Safe Rooms, Storm Shelters, and Why to Have One in Your Home

August 29, 2024
Exterior of Winter Homes Custom Build with a safe room.
Adding a safe room to the initial build of your home can serve as a storm shelter, provide storage, and increase the value of your home.

While you can redo a space in an existing build to include a safe room, it’s easiest to incorporate this structure in an initial home design. You’re can pick a prime location and design it to blend in with the rest of your custom home. These structures are great for extra storage, sheltering from severe weather, increasing property value, and more. 

More than Just a Gun Safe

Gun safes are extremely important for homeowners that need to protect a valuable collection of firearms. A safe room protects your guns from possible burglaries and keeps them safely stored away from young children.

While a whole safe room costs more than a single gun case, the chances it will serve as more than a place to store firearms are high. From important documents to family heirlooms, a safe room is a worthwhile investment for anyone looking to protect all their valuables and keep them in one place.

A whole safe room can definitely cost more than a single gun case, but the chances it will serve as more than a place to store firearms are pretty good.

Take Shelter from Severe Weather

North Alabama lies in the heart of Dixie Alley where tornadoes are extremely common. Spring months and occasion winter storms can produce severe weather with high winds and damaging hail. 

If your safe room serves as your storm shelter, consider that different locations inside your home protect against different kinds of weather. For a tornado-prone region like North Alabama, a safe room built with thick concrete walls to block incredibly strong winds and debris is ideal.

Many safe rooms are actually built on the ground floor instead of in basements. They’re securely anchored to withstand almost anything, regardless of their position in your home. Having a safe room on your main floor also makes it easily accessible for everyone in an emergency. There is no need to worry about dealing with stairs or venturing outside during a storm.

Always Be Prepared

The structural benefits of a safe room also protect your family from break-ins. A bullet-resistant door is an extra defense against an armed intruder. Reinforced steel and concrete walls that shield you from bad weather also keep a burglar from entering the room.

We’ve listed a few items to consider keeping in your safe room at all times. These are good to have on hand during a tornado warning, long power outages, or if you’re sheltering from an intruder. Consider packing these items in a go-bag or box to store in this space in case of emergency.

  • Canned goods and other nonperishable items
  • Water
  • Phone charger
  • Flashlight and batteries
  • Extra clothing
  • Pillows and blankets
  • First aid kit
  • Hygiene supplies and toiletries
  • Weapons

Your Custom Safe Room

Before building, consider exactly how your particular safe room will be used. These structures are built to fit your home’s specific needs, from weather-proof materials to temperature-controlled chambers and bulletproof reinforcements. They are also customized to fit seamlessly into your home design. 

 

Safe rooms can be built to fit your family’s specific needs and can be customized to fit seamlessly into your home design.

Regardless, your safe room gives you and your family peace of mind. You know you have a dedicated spot that can protect you from dangerous weather, break-ins, and more. All your valuables and keepsakes are in a central location, and you’ll never have to wonder if you and your family have a safe place to go.