? Uh - no. In the 600 to 1000 price level you've specified, you'll be buying an RSC that's usually insulated with gypsum wall board. Gypsum sheet rock, fire rock, whatever they want to call it, is a good flame barrier, but isn't dense enough to be an effective heat sink with acceptable pass-through numbers.

I'll suggest going to the U.L. website & searching out their standard test procedures for their minimum rating for safe storage. Then, try to find out what the test procedures were on what you might be looking at buying. In other words, compare apples to apples, not apples to advertising.

Good fire protection in a safe able to handle long guns isn't cheap. My advice is to do the research & at least know the differences. Much better than buying a false sense of security and having a very rude awakening after a fire.

900F