Protect Your Cash And Jewels With An Underfloor Safe
Posted on: 2 October 2015
If you keep a lot of cash or expensive jewelry in your home, then you need a good safe to protect it. A strong safe won't do much good though if a burglar can pick it up and carry it out of the house. For the ultimate security, you may want to install an underfloor safe that is embedded in concrete. That would be impossible for a burglar to remove in a short period of time, and since it is hidden under the floor, the burglar may never even find it. Here's what you need to know about an underfloor security safe.
Installing The Safe
An underfloor safe needs to be installed in concrete to be secure. That means the safe will go in your basement or garage, or into the slab of your home. You'll need a contractor to break up the concrete to create a hole for the safe. Then the safe is lowered into the hole and new cement is poured around the sides to seal the safe in place. The only part visible is the flat plate over the door on top. This can be easily camouflaged in some way or just covered with flooring, a rug, or piece of furniture.
Choosing The Lock
Since the safe is secure in the concrete, the only vulnerable part of the safe is the lock. Buy a safe with the most secure locking mechanism you can find. You'll want to avoid an electronic lock though. Since the safe is in the foundation of your house, it will be exposed to dampness and water. This could damage an electronic lock. Instead, go with a dial lock, key lock, or a combination lock. If you're used to electronic locks, keep in mind you'll have to manually lock the safe every time you use it. Lock it and test the lock before walking away from your safe.
Picking The Safe
Underfloor safes should be made to withstand all kinds of threats, since they can't be removed, and they are exposed to water in the foundation. The safe should be fire resistant and waterproof. The lids need to be watertight so no moisture can seep inside and damage your cash and jewels. Underfloor safes are not any more expensive than other safes, so you can find one that offers the protection you need for a reasonable price. The expense associated with the safe comes with the installation process.
Underfloor safes come in different shapes and sizes. You can buy a small safe shaped like a cylinder or a large rectangular unit. The rectangular units may have a cylinder on top with a screw lid and lock. This reduces the risk of water intrusion, but it also limits the size of the objects you can put into the safe. Also, keep in mind, you can never pull the safe up, you can only stick your arm inside, so buy a safe that is easy for you to get your things out of when you want them.
An underfloor safe is probably the most secure way to keep your valuables at home since the safe is embedded in concrete. The only way a burglar can get to your cash is if he or she can breech the lock or bust through the lid. If you buy a quality safe, that won't be possible unless the intruder is a highly skilled safe cracker.
For more information about your option, contact a local safe company or visit sites like http://arapahoesecurity.com.
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