What Do You Put Under Your Gun Safe on Concrete?
Among the things you should consider when shopping for a gun safe is where you will install it. Another consideration is the type of surface upon which the safe will be installed.
Gun safes can be installed on many different surfaces. Some surfaces are better than others and some may require more preparation.
Can a Concrete Floor Hold a Safe?
Obviously, concrete floors are strong. When used as a foundation for a home without a basement or crawlspace, these floors can withstand extreme weight, including the heaviest gun safes. They are an excellent choice for safe installation.
Will a Safe Damage Your Concrete Floor?
If your gun safe isn’t correctly installed, it could potentially damage a concrete floor. If your concrete slab is a “post tension” type, it will be stamped with a warning not to drill, cut, or core. These slabs have strong steel cables running through them that are under thousands of pounds of pressure. It’s dangerous if a cable is damaged because it can immediately snap out of the concrete and may damage property or injure anyone nearby.
Could Your Concrete Floor Damage Your Gun Safe?
Concrete floors give off moisture. Exposure to moisture could cause corrosion on your safe, and that damage might not be covered under your limited lifetime warranty. Moisture can also destroy the anchors used to bolt the safe down.
How to Protect Your Floor
If your floor isn’t a post-tensioned concrete slab, it should be safe to drill into it. You need special tools, because traditional drill bits will bust before they're able to drill through the concrete – this can damage both your drill and the floor. Instead, use a hammer drill to make the holes for anchoring your safe.
You should also use anchors specifically made for concrete. At a minimum, the anchors should be galvanized or zinc-plated. While stainless steel anchors might be a little bit of “overkill,” they aren’t a bad idea.
How to Protect Your Safe
One way to protect your safe from moisture damage is to put a hard rubber mat under it before bolting it down. Another way is to seal the concrete with epoxy before you have your safe installed. Both methods will help protect your safe from moisture damage.
As always, Liberty Safe recommends you have your gun safe professionally installed and anchored into the flooring, especially concrete. This guarantees your safe will retain its warranty. It also better protects your home and family’s safety.
Contact your local Liberty dealer for more information about flooring and having your gun safe professionally installed. To learn what you can expect when your safe is delivered, check out this video.
