350 lb gun safe on second floor
Posted by Sdexcalibur@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 66 comments
I’m getting a pretty decent gun safe for basically half off. It is 350 pounds and maybe add another another 50 or so once it’s filled. I pulled the trigger on it so to speak and suppose to pick it up tomorrow.
Then I started thinking, that is a lot of weight in a small footprint ( has to be 20”x20”) for a second floor home. It is a raised ranch set up and the plan was it was going into a closet. The house is built with trusses and osb as a subfloor. There is carpet in the closet area now, pretty sure the trusses they span 24oc.
We really do not need anything robust. No chance of a break in or theft. Do you think it’s a good idea with the weight. We can’t put it on first floor and no garage or traditional basement .
Ornery_Secretary_850@reddit
Do you wear high heels on the second floor? That's a LOT more pressure than that safe will put on the floor.
Sdexcalibur@reddit (OP)
Only on the weekends….
BryanP1968@reddit
The weight on the floor is no big deal. Getting it up the stairs might be fun.
MessageHonest@reddit
But stealing the whole safe and getting it down the stairs is also added security against a thief.
TacTurtle@reddit
You would be surprised how easy it is to move large heavy furniture around a house and down stairs if you don't care about damage or noise.
Ornery_Secretary_850@reddit
All ya need is a bag of rice.
BryanP1968@reddit
The key is room. If they can lay the safe down on the ground, they can get it open with standard hand tools. Home gun safes aren’t all that sturdy.
MarianCR@reddit
50lb of stuff in it - that underestimates the extra load. You need to always remember "no ammo in the safe"
Spread the load on the floor. And also, the floor has more load capacity next to the walls than in the middle. Best is to put it close to load bearing beams.
Sdexcalibur@reddit (OP)
Pretty sure I’ll not going to take the chance, I’ll get a cheaper 200 lb tractor supply one. The the first floor was unfinished I would throw up a supplemental beam and a support. Why no ammo in the safe? The weight?
RavensBite20@reddit
A consumer safe is a inconvenience at the most..mine is loaded with hundreds of lbs of loose ammo filled in steel ammo cans..firearms don't weight enough to worry but if you store considerable amount of ammo in one and the fact your safe already weighs 350 lbs..just remember your only going to be spanning 2 joists at the most, more likely one joist if placement is not carefully chosen and you will have nothing under it supporting the joist as it will be free spanning ..I'm my situation I'd never install upstairs for several reasons..bolted down to a concrete slab in all 4 corners in the garage with a 30 min fire rated wall surrounding 3 sides and the safe has a 45 min burn rating..this min gives the fire department time to deal with the fire..in your situation that safe will just fall through the ceiling during a fire event.. Takes 12-15 min to cut through the side of a consumer safe with a angle grinder and grab your gear..The safe is just a inconvenience for theft and insurance if you have a serious storm or fire..
MunitionGuyMike@reddit
You’ll be fine. Had a 350lbs safe on 3rd floor.
The big issue was getting it up
Sdexcalibur@reddit (OP)
Any tips?
MunitionGuyMike@reddit
3 people minimum, and a furniture dolly.
Don’t forget the 6 packs for the two helpers
Sdexcalibur@reddit (OP)
I’m hoping me and my son can muscle it up the front steps. Then put it in a moving blanket and slide it into the bedroom
Material_Victory_661@reddit
Rent a refrigerator dolly at Uhaul. It has straps to hold the object, and tractor treads on the back.
MunitionGuyMike@reddit
Just get a furniture dolly. It’s worth the money
Namnagort@reddit
Yeah, dont put it on the second floor.
FrozenDickuri@reddit
Look for an appliance dolly
Sdexcalibur@reddit (OP)
I’ve moved fridges like that good idea
Bizmo-Bunyuns@reddit
Harbor freight lifting straps and a buddy that you trust.
xj98jeep@reddit
Bummer. That'll happen as you get older, not sure how it relates to gun safes tho.
Sdexcalibur@reddit (OP)
I see what you did there
FrozenDickuri@reddit
Thats fine. Just put it in a corner.
Sdexcalibur@reddit (OP)
Couldn’t do a corner. It would be an outside wall but more in the middle of the wall, I was thinking a steel plate or doubled up plywood to give it some more span. Maybe I’m over thinking it
needItNow44@reddit
You can also find the floor joists and make sure you put it on two joists instead of a single one. Spacing is most likely 16in so you should be able to reach two.
Icy-Medicine-495@reddit
Outside wall is fine. You just don't want it in the middle of a room where it is the farthest between two support walls.
FrozenDickuri@reddit
Outside wall? Thats fine, see if you can find where a joist is and put some of the weight directly on it if it will make you feel better about it.
GuardianZX9@reddit
My 950lb sat on my second floor for 4 years, no issues.
FrozenDickuri@reddit
Dude… call TLC they’ll give you a tv show and pay for the weight loss surgery.
smokeyser@reddit
How did you get it up there?
TacTurtle@reddit
The stairs.
ProgressBackground21@reddit
That was my thought 🤣
ilikerelish@reddit
+ whatever you put inside it. Don't forget that. If the house is built to code, I think it will be fine Combined I have had myself and a couple other family members stand in our living room together (over a crawlspace) which caused that spot in the floor to have to bear over 1000lbs.
I'm curious how you are going to get it up to the 2nd floor those safely without fucking up walls, bannisters, or anything else including yourself. Better temporarily install a cleat with tackles at the top so it doesn't get away from you.
Also be careful and know where things are if you intend to bolt it down. Last thing you want is to drill into a water line or power.
Finally, when you move it in try to conceal it. If it comes in a box leave it in the box, or wrap it in some way so people looking on get the impression that you are just moving a fridge in or something mundane. No need to advertise to everyone that you have a gun safe being installed.
Jordan_1424@reddit
Humans put much more pressure on the floor with less weight because we have less surface area making contact with the ground. The amount of force a 120lbs woman in heels can produce is kind of surprising.
According to Google the average US male has 31 square inches of foot area (both feet combined). For a 200lvs person that is ~6.7lbs per square inch.
Your safe has 400 square inches of area to help disperse the weight. Your safe at approximately 350lbs only has about 0.875lbs per square inch.
So you are putting more force on the floor than the safe is.
If you really want to be safe you can build a platform or get a pallet to help further disperse the weight.
OGZ74@reddit
Exactly children running jumping off beds etc
Signal_Membership268@reddit
I had mine delivered and put in my basement. They used a dowel rod about 3 inches in diameter to move it across my basement floor. I was impressed!
Xterradiver@reddit
It's 2 medium sized adults standing back to back or embracing. Have you ever kissed your partner on the 2d floor?
THKhazper@reddit
I have a 1000 pound safe on the third floor. It is 3ftx3ft roughly, that’s under 8.1pounds per square inch As long as it’s on structural joists there’s no issue
m1ke_tyz0n@reddit
1000lbs and it's only 3x3ft?
quitesensibleanalogy@reddit
It's probably a real safe and not the glorified lock boxes that gun safes are.
THKhazper@reddit
It’s rough dimension, it’s probably actually 3.5x3 or something like that
xj98jeep@reddit
It's the new Liberty Safe Tungsten Line™
tubadude2@reddit
Would you be nervous if an NFL offensive lineman came over to visit?
That’s less ground pressure than an average adult. It’ll be fine.
Sdexcalibur@reddit (OP)
Yea I guess, not sure why I’m over thinking it. Thanks for putting it into perspective
glockster19m@reddit
I reccomend putting boards under the feet though
Over time it'll leave divots in even softer hardwood
Sdexcalibur@reddit (OP)
Good point, I’m thinking the bottom is flat, I will have to check it out
mkosmo@reddit
Even if it's flat, I'd recommend something under it, whether some plywood or a couple boards... or even some of those round furniture corner pads they sell for other things. Let the bottom surface of the safe deform that rather than your hardwood.
glockster19m@reddit
If it's flat you're fine, make sure it's level enough it won't fall on anyone though
intertubeluber@reddit
Or OPs mother?
heckofagator@reddit
350lbs is Def not a "pretty decent" safe. It's low end
Sdexcalibur@reddit (OP)
Well decent for us, I know they get up there in price and quality and this is “low end” as you call it but all we really need a something locks and is secure. I should have said we bought a crappy 350 lb safe
FrozenDickuri@reddit
Regardless, its about the same weight as a 40 gallon fish tank.
A standard home water heater will be nearly double that.
Sammyo28@reddit
Oh boy, I sure hope you and your wife don’t ever stand in the same 20”x20” spot at the same time
Sdexcalibur@reddit (OP)
That’s not really helpful you know.
Taymyr@reddit
Yes it is.
Coho444@reddit
I have friends heavier than that
fjzappa@reddit
Moving it. Take the door off to move it. Door is 1/2 or more of the total weight of consumer-grade safes.
Sdexcalibur@reddit (OP)
That is a good idea
Frosthare@reddit
If you can lug that safe up there, it should be safe.
BryanP0824@reddit
Do anything to give yourself a mechanical advantage. I had to use some ratchet straps and a come along to get a piano upstairs once. Absolute game changer. Good on you for keeping your firearms stored responsibly. Happy holidays!
woolybuggered@reddit
I used to have a 1k+ lb fish tank in my upstairs apartment so you should be good.
Sdexcalibur@reddit (OP)
I did the same when I was younger 75 gal on third floor. Also had a 125 saltwater, but the span was digger, maybe 6 feet
woolybuggered@reddit
The next apartment manager was pissed they didnt realize i had a 125 gal. But when they asked me to remove it i had permision in writing and told them you are welcome to move it yourself lol.
sqlbullet@reddit
Code for a habitable second or third floor is a 30 psf live load rating. That would give a 10X15 room a total live load value of 4500 lbs. Your safe won't make a dent in that. If you are going to cram 10 such safes in a bedroom your would start to have a concern.
NetJnkie@reddit
That's fine. I had a 750lb + contents safe on the second floor in several apartments and houses. I wouldn't go much more than that as I'd be afraid the joists would start to sag.
Saltydot46590@reddit
I have two safes about that size upstairs right next to each other. Not sure on the weight, though. I just put them in the corner since I figured that would have the most support. If you’re worried about it, you could get a sheet of plywood (or even metal) cut oversized to span a couple of the trusses and distribute the weight across them