Hidden room access door

[Deckin Around]

Just came across these pics from a house I remodeled in Belair that I figured some of you guys would appreciate the fab work. The access door was all engineered and subcontracted, I had nothing to do with it. There was a sofa bolted to the door that moved with it the last time I saw it. The wood floor checkerboard and trim pieces had all of the edges bevel cut at just the right angles to allow the door to swing but still set in and not be noticeable was …..again, not me.

 

[Englewood]

That’s awesome. What does something like that cost? High profile owner?

 

[Deckin Around]

So here is one we did do this year for a home theater “hidden entry”. This is from a company Hideaway Doors that you buy this bookshelf custom size to order and already pre-hung with a jamb and then disassembled and shipped. It was around $3k with the electric lock button and I’m pretty sure I’ll get a 32” one to install in place of my office door at home.
I don’t have any finished pics but without shelves and trim you get the idea.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Well, it does keep the kids from finding all the leather and playing on your swing

In all seriousness, I love seeing the engineering and skill required to build something like that. I've done a couple "reinforced closets"...kind of like a shark cage to be where the 2x4 framing would be. Never had the chance to do a door.

One of my buddies called them "GAP rooms"
Guns, Art or Porn.

 

[Deckin Around]

That’s awesome. What does something like that cost? High profile owner?

Nobody special really.
Just the door and staircase was $100k+ with engineering (all LA city approved and inspected). That was 10 years ago so call it $250k today. The back panel that folds up after the main door opens was a mod required to prevent someone from falling in the far side.

 

[Jed-O]

Built this one years ago.

One book tilts after moving two others to open the door.

 

[240Hallett]

Built this one years ago. View attachment 1167436 View attachment 1167437 View attachment 1167438
One book tilts after moving two others to open the door.

Are any of the books real?

 

[Jed-O]

Are any of the books real?

Actually all of them are. However they are also cut down to around 3" and glued in place.

 

[Jed-O]

PS don't use a table saw to cut a book in half...

 

[RiverDave]

Just came across these pics from a house I remodeled in Belair that I figured some of you guys would appreciate the fab work. The access door was all engineered and subcontracted, I had nothing to do with it. There was a sofa bolted to the door that moved with it the last time I saw it. The wood floor checkerboard and trim pieces had all of the edges bevel cut at just the right angles to allow the door to swing but still set in and not be noticeable was …..again, not me.
View attachment 1167394
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So that looks to me like it rotates up out of the floor. I can barely see some kinda actuator on the far side but can’t figure out what it does..

Does the sofa just kinda rotate up with the floor?

 

[Englewood]

For some reason Ive always wanted one of these that opens up to a man cave/bar.

 

[Jed-O]

For some reason Ive always wanted one of these that opens up to a man cave/bar.

Look up Murphy door. They sell kits that are pretty inexpensive.

 

[Kachina26]

Just came across these pics from a house I remodeled in Belair that I figured some of you guys would appreciate the fab work. The access door was all engineered and subcontracted, I had nothing to do with it. There was a sofa bolted to the door that moved with it the last time I saw it. The wood floor checkerboard and trim pieces had all of the edges bevel cut at just the right angles to allow the door to swing but still set in and not be noticeable was …..again, not me.
View attachment 1167394
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No NDA?

 

[DLC]

Are these used as a Safe Room in case of a Home Invasion?

we built a home on a hill many years ago We Called it “ The Castle “ and it had several hidden doors mostly to gain access, or move from one side of the home to another with out being seen in the main public area.

everything was hush hush and not really talked about.
rubber flooring and sound board etc was used to keep movement quiet in hall ways and stairs.

unfortunately the house burnt down during one of the big fires a few years back ….

 

[hallett21]

Built one for a kids bedroom.

He smoked a lot of pot in that room. Parents were pissed lol

 

[yz450mm]

Are these used as a Safe Room in case of a Home Invasion?

we built a home on a hill many years ago We Called it “ The Castle “ and it had several hidden doors mostly to gain access, or move from one side of the home to another with out being seen in the main public area.

everything was hush hush and not really talked about.
rubber flooring and sound board etc was used to keep movement quiet in hall ways and stairs.

unfortunately the house burnt down during one of the big fires a few years back ….

That wasn't in San Antonio Heights, was it?

 

[traquer]

That's awesome. Simple concept, but to execute it flawlessly and make sure it works 20 years from now and opens without a squeek at the most inopportune time, that's what you pay the 100k for

 

[Taboma]

That's awesome. Simple concept, but to execute it flawlessly and make sure it works 20 years from now and opens without a squeek at the most inopportune time, that's what you pay the 100k for

Surprised the city didn't require a mechanical override or secondary means of access in case of an emergency that required a means of rapid egress.

We did one back in the early 70's that led up some narrow stairs to a hidden attic loft for a couple of stoner architects. You could pop open a roof hatch for ventilation and the entire interior was like one of those "Love" Vans -- all fluffy carpet and thickly padded, like one big sofa.
The hidden access door was behind a vertical mirror in a hallway. The mirror being larger than the opening concealed any seams and the special hinges pushed out a couple of inches prior to turning to facilitate the mirror edge overhang. This room wasn't included in any drawings and in fact the stairway was concealed behind drywall until after final inspection. This was done in commercial historical business district building during a modernization retrofit.

 

[bonesfab]

I call them the Scooby doo door. always wanted one.

 

[dread Pirate]

Was over at some friends place in Eureka maybe 25 years ago? Old Victorian home. Beautiful house, but had been a college rental for several years. Friends girl was putting towels away on the built in shelves in the bathroom and when she tried to squeeze one more in the shelf above lifted and the whole shelving unit swung in. She screams and we all go running in. Well built stairwell leading down into a second basement unnoticeable from anywhere inside or outside. Being Humboldt County is was wired for 8-10 grow lights with fans etc. I have no idea if they ever used it, but they kept that place for a few years, just the two of them and definitely upgraded their cars.

 

[jetboatperformance]

When I was a kid living near Cal Poly in the 60's , the Old 1800's two story across the street from our had walls that appeared to be just walls on either side but were actually narrow hallways between several rooms with disguised doors , the kid that lived there showed me I was totally blown away

 

[havasuhusker]

How about a hidden bunker?

MCSO discovers underground bunker with illegal drugs, weapons and more

A woman and her adult son are facing charges after authorities found a large bunker with weapons, drugs and other items on their property.

www.abc15.com

 

[white tortilla]

We did one one time in a book case. To a hidden bathroom lol. Owner was crazy

 

[DWC]

Thought about building something similar in the Havasu closet. Figure I’d have to have a secret way to get from the closet into the garage as well.

 

[WhatExit?]

I've always liked hidden doors, rooms, and hidden storage.

Talking about it and posting it does have the potential to cause issues if someone knows you or your house.

 

[endobear]

For some reason Ive always wanted one of these that opens up to a man cave/bar.

Had a client do what they called a prohibition bar. Small 4' tall door in some cabinets that went into a decent sized bar that was only 6' tall. No pictures because it was all completed after Certificate of Occupancy.

I'd say half the large custom new construction homes I've worked on over the last 10 years have some form of secret room, hidden gun room or secret stair way.

 

[Deckin Around]

Does the sofa just kinda rotate up with the floor?

Yes, if you were sitting on the sofa it would dump you on your face like a wheelbarrow when the door opened.

I can barely see some kinda actuator on the far side but can’t figure out what it does..

The vertical electro ram pushes up and opens the door from the center. The tip of the other ram you see horizontal on the left just pushes open the second panel along the back just to keep someone from falling in to the not-stair side.

For some reason Ive always wanted one of these that opens up to a man cave/bar.

I like the billiard cabinet Hideaway has for a pool room and there could be a cool bar behind that or use one of their mirror doors

Hidden Doors | Hide-A-Way Doors | Secret Doors

All your favorite hidden doors, Hide-A-Way Doors offers several types of bookcase doors and mirror doors at great prices. All hidden door bookcases are made from real wood by true American Craftsmen. Easy to install, ships anywhere in the USA and Canada

www.hideawaydoor.com

No NDA?

Nope, and the house sold after we remodeled it. Flipped from 7 mil to $14mil.

Are these used as a Safe Room in case of a Home Invasion?

Nope, just guns to the left and wine to the right.

Surprised the city didn't require a mechanical override or secondary means of access in case of an emergency that required a means of rapid egress.

Me too. It had a battery backup system for the rams that's it. It's not considered residential living space, it was just listed as a basement storage room, same concept as one of those fold-down attic access ladders.

 

[clarence]

I'd say half the large custom new construction homes I've worked on over the last 10 years have some form of secret room, hidden gun room or secret stair way.

That's great.

 

[rrrr]

Are these used as a Safe Room in case of a Home Invasion?

we built a home on a hill many years ago We Called it “ The Castle “ and it had several hidden doors mostly to gain access, or move from one side of the home to another with out being seen in the main public area.

everything was hush hush and not really talked about.
rubber flooring and sound board etc was used to keep movement quiet in hall ways and stairs.

unfortunately the house burnt down during one of the big fires a few years back ….

My cousin's house, located somewhere in southern Nevada, has a setup like that. The exterior was constructed in a way that disguises the size and location of passageways and rooms. There's a safe room that can be accessed from more than one place in the "normal" house, and it's pretty much impregnable when security features are activated.

 

[Brokeboatin221]

Just came across these pics from a house I remodeled in Belair that I figured some of you guys would appreciate the fab work. The access door was all engineered and subcontracted, I had nothing to do with it. There was a sofa bolted to the door that moved with it the last time I saw it. The wood floor checkerboard and trim pieces had all of the edges bevel cut at just the right angles to allow the door to swing but still set in and not be noticeable was …..again, not me.
View attachment 1167394
View attachment 1167395

Looks like a hatch off a Schiada

 

[240Hallett]

Looks like a hatch off a Schiada

But did they upgrade the opening speed with a relay?

 

[Brokeboatin221]

I’m sure they did and I’m surprised there’s not sliding cup holders on that handrail.

 

[78DiMarco]

So that looks to me like it rotates up out of the floor. I can barely see some kinda actuator on the far side but can’t figure out what it does..

Does the sofa just kinda rotate up with the floor?

The actuator looks like my cav plate actuator... I think it is similar to a light aircraft front landing gear unit....

 

[Instigator]

How about a hidden bunker?

MCSO discovers underground bunker with illegal drugs, weapons and more

A woman and her adult son are facing charges after authorities found a large bunker with weapons, drugs and other items on their property.

www.abc15.com

Holy crap. 3 stories of shipping containers stacked underground 3 high with scissor Jack's for lifts between them.
$ 700,000.00 in Gold and Silver recovered and some nice guns too.
Dumb fucks got busted for tying into the utility companies junction box to steal electricity.

 

[wzuber]

Holy crap. 3 stories of shipping containers stacked underground 3 high with scissor Jack's for lifts between them.
$ 700,000.00 in Gold and Silver recovered and some nice guns too.
Dumb fucks got busted for tying into the utility companies junction box to steal electricity.

Well, they....were....well prepared for somthing....just not getting bust for utility fraud.....notsobrilliant....

 

[dave29]

No NDA?

Was thinking the same thing. "Loose lips".

 

[traquer]

Looks like a hatch off a Schiada

I wonder how they wired it, if it was me I'd run if off a set of 12v boat batteries that are on a hardwired battery tender. If the power goes out you can still open and close that big bastard.

 

[Brokeboatin221]

I wonder how much it weighs….