Staunton safe opening and installation

Safe work in a city of old buildings

Staunton's old buildings sometimes come with old safes: heavy combination safes in shops, offices or houses, sometimes with a combination that was lost long ago. Innkeepers deal with in-room safes that guests lock and then can't open. And homeowners putting a new safe into an older house need to think about how to anchor it.

Each of those calls needs a slightly different approach, and the right one depends on the safe's age, its lock and what it's worth to you beyond its contents. Describe the safe as fully as you can when you call — its size, whether it has a dial or keypad, and any maker's name on the door.

Old safes with lost combinations

A safe technician can often open an old combination safe by manipulation — working out the combination by feel — or by drilling a small, repairable hole. If the safe has historic value, say so, and the technician can take that into account.

In-room safes at inns

Guests set a code, forget it and check out. Many in-room safes have an override method for owners; if that's lost or not working, a locksmith can open the safe and reset it.

Anchoring on wooden floors

Many older Staunton houses have wooden floors over basements or crawlspaces. A safe can still be anchored, but the method differs from concrete — bolting into floor framing, for instance. A locksmith can advise on what works.

Changing combinations when staff leave

Businesses should change safe combinations when someone who knew them moves on. Most dial and electronic safe locks can be reset. A shop on Beverley Street that keeps the day's cash overnight, or an inn that holds guest valuables at the front desk, should treat a departing manager's knowledge of the code the same way it treats a departing manager's key.

Getting a heavy safe into an old house

Narrow staircases, tight turns and old floors make moving a large safe into a historic house harder than it sounds. Measure doorways and stairs before you buy, think about where the floor is strongest, and ask the locksmith whether the spot you have in mind can take the weight before the safe arrives.

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Want the background first? Read our guide: Safe Opening & Installation.