How to Build a Hidden Gun Room in the Basement

Making The Wall

• 1

  Mark the centerline for the drywall across the ceiling with a pencil. Measure and mark half the width of the drywall in either direction from the centerline. Place a chalk line between these two marks. Place a chalk line at the end of each side of the basement that the drywall will butt up against.

• 2

  Place the 2-by-4 that has been cut to the length of the drywall on the drip cloth. Place the metal plates on the 2-by-4 in the appropriate position to match up with the chalk marks on the ceiling and at each end of the 2-by-4. Screw the metal plates into the 2-by-4 with the wood screws using the electric screwdriver.

• 3

  Hold the 2-by-4 up against the ceiling so that it lines up with the chalk lines. Screw the metal plates into the ceiling using the wood screws and the electric screwdriver.

• 4

  Place a 2-by-4 that has been cut to the height of the ceiling at each end of the basement and at the centerline marked on the ceiling. Line up the top of the 2-by-4s with the ends of the 2-by-4 that is now attached to the ceiling.

• 5

  Hold the top of the two 2-by-4s to the ceiling 2-by-4 with a stud-framing clip. Screw the stud framing clip into the 2-by-4s using wood screws and the electric screwdriver.

• 6

  Line up the 2-by-4 that is at the centerline with the 2-by-4 on the ceiling. Hold the two together with a stud-framing clip. Screw the stud framing clip into the 2-by-4s using wood screws and the electric screwdriver.

• 7

  Place a 2-by-4 that has been cut to the same length as the one attached to the ceiling onto the floor between the two vertical 2-by-4s. Attach the bottom ends of the vertical 2-by-4s to the 2-by-4 on the floor with stud-framing clips. Screw in the wood screws to the stud-framing clips with the electric screwdriver.

• 8

  Place a cut piece of drywall that is the same height and length as the 2-by-4 frame you have made onto the front of the 2-by-4 frame. Hammer nails through the drywall and into the 2-by-4 frame.

• 9

  Cut out a standard sized doorway in the drywall with the power saw. Dispose of the cut piece of drywall properly.

• 10

  Place a drop cloth against the base of the drywall. Paint the drywall the same color as the back wall with the wall paint using the roller brush. Let the drywall dry for two days. Remove the drop cloth from the base of the drywall.

Making The Doorway To Your Hidden Gun Room

• 11

  Purchase a mirror wall assembly kit that is slightly larger than the door frame from a hardware or home supply store. Assembly the mirror wall assembly kit as per the instructions using the electric screwdriver, hammer and wood screws.

• 12

  Remove the adhesive cover sheets from the sliding floor plates. Attach the adhesive side of the sliding floor plates to the four corners on the bottom of the mirror wall assembly.

• 13

  Put a clean drop cloth on the floor. Put the mirror wall assembly mirror-side down on the drop cloth.

• 14

  Measure 2 feet down from the left top edge of the mirror wall assembly. Make a dot at the 2-foot mark with the pencil. Measure 1 foot down from the dot just made. Make another mark with the pencil at the 1-foot mark. Measure 2 feet up from the left bottom edge of the mirror wall assembly. Make a dot at the 2-foot mark with the pencil.

• 15

  Place a piano hinge on each of the dots. Line up the piano hinges with the left side of the mirror wall assembly. Attach wood screws to each of the piano hinges using the electric screwdriver.

• 16

  Stand the left side of the mirror wall assembly against the drywall a foot from the left side of the door frame.

• 17

  Angle the piano hinges onto the drywall. Make a dot inside each of the screw holes in the piano hinges on the drywall. Move the mirror wall assembly away from the drywall. Hammer a toggle bolt slightly into each of the dots made on the drywall. Put a toggle insert into each of the holes. Hammer the toggle inserts into the holes.

• 18

  Stand the left side of the mirror wall assembly against the drywall a foot from the left side of the door frame. Angle the piano hinges onto the drywall over the holes just made.

• 19

  Insert toggle bolts through the holes in the piano hinges and into the holes in the drywall. Screw the toggle bolts into the drywall using the electric screwdriver.

• 20

  Push the right side of the mirror wall assembly against the drywall so that the door frame is covered up. Vacuum around the mirror wall assembly to remove any wall dust or debris from the floor. Wipe the mirror wall assembly off with a lint-free cloth.

• 21

  Pull the right side of the mirror wall assembly toward you to access your hidden gun room. Push the right side of the mirror wall assembly back to the drywall to hide it again.