Since the bookcase will be pretty heavy, I recommend a lightweight, thin board. On top of that you need a board (b length, a width) for the back of the bookcase. And the supporting boards should be cut (b – 6xd)/5 inches length with c inches width. The shelf boards should be cut (a-2xd) inches length with c inches width. The two large side boards have to be cut b inches length and c inches width. To simplify this we will note the height of the entrance with “b”, the depth of the bookcase with “c” (I made it twice the thickness of the walls), the thickness of the boards with “d” (typically ¾”), and the width of the entrance minus the space (left space) with “a”. On top of that we have to take into consideration the thickness of the boards and the gap between the wall and the bookcase door. If you also find these too expensive you may use high quality particle boards.įirst, measure and record the height, width, and depth of the entrance to your secret room. Birch (especially if you plan to paint the bookcase), maple, and oak plywood are good choices. Plywood that has a hardwood veneer is not only less expensive but in many cases stronger than solid softwoods like pine. Traditionally, bookcases are made with solid wood boards. Choosing the wood and cutting the boards for the secret bookcase door Another part of the frame is an upper board, fixed to the wall. The right board (A) will be fixed to the bookcase. I masked this space with a board fixed to the wall (B). The only reason is that they’re easier to mount.Īs you may see, when the bookcase door opens the left corner of the bookcase will hit the wall if you don’t leave a space between them. I used two heavy duty invisible hinges for this project. Either way around, if you want to have a truly invisible bookcase door, the opening mechanism will cost you something. A bit pricy given the fact that one hinge costs around $100.Īnother good choice is to swing the bookcase door above the baseboard and hang it on a center-hung pivot hinge, also especially designed for hidden bookcase doors. Regular hinges will always sag! There are a few strong hinges specially designed for bookcase secret doors that can support a weight of 154 lbs. So swinging on regular butt hinges will almost surely be a problem. If you don’t find even this kind of space in your house then just store a flashlight and a couple of batteries in your safe room.Ī common mistake people do when building a secret bookcase door is not taking into consideration the opening mechanism.Ī bookcase door is much heavier than one may think. If you don’t find such a spot the next best thing is to find one with a socket so you may plug in a lamp. Otherwise your safe room would also be compromised.
Diy hidden bookcase door windows#
Having no windows means you want to pick a spot with a light source but with the switch on the inside.
And second, because it’s a much better and cooler place to stockpile food and other goods. First, because one may spot the window from the outside and the “inexistence” of the window from the inside. Many houses have small spaces which we don’t really use, except for depositing useless things.īe aware that your safe room should have NO windows. My advice is to pick a small spot that already has 3 or 2 walls, so you won’t have to build them yourself. Just take a look right now and examine your house. Make sure to spend as much time as needed on this project, don’t rush things since the result will be much more satisfying if you’re careful and do everything properly. Choosing the perfect spot for your safe room and for your secret bookcase door
It’s just nice to have a hideout for you, for a loved one or for something you value. Although, this is probably not the best example. On top of that it’s nice to know that in a crisis I have a place to hide in case I’m outgunned by looters. My food reserves, water, my AR-15, my ammo and other things are finally stored properly without anyone suspecting it. I think that the idea of building a safe room with a secret bookcase door was long ago inoculated in my mind … probably when I was a child.īut now I find it more practical than ever.
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