Most gun safes are heavy and typically weigh between 200-600 pounds. Most hardwood floors can hold even heavier gun safes without a problem. However, the heavier weight can dent, gouge, or scratch your hardwood floors. To protect your hardwood floors, you’ll need to add something under the gun safe to avoid problems.
In this article, we’ll discuss some products you can add under a gun safe on your hardwood floors to protect them. These products will protect your hardwood floor safe from the weight of the gun safe in case the gun safe moves even slightly.
1. Use a Moving Blanket
A moving blanket is a thick piece of blanket usually made of soft fibers that help protect your floors when moving heavy appliances. Moving blankets also protect your wood furniture when moving to avoid scratches or denting when handling them. The good thing is you can use a moving blanket to protect your hardwood floors from the weight of a gun safe.
A moving blanket under a gun safe will prevent denting your hardwood floor. In case of any movement that would scratch or dent your floor, a moving blanket will also offer adequate protection. We recommend the WEN Heavy Duty Padded Moving Blankets for a good moving blanket to check out.
You can use these blankets for moving or placing heavier products to avoid scratching or damaging your floors. They are well constructed and come in generous sizes, which can be folded or used several to enhance protection.
This blanket is high quality and serves its purpose of keeping stuff safe during a move or protecting your hardwood floors when moving heavier appliances. To use it under a gun safe, fold it several times so that the base of the gun safe will sit and still leave some overlaps. We’d recommend using at least two moving blankets for heavier gun safes.
2. A Piece of Carpet
This is a simpler way of preventing a gun safe from damaging your hardwood floors. Carpets offer a smooth surface for a heavy gun safe to sit on while also keeping it from denting a hardwood floor. If you have an old carpet in your home, cut it and fold it so that the surface on the gun and the floor are soft.
By folding the carpet, you’ll protect your hardwood floors from being scratched and dented. The gun safe can also slide easily in case you want to move it when cleaning or changing its location. If you don’t have an old carpet you can use, check out the Thickened Plush Foam Interlocking Floor Area Rug, which serves better for this function.
These thick and interlocking foam area rugs protect your hardwood floors from damage. They go together easily and can cover even larger appliance foot print once assembled.
3. Use plywood
Using plywood under a gun safe will also protect it from damaging your hardwood floor. A plywood will effectively distribute the weight of the gun safe to avoid denting your hardwood floor. This is a better option if you’re using softer hardwood flooring, such as cherry, to help protect it from being dented by the heavy gun safe.
Although plywood will help distribute the weight, it can also scratch a hardwood floor. So you can also install a piece of old carpet under it to protect the hardwood floors.
For plywood, use a 1/2-inch thick piece which should have a slightly bigger footprint than the safe. This will spread the gun load safely and keep the floor protected. As noted earlier, you can use a piece of carpet under the plywood to keep everything safer.
4. Try Different Mats
A mat is another option you can use to place under a gun safe. Mats come in different materials, from rubber, foam, nylon, cloth, fiber, and much more. Before buying or choosing a mat to use on your hardwood floor, ensure it is safe and will not cause any problems. Also, avoid textured mats that can scratch your hardwood floor surface.
We recommend using natural rubber or felt for the best mats to use under a gun safe on your hardwood floors. A natural rubber mat will keep the gun safe in place because it has a better grip while offering a cushioning effect.
Felt mats are great for offering better cushioning but lack the grip of rubber and other mats. However, the soft felt material is great for protecting your hardwood floors against scratches even when the gun safe is moved. For a good felt mat option, check out the Gorilla Grip Felt and Natural Rubber Rug Pad.
This Gorilla Grip carpet is constructed from natural rubber and felt cushioning, which are safe for hardwood floors. It's thick enough to protect hardwood floors and has an excellent grip to avoid moving.
