February being the love month, not to mention the shortest month of the year, we have dedicated this month’s blog to safes – because the things you love can be gone in short order if you don’t keep them protected! In honour of ‘safe month’ at Pro Locksmiths, we’ve written about safes and what you need to know to safeguard your precious property. But articles can only touch the surface of such a complex issue as safes and home security. Your best bet before purchasing a safe is to visit our showroom in person. That way, you can speak with one of our highly trained sales staff, who can advise you on what kind of safe would best suit your particular situation.
That said, often one of the questions we get is ‘Should I buy a floor safe, a wall safe or a free-standing safe?’ The answer, of course, depends on what you’re buying the safe for and what you want it to accomplish. Before you get your answers from the internet or bank robbery movies, read on to find out the basics – and don’t forget to drop by for an honest appraisal of your needs and what will best meet them.
Forget the bells and whistles
Even for our customers who are not on a budget, we typically tend to steer people away from safes that have lots of cool features like artwork, beautiful colours, internal organizers, lights and so forth IF those bells and whistles comprise the main benefits of the safe. That’s because it’s a lot cheaper for safe manufacturers to add these frills than to actually use high quality materials and expensive steel alloys that would truly keep your valuables safe. Thick, heavy gauge steel and good locking mechanisms are still the most reliable theft deterrent, keeping thieves from prying the door or bending the bolts whether you’re storing guns, cash or jewels.
So, if you’re going to buy a safe with solid plate steel or equivalent composite in the door, with a tool-resistant rating that repels attacks from mechanical and electric tools and devices, do you really need a safe that is inset in the floor or wall, as well?
Wall safes may not be as safe as you think
Despite what you may have learned from Hollywood, concealed wall safes are generally not the safest – their only real advantage is concealment behind that painting or false wall. The reason is that a wall safe is merely attached to the studs in the wall, just like a shelf; it can easily be pulled right out of the wall, never mind thieves spending hours trying to crack your high-security code.
Floor safes, on the other hand, provide great security for your most precious and valuable items because they are typically encased in concrete on all sides. However, they have a significant disadvantage in that they typically are not fire-resistant due to the door being so exposed.
Anchored safe…your best option?
If you have extremely valuable goods to protect, your best option for overall protection might be to purchase a free standing safe with a high fire rating (1 hour or more) and tool-resistant protection, and then anchoring into a concrete floor. No one will be able to walk out with it, it will protect your goods against fire, and it will resist persistent attempts at drilling or prying.
At Pro Locksmiths, we carry safes of all shapes, sizes and types. We’re sure to have a safe that meets your needs and budget! Protect your goods: choose expert advice, installation and warranty, at Pro Locksmiths.
