  With clever planning, a secret space can be concealed behind a staircase. |
After you’ve checked out all the shiny features and finishes, it might be what you don't see that closes the deal on your new home. Hidden rooms, often associated with haunted houses or mystery movies, are becoming more popular in today's new-home market.
Whether collectibles, artwork, jewellery or family heirlooms, every home has something worth saving in the event of a break-in. Because of today's security-savvy homebuyers, many architects are pencilling in covert spaces as standard equipment.
But contrary to popular belief, this is not a new concept. We can go all the way back to Victorian times, when homes and furniture were built with security in mind. Often, furniture was made with drawers and compartments hidden in the most inconspicuous places.
This type of security is based on the "out of sight, out of mind" theory. In other words, a burglar can't steal what a burglar can't see, especially when spaces are concealed behind façades like built-in bookcases, fireplaces or even staircases – perfect for that wine collection. Or you may want to conceal an entire room behind a full-length mirror – that home office, with all of its expensive equipment and confidential documents, for instance. Whatever the case, there are enough possibilities to keep a burglar guessing.
Some homeowners love the James Bond-like notion of a secret room, but it’s also a really practical solution. Imagine being able to make your valuables “disappear” when you’re going away on vacation – or anytime you like, really.
A word of caution: If you are going to attempt to build your own secret space, make sure you keep it under wraps. Its purpose is defeated if too many people know about it.
If you do decide to build it yourself, make sure all visible gaps are hidden with trim – you don't want to tip off a bad guy with poor finishing. For anyone who is good at finished carpentry, building a bookshelf to conceal a room is not that difficult: a simple shelf unit with the extra trim can be easily mounted to a hinged door.
If you choose to have your concealed room professionally installed, you will find a variety of options available – rooms that are precision-engineered, load-rated and guaranteed to function correctly. If you are in the planning stages of your new home, why not mention to your architect the possibility of incorporating a concealed room?
Movies have exposed opening devices like candlesticks and tilted books for years – and, yes, these options are available with a professional installation. However, today's preferred method of entry is with a remote control.
Whether intended as a “panic room,” a money vault or a repository for other valuables, secret spaces can play an important role in your home's security.
Frank Fourchalk is a security expert with 20 years in the business. Visit his website at yourhomesecurity.ca.
