How to Bolt Down a Safe

Small, personal safes are a great solution for homeowners who want to protect their valuables from fire, flood, or theft, but are not interested in renting a bank security box. However, if you are particularly worried about theft and your safe is small, a criminal could walk away with your safe and try to open it at a new location. One way of preventing this possibility is to bolt the safe to the floor.

Step 1: With the safe empty and open, mark with a pencil where the holes for the bolts should be located. There should be corresponding holes in the bottom of the safe.

TIP: If you are installing the safe onto a concrete slab, you are relatively free to choose any position. If you are installing a safe onto a joisted floor, be sure that the holes line up with the joists to provide the strength necessary to deter criminals.

Step 2: Drill pilot holes in areas you marked with your pencil. Use a concrete drill bit or wood drill bit as necessary, and be sure not to use a bit that is too large for the studs you will install in the next step.

Step 3: Insert a Ramset stud into each hole you have made. Tap it into the hole with a hammer, but make sure enough of each stud protrudes to fit into the holes in the bottom of the stud. Many safe manufacturers give you a suggested height for each stud: use a measuring tape to ensure that you've got it right.

Step 4: Place the safe over the Ramset studs, making sure to allow the studs to fit in the holes at the bottom of the safe.

Step 5: Add nuts over the Ramset studs and tighten them securely with a wrench. Due not over tighten and damage the studs during this step: tightening with your hand and then giving two extra turns with a wrench is often sufficient.

Step 6: Install any decorative pieces, caps, or bottom used to conceal the nuts in the wall safe.