I have a question about installing a vault door.

[GUTS]

One of the local banks replaced the vault door on their records room and gave this door to my boss, and I got it from him. A friend of mine that builds houses told the top could be secured to the existing rafters. Under the threshold of the doorway it will go in is a dirt crawlspace so it will be easy to shore it up on the bottom of the door frame. I have the concrete filled steel frame and the door. Do you guys think it can be tied to the rafters okay?

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[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Great score. While I am not a proffesional carpenter or structural engineer I think as long as the weight of the beast is properly supported with a sufficent foundation the top of the door frame could be securely attached to the ceiling members with lag bolts and or steel brackets welded to the upper door frame. Looks like a fun project.

[GUTS]

I think the next problem is how to wrestle it into the house.

[browningautorifle]

I know this sounds defeatist, but I wanted your guns(because I know you have them) that door won't stop me. If the room is not purpose built and the wall concrete like a bank vault, I'm going through the wall instead. In the more rural areas of British Columbia a while back they had problems with these break ins being accomplished with chain saws. If the whole room isn't a bank vault, this will only give lip service to real security.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

http://www.quadlock.com/images/insul...ion_detail.pngBAR makes a very good point. I assumed reinforced walls or a very very well concieled room were part of the plan. I have concidered a room using ICFs (insulated concrete forms) for just such a purpose.
I long for the day I can let my small collection breathe without fear of theft,

[Aragorn243]

My very first thought was if you are tying it into ceiling joists, all anyone has to do is cut a hole through the floor above, even if all the walls surrounding it are concrete which into a crawlspace, they probably are.

Any fire would simply burn through as well. You need a complete cube for it to be in.

I do envy your luck however. That is great.

[GUTS]

If someone wants into a bank vault bad enough they can find a way. They can get in most gun safes in a matter of seconds, I watched a guy do it on Guns and Ammo TV. Where I live it would slow someone down enough that they wouldn't be able to make it work. I have electonic alarms and steel security doors the house.Besides it was free and it's still better than the door on the gun room now.