Introductory Note: The following is another in a series of articles by JWR that links to some of the thousands of archived SurvivalBlog articles, grouped topically.
Today we address hidden storage spaces, hidden rooms, secret compartments, wall caches, door caches, and related topics.
Delving into SurvivalBlog’s deep archives, which now have more that 27,600 articles, columns, and letters that are all freely accessible, you will find many articles on this topic. The following is just a sampling:
Letter Re: Advice on Construction a Hiding Place for Precious Metals in a Home
Letter Re: Hidden Rooms and Compartments–Conning the Burglars
Letter: Storage Without a Basement
Keeping Secrets in Suburbia–Constructing Our Hidden Basement Room, by A.
Letter Re: Hidden Entrances, and Secret Rooms
Constructing and Finding Hiding Places, By Eli in The Southwest
Letter Re: Information Security Considerations When Selling a House with “Special Features”
Letter Re: Advice on Home Security Webcams
Letter Re: Advice on Security for Unattended Retreats
Now You See It, Now You Don’t — The Value of Concealment, by Joe M.
Letter Re: Advice on Constructing a Hidden Basement Room
Letter Re: Storage Options–Hidden in Plain Sight
Letter Re: Another Hidden In Plain Sight Storage Tip
Letter Re: Gear That is Hidden in Plain Sight
I highly recommend a paperback book titled The Construction of Secret Hiding Places which is a succinct “must read” on this topic.
Also, don’t overlook the dozens of videos on secret rooms and hidden compartments available on YouTube. Not only will these give you some good tips, but they are also fascinating to watch.
Closing Note: You can use our recently improved Search box at the top of the blog’s right hand column to find even more articles. (The ones that I’ve linked to are just a sampling.) The new Search tool is much more useful than the old one. When searching, use quote marks around terms that need to appear together, for example “wall cache”. You can also use “AND” in search phrases to combine multiple search terms, such as “velcro and compartment”. – JWR
Last summer I built a 12X16 storage shed with 2X6 floor studs and 1/2 inch plywood flooring. In one corner I framed for a 4×4 foot trap door. I dug and braced a 4X4 foot by 5 feet deep hole into which I placed 6 inches of crushed rock for drainage. I have all manner of items stored in it. On top I placed a 4X4 piece of plywood and 6 inches of crushed stone to match the crushed stone I used to put the 2X6’s on top of. I screwed the 4X4 sheet onto the floor joists and park my garden tiller, snow blower, pressure washer in that area. Unless you know that it is there the dirt from the tiller and the other equipment hides the access area nicely.
Thanks for posting the links to these past articles.