Essential Considerations for Purchasing and Shipping a Vault Door

If you're thinking about purchasing a vault door and having it shipped to you, there are several important factors to consider. Vault doors are heavy and require special handling, especially during delivery and installation. Understanding how different companies ship their vault doors and preparing accordingly can save you time, money, and stress. Here’s what you need to know.

Shipping Orientation: Vertical vs. Horizontal

Vault doors are typically shipped in one of two orientations: vertical (standing upright) or horizontal (lying down). This orientation can significantly impact how you handle the door upon delivery.

1. Vertical Shipment

Some companies ship their vault doors vertically, meaning they stand straight up during transportation. This can be beneficial for stability during shipping but requires careful handling if you need to lay the door down to move it into your home. Lowering a vertical vault door to its side must be done with significant care to avoid damage and ensure safety.

• Liberty Safe: Their Beast and Blockade vault doors are shipped vertically.
• Champion Safe: Ships all their vault doors vertically.
• Superior Safe: Also ships vault doors in a vertical position.
• Rhino Metals: Ships vault doors vertically.
• American Rebel: Ships vault doors vertically.

2. Horizontal Shipment

Other companies ship their vault doors horizontally, meaning they lie down during transportation. This can make it easier to maneuver the door through tight spaces and doorways upon delivery but still requires careful handling due to the door's weight.

• Fort Knox Vaults: Ships vault doors crated and on their side.
• Browning Safes: Their vault doors come lying on their back.

3. Handling and Installation

Vault doors are extremely heavy, and improper handling can lead to injury or damage to the door and your property. Hiring professionals with the expertise and equipment to move and install a vault door is crucial. These experts can safely lower a vertically shipped door to its side if necessary and navigate any challenges during installation.

Hiring Professional Safe Movers

Given the complexity and risk involved in moving and installing a vault door, it’s advisable to hire professional movers. These professionals have the experience, tools, and techniques needed to handle heavy vault doors safely and efficiently. They can also ensure that the door is installed correctly, providing you with peace of mind.

When purchasing a vault door, it's essential to consider how it will be shipped and handled upon delivery. Whether shipped vertically or horizontally, vault doors require special care and expertise to move and install. By understanding the shipping orientation and hiring professional movers, you can ensure a smooth and safe installation process.

* Please note this picture show two Fort Knox Vaults, but when Fort Knox ships out their Vault Doors they are on their side and crated.