RELATED STORY: In Plain Sight – Installing An Air Vent Wall Safe I bought a couple of gallons of the stuff and used old paintbrushes to apply it. I discovered an alternative to mixing mortar and applying it with a trowel: Quikcrete concrete bonding adhesive, which works for above-grade applications. Decades ago, I’d done enough repair work on a brick wall to know that I was lousy at masonry. I didn’t use rebar in case the wall later had to be demolished for some reason. Most modern concrete blocks have a notch for inserting reinforcing steel bar (rebar). Another good option is using 4-by-8-by-16-inch solid blocks. Opting for 6-by-8-by-16-inch, hollow, heavy-wall block, I paid about $0.75 a piece at the time. You can keep valuables like food, firearms and ammunition in it. On the whole, you’re better off having a room that’s too large than one too small. It would accommodate three or four people in a pinch. I used masking tape to lay out the space for building my family’s safe room. If your basement has an area bordered by three walls, all you need to do is build the fourth and add a door. Unless you live in a log or stone home, you’ll need a basement stronghold to keep family and friends secure.Ī basement corner is particularly advantageous for building a safe room because two walls are already in place. The most secure (and least expensive) safe rooms take advantage of existing basement walls, which usually are poured-in-place, reinforced concrete. When the stock market took a nosedive in the fall of 2008, I decided it was time to build a safe room for my family in case of civil unrest. Several companies build safe rooms ranging from modest and simple to large and lavish. If you travel on business, consider adding a safe room for the times when you can’t be there to defend your loved ones. Safe rooms can protect your family and friends from severe weather and a determined attack from those using hand tools or small-arms fire.

Build a saferoom