What To Put Under Gun Safe On Concrete?
It’s not a good idea to place a free-standing gun safe directly on top of concrete. It’s because concrete has an absorbing and releasing ability, especially in basements. Humidity in the basement causes moisture to be trapped beneath a safe.
The integrity of the safe can be damaged by rust. The base of a gun safe should be protected from the concrete floor by a barrier. In this post, I outline some crafty ideas for installing an under-safe barrier.
The safe does not need to be modified in any significant way. It will include specific products to use so that this adjustment can be made as easy as possible. I kept the project’s budget low as well.
What to put under a gun safe on concrete?
If you are in the process of buying a new large gun safe or small gun safe and want to know what to put under it on concrete floors, you are at the right place. You can either put it on some 4×4’s or keep it on the pallet.
There are also hockey pucks. They are best for airflow, and you can bolt right through them. There is a custom of putting a hockey puck under every corner, but you may want to use something thinner instead. By doing so, you’ll be able to circulate air under the safe floor.
Gun Safe Base: Rubber Vs. Wood Vs. Carpet
A gun safe’s bottom material should be carefully selected. With wood, you can customize and build things, but there are some drawbacks to consider as well. The most versatile material, rubber, has the highest degree of difficulty in working with it.
The cheapness of carpet can be explained by its cheapness as well as its ability to be installed well. All of these examples are based on a nightstand gun safe enclosed in a concrete room.
Rubber
I recommend placing a gun safe above a rubber barrier. There are a variety of sizes and shapes for rubber mats, so finding the right one is easy. Compared to hardwood or carpet, it is fairly inexpensive. Anti-vibration rubber mats also prevent moisture from soaking into the floor. Rubber is the most durable of the materials examined. One nice thing about rubber mats is that they can be used for moisture protection while still being thin.
Rubber is hard to cut, which is one of its negative characteristics. Although useful for security, it is difficult to customize.
Wood
It’s great to use wood underneath a gun safe. With little work, a platform can be built to any size. As an alternative to gun safes on the ground, boards are an inexpensive way to raise them.
Overtop carpet and concrete can be covered with plywood. It is easy to cut plywood into a shape. As a result, there would be a solid foundation beneath the gun safe. It’s hard to get underneath and cut through.
Even though wood absorbs moisture, it can be treated and sealed first. In addition to being flammable, wood also has other disadvantages. Burning wood can damage the integrity of the mount, potentially worsening the problem. Although this scenario is unlikely, it is worth considering.
Carpet
You can easily cover a safe with carpet. A gun safe can be covered with extra carpet that is lying around. Having this look isn’t the sexiest or cleanest choice, but it isn’t overly noticeable. It is still possible for concrete to absorb water.
It is possible for carpets to become humid, and without the flow of air, they will never be able to dry. Defeats the purpose of preventing rust in gun safes. Any possible flooding will also lead to the carpet absorbing a lot of water. Gun safes cannot be leveled on the carpet because they can be uneven.
Things You Can Put Under Your Gun Safe On Concrete
Where you will install your gun safe is one of the many things you should consider when choosing one. A safe’s surface must also be considered.Several surfaces can be used to install gun safes. Surface preparation can vary depending on the type of surface.
Sheet Of Plywood Or Rubber Matting
The footprint of a safe can be customized by cutting plywood or rubber matting to size. Vibrating pads can be used to raise the gun safe to allow airflow. As well as being made for household appliances such as washers and driers, vibration pads can be used for gun safes.
In terms of toughness and availability, stall mats stand out. These rubber mats are applied to horse stalls, where they are durable and can be drilled through. These can be purchased at any tractor supply store or online.
Rubber mats are another versatile multipurpose product, which is often used as gym/exercise floor mats. It is possible for them to come as interlocking puzzle shapes to put together. If your gun safe is smaller, you might be able to customize this.
Ice Hockey Pucks
A vehicle gun safe can be raised using an ice hockey puck, one of the unique ways to use gun safes. In each corner, four pucks are used. Then, drill through each puck to the floor.
It is common for NHL pucks to be 1″ thick to circulate enough air around them. In case you want another color, they are available in white. Hockey pucks provide protection against shallow standing water as well.
Remember that any space between a floor and a safe can pose a vulnerability. The use of just hockey pucks requires additional protection.
There is also the option of elevating the gun safe on a platform rather than having a solid barrier. It will keep the area drier if there is some airflow underneath.
You have to be creative since there is no one definitive solution. Each person will choose their own safe location. Gun safes have been protected in ingenious ways for many years while maintaining maximum security.
Pallet
It might be better to go with a pallet in the short term. It is not a good idea in the long run. It prevents rust from accumulating at the bottom of the pallet, which ensures good airflow. Bolting might not be possible since pallets can be moved easily. A lower-quality safe has a less secure bottom.
Pallets made of wood and plastic are available. However, they are recommended for short-term use, whereas rubber mats are recommended for long-term use.
Rubber Pad
Rubber pads can be placed at the corners of the safe and in the middle, just like hockey pucks. In order to ensure its security, it can be bolted to the ground. In order to stop condensation and moisture from building up at the bottom, a rubber pad permits airflow.
Vinyl Flooring
Under concrete gun safes, it is possible to install vinyl flooring, however, moisture and wetness are major problems. The short-term benefits of this are obvious. It is recommended that you use rubber instead of wood if you need your gun safe to be raised three to six inches off the ground.
Carpeted Pedestal
You can raise your gun safe about 3 feet off the floor with a carpeted pedestal. Gun safes located in basements or on concrete floors and prone to flooding and condensation may be placed on the carpeted pedestal.
You can keep your gun dry and away from moisture by storing it in one. With a bolting facility, you can ensure your equipment will not tip over.
How To Protect Your Floor?
There shouldn’t be a problem drilling into a concrete slab that hasn’t been post-tensioned. The traditional drill bits you’re using will break before they can drill through concrete – this can damage your drill and your floor.
You’ll need special tools to drill through concrete. Anchor your safe with a hammer drill instead.Additionally, you should use concrete-specific anchors. A minimum requirement for anchors is that they are galvanized, or zinc plated. It’s not a bad idea to use stainless steel anchors even though they aren’t “overkill.”
Could Your Concrete Floor Damage Your Gun Safe?
Moisture is released from concrete floors. In some cases, your lifetime limited warranty might not cover corrosion caused by moisture exposure. As well as destroying the anchors that hold the safe down, moisture can also damage the anchors.
Can A Concrete Floor Hold A Safe?
A concrete floor is obviously a strong flooring. This type of floor can carry extreme loads, including the weight of the heaviest gun safes if it’s installed as a foundation for a house without a basement or crawl space. A safe installation is possible with these products.
Will A Safe Damage Your Concrete Floor?
Your gun safe can damage your concrete floor if it is not installed correctly. It is not recommended to drill, cut, or core a concrete slab if it is a post-tension type.
Under thousands of pounds of pressure, these slabs have cables running through them that are made of steel. When cables are damaged, they can snap out of the concrete, causing property damage and possibly injuring anyone nearby.
Is It Ok To Put A Gun Safe On A Concrete Slab?
Definitely, gun safes can be placed on a concrete slab for a permanent solution, and it is the best option in my opinion. This rubber pad secures the concrete slab from burglars and makes it almost impossible for them to gain unauthorized access to the floor through the concrete slab.
Final Words
In short, hockey pucks are the way to go. This is what I consider the best thing to put under gun safe on concrete. Due to the hockey pucks, the safe is lifted up off the ground, allowing air to circulate underneath and essentially negating the cooling effect of the floor.
Moreover, these pucks are resistant to temperature transfer and do not conduct moisture. Moisture is conducted in wood, and temperature is conducted in concrete.
When trying to keep the safe dry, you need to make sure it is consistent in temperature. The contents of the safe will rust due to fluctuating temperatures and humidity.