Hi everyone,
I am currently remodeling a bathroom in the basement of my home and I
wanted everyone's input on the feasibility of an idea that I have. I
have always been fascinated by secret rooms and hidden passages and
the idea of this bathroom having a secret entrance is something that
interests me. I am thinking about the possibility of building a linen
closet on hinges that will act as a door for the bathroom. On sunday
there was a show on HGTV about hidden rooms and there was a man who
had a concealed bathroom (had lots of fun confusing his guests too).
This man used piano hinges. What I am curious about is if something
like this would need some sort of wheels or rollers on the bottom to
support it.
Thanks in advance for any thought you may have on the subject:)
Hi everyone,
The main reason I've always wanted a secret room is just because I
think they are cool and I think they are a fun conversation piece.
Thats really the only reason I have. I wonder if rollers are necessary
if heavy duty hinges are used. I would imagine that a bookcase would
be signifigantly heavier than a linen closet.
In my first post I mentioned the show about secret rooms that was on
HGTV on sunday. Check out the website of the engineer that was
profiled on the show. Some of his inventions are very clever; a clock
that must have the hands at 12 in order to send a signal to open the
lock.
http://www.hiddenpassageway.com/catalog1.htm
Wed, Mar 7, 2007, 7:18am (EST-3) [email protected] waves again and
doth sayeth:
Hi everyone,
The main reason I've always wanted a secret room is just because I think
they are cool and I think they are a fun conversation piece. Thats
really the only reason I have. <snip>
If you get your secret room, then you should either keep it totally
secret, tell absolutely no one. Or, tell everyone, and show them, so
they'll know there's nothing of value hidden in it. Cause word will get
around, and if all they hear is you've got a secret room, some of those
people will start to wender what you've got that you need a secret room
to hide it in. But that's just me.
JOAT
It was too early in the morning for it to be early in the morning. That
was the only thing that he currently knew for sure.
- Clodpool
Tue, Mar 6, 2007, 4:39pm (EST-3) [email protected] waves and hollers
out:
Hi everyone,
I am currently remodeling a bathroom in the basement of my home and I
wanted everyone's input on the feasibility of an idea that I have. I
have always been fascinated by secret rooms and hidden passages and the
idea of this bathroom having a secret entrance <snip>
I'm always kind of amazed whenever someone brings up the subject of
a "secret" room - posted on an international newsgroup. LOL Some
secret.
I could see having a secret room "with" a bathroom, but a secret
bathroom? I had a colon resection in 2000, and when I get the sudden
ure to go it would be vital that the bathroom not be concealed. So it
might work for you, but not for me.
I'd say check the archivs.
JOAT
It was too early in the morning for it to be early in the morning. That
was the only thing that he currently knew for sure.
- Clodpool
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi everyone,
>
> I am currently remodeling a bathroom in the basement of my home and I
> wanted everyone's input on the feasibility of an idea that I have. I
> have always been fascinated by secret rooms and hidden passages and
> the idea of this bathroom having a secret entrance is something that
> interests me. I am thinking about the possibility of building a linen
> closet on hinges that will act as a door for the bathroom. On sunday
> there was a show on HGTV about hidden rooms and there was a man who
> had a concealed bathroom (had lots of fun confusing his guests too).
> This man used piano hinges. What I am curious about is if something
> like this would need some sort of wheels or rollers on the bottom to
> support it.
>
> Thanks in advance for any thought you may have on the subject:)
>
The January 2007 issue of "Fine Homebuilding" has an article entitled
"Secrets Behind Hidden Doors"
You may not want to build your door exactly like the one in the article, but
there are some good pointers.
You should still be able to find that issue around, since it is published
bimonthly. At the very least it should
be available at your public library.
<[email protected]> wrote in message
> This man used piano hinges. What I am curious about is if something
> like this would need some sort of wheels or rollers on the bottom to
> support it.
The topic is regularly discussed here. A common suggestion for a sliding
type door is using skateboard wheels or similarly hard rubber wheels from
another source. If you're going to be using some type of swing open door,
then depending on the weight of it, you'd better start looking into some
heavy duty type hinges, piano type of otherwise.
We have started seeing these in high-end homes in our area. One included a
pretty large section of built-in bookshelf that swung out from the wall to
reveal a small room under the eves of the house. The room was the size of a
walk-in closet and included lights, an internal lock and a phone connection.
Supposedly it was a hidy-hole for family members in case of an intrusion. I
don't recall the hinges but the hinges and structure would have to be very
beefy, because the cabinet full of books could probably weigh in the range
of a ton.
We recently helped our son trim his new house in Missouri. His plan
included a nook in the walk-in closet that could be hidden behind a shelving
unit. It was big enough to hide a shelving unit or a large gun-safe or
both. That intrigued me because we are looking at building in the next year
or so and it would be a good place to hide a gun safe.
BTW, why do you want this secret room?
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi everyone,
>
> I am currently remodeling a bathroom in the basement of my home and I
> wanted everyone's input on the feasibility of an idea that I have. I
> have always been fascinated by secret rooms and hidden passages and
> the idea of this bathroom having a secret entrance is something that
> interests me. I am thinking about the possibility of building a linen
> closet on hinges that will act as a door for the bathroom. On sunday
> there was a show on HGTV about hidden rooms and there was a man who
> had a concealed bathroom (had lots of fun confusing his guests too).
> This man used piano hinges. What I am curious about is if something
> like this would need some sort of wheels or rollers on the bottom to
> support it.
>
> Thanks in advance for any thought you may have on the subject:)
>
I built a set of 30" deep x 96" wide x 9' tall shelves out of jointed
and plained 2" x 4"'s and plywood in my garage / shop for tool
storage. I built them with the backs about 24" from the back wall so
I could store sheet goods behind them. I made the shelves in two 4'
sections and hindged them in the middle so I could swing one side out
to access the sheet goods easier. I used a couple of old door hinges
off a semi truck that had worn out and were quite loose. I put two HF
fixed (not swivel) rubber wheels on the bottom of the swinging shelves
perpindicular to the hindge mount location. (ie the front one was
about 90 degrees and the rear one was about 80 degrees to the front of
the cabinet. I just used a framing square to line them up
perpindicular to the hinge). Even loaded down full of tools it worked
perfectly. The loose hinge made up for the uneveness in my garage
floor. It held a lot more weight than you could ever apply with
linens.
The perfect part about YOUR plan is you can store towels in the linen
closet to clean up the puddles from company that can't find the
toilet!
On Mar 7, 12:54 pm, [email protected] (J T) wrote:
> Wed, Mar 7, 2007, 8:38am (EST-1) [email protected] (RonB) doth sayeth:
> We have started seeing these in high-end homes in our area. One included
> a pretty large section of built-in bookshelf that swung out from the
> wall to reveal a small room under the eves of the house. The room was
> the size of a walk-in closet and included lights, an internal lock and a
> phone connection. Supposedly it was a hidy-hole for family members in
> case of an intrusion. <snip>
>
> If I was going to have a "secret" room, in case of a home invasion,
> one thing I would NOT have is a phone connection. Can't count of
> criminals being too stupd to cut the phone lines.
>
> I wouldn't count on a secret room either, even with a latch, people
> talk, builders are people. Besides, in a panic I sure wouldn't want to
> have to depend on closing my secret door securely for my safety.
> Instead, I'd have a reinforced safe room someone centrally located.
> Battery backup (in case the power is cut), some sort of reliable
> ventilation system, cell phone - pre-tested to be sure you could send
> and receive calls. TV security system so you could view all the room in
> the h ous, they have pinhole cameras that can be eaily concealed. Yeah,
> and if I had that kind of bucks I'd have videotape equipment too, that'd
> go over good in court. Some sort of toilet. Bunk beds along one wall,
> could be pipe racks, 3-4 high, not prob. Chests for storing supplies,
> and seating. I'd have supplies enough to last your entire family for
> maybe 72 hours. I understand the Israelies (?) out long the border
> often had rooms like this. I don't know as I'd have a "secret"
> entrance, but I definitely would NOT advertise either the room or entry
> way. It'd be a bitch to actually have to use such a room for real, then
> find out someone had used up all your supplies.
>
> JOAT
> It was too early in the morning for it to be early in the morning. That
> was the only thing that he currently knew for sure.
> - Clodpool
Where do you live? Why do you need this level of security?
On Mar 9, 3:52 am, [email protected] (J T) wrote:
> Thu, Mar 8, 2007, 8:25pm (EST-3) [email protected] (Jeff) doth
> puzzedly query:
> Where do you live? Why do you need this level of security?
>
> 1. You aven't been paying attention. It's not me wanting a secret
> room.
>
> 2. What the Hell makes you think I'd tell you where I live?
>
I understand it's not your secret room but you've conjured features
that struck me as odd - features I would never consider. So if your
nieghborhood experience makes you ponder things like a reinforced safe
room with a battery backup, etc., then I'd like to avoid it.
Therefore, it would be nice to know its general location...
Although I have a pretty good sketchy meter so I'd probably avoid it
by instinct alone.
Fri, Mar 9, 2007, 9:56am (EST-3) [email protected] (Jeff) doth clarify
with:
I understand it's not your secret room but you've conjured features that
struck me as odd - features I would never consider. So if your
nieghborhood experience makes you ponder things like a reinforced safe
room with a battery backup, etc., then I'd like to avoid it. Therefore,
it would be nice to know its general location...
Although I have a pretty good sketchy meter so I'd probably avoid it by
instinct alone.
Ah, you shoulda said. Part of it at least comes from working on
real life emergency action plans for about 4 1/2 years while in the
Army. You've got to thnk abou what might/could happen - in real life,
and get it covered - which usually takes a lot of research and checking.
And I didn't even touch on the really good stuff.
Years back the nuclear power plant near here wrote an emergncy
plan. Evacuate everyone within a radius of about 20 miles from the
plant in about12 hours, injured to local hospitals, etc. Years back the
command I was with in Germany tried a drill to evacuate dependents if
they had to in case of war. A few hundred families, 3-4 mile area, git
r dun in about 4 hours, no prob. Three weeks later they were still
finding where people lived, and this was with knowing their addresses in
advance.
So it's not my neighborhood experienc that makes me think of things
like that, it's real life, and past military experience. I live in a
quiet area, on a loop road, maybe 2-3 miles outside of a small town.
I just figure if you're gonna do something like that, do it right.
I don't need anything more than the low-tech verson myself. If the
power goes I've got candles, matches, and flashlights. I've got a cell
phone I carry in case I have vehicle trouble - not sure if it'd work in
a complete power outage tho. My son's dog alerts me to strangers. And
I'm home most of the time and I keep a wonder nine handy.
OK, yeah, I'll give you my general location so you can avoid it, no
problem, happy to oblige. I live south of Washington D.C., and east of
the Mississippi River.
JOAT
It was too early in the morning for it to be early in the morning. That
was the only thing that he currently knew for sure.
- Clodpool
Thu, Mar 8, 2007, 8:25pm (EST-3) [email protected] (Jeff) doth
puzzedly query:
Where do you live? Why do you need this level of security?
1. You aven't been paying attention. It's not me wanting a secret
room.
2. What the Hell makes you think I'd tell you where I live?
JOAT
It was too early in the morning for it to be early in the morning. That
was the only thing that he currently knew for sure.
- Clodpool
Wed, Mar 7, 2007, 8:38am (EST-1) [email protected] (RonB) doth sayeth:
We have started seeing these in high-end homes in our area. One included
a pretty large section of built-in bookshelf that swung out from the
wall to reveal a small room under the eves of the house. The room was
the size of a walk-in closet and included lights, an internal lock and a
phone connection. Supposedly it was a hidy-hole for family members in
case of an intrusion. <snip>
If I was going to have a "secret" room, in case of a home invasion,
one thing I would NOT have is a phone connection. Can't count of
criminals being too stupd to cut the phone lines.
I wouldn't count on a secret room either, even with a latch, people
talk, builders are people. Besides, in a panic I sure wouldn't want to
have to depend on closing my secret door securely for my safety.
Instead, I'd have a reinforced safe room someone centrally located.
Battery backup (in case the power is cut), some sort of reliable
ventilation system, cell phone - pre-tested to be sure you could send
and receive calls. TV security system so you could view all the room in
the h ous, they have pinhole cameras that can be eaily concealed. Yeah,
and if I had that kind of bucks I'd have videotape equipment too, that'd
go over good in court. Some sort of toilet. Bunk beds along one wall,
could be pipe racks, 3-4 high, not prob. Chests for storing supplies,
and seating. I'd have supplies enough to last your entire family for
maybe 72 hours. I understand the Israelies (?) out long the border
often had rooms like this. I don't know as I'd have a "secret"
entrance, but I definitely would NOT advertise either the room or entry
way. It'd be a bitch to actually have to use such a room for real, then
find out someone had used up all your supplies.
JOAT
It was too early in the morning for it to be early in the morning. That
was the only thing that he currently knew for sure.
- Clodpool
J T wrote:
> Wed, Mar 7, 2007, 8:38am (EST-1) [email protected] (RonB) doth sayeth:
> We have started seeing these in high-end homes in our area. One
> included a pretty large section of built-in bookshelf that swung out
> from the wall to reveal a small room under the eves of the house. The
> room was the size of a walk-in closet and included lights, an
> internal lock and a phone connection. Supposedly it was a hidy-hole
> for family members in case of an intrusion. <snip>
>
> If I was going to have a "secret" room, in case of a home
> invasion, one thing I would NOT have is a phone connection. Can't
> count of criminals being too stupd to cut the phone lines.
>
> I wouldn't count on a secret room either, even with a latch,
> people talk, builders are people. Besides, in a panic I sure
> wouldn't want to have to depend on closing my secret door securely
> for my safety. Instead, I'd have a reinforced safe room someone
> centrally located. Battery backup (in case the power is cut), some
> sort of reliable ventilation system, cell phone - pre-tested to be
> sure you could send and receive calls. TV security system so you
> could view all the room in the h ous, they have pinhole cameras that
> can be eaily concealed. Yeah, and if I had that kind of bucks I'd
> have videotape equipment too, that'd go over good in court. Some
> sort of toilet. Bunk beds along one wall, could be pipe racks, 3-4
> high, not prob. Chests for storing supplies, and seating. I'd have
> supplies enough to last your entire family for maybe 72 hours. I
> understand the Israelies (?) out long the border often had rooms like
> this. I don't know as I'd have a "secret" entrance, but I definitely
> would NOT advertise either the room or entry way. It'd be a bitch to
> actually have to use such a room for real, then find out someone had
> used up all your supplies.
I'd want a small armory in it, with body armor, just in case--such a
room can become a trap if you don't have the means to fight your way out
of it.
Ever see the movie "Panic Room"? If not you might find it interesting.
>
>
>
> JOAT
> It was too early in the morning for it to be early in the morning.
> That was the only thing that he currently knew for sure.
> - Clodpool
--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
Wed, Mar 7, 2007, 3:36pm [email protected] (J.=A0Clarke) doeth
sayeth:
I'd want a small armory in it, with body armor, just in case--such a
room can become a trap if you don't have the means to fight your way out
of it.
Ever see the movie "Panic Room"? If not you might find it interesting.
Well, for a home invasion, IF you could get into the room in time,
and IF you had a reloable means of getting word out, they should not be
in the home long, because he law wouldbe on th way. However, that's
movies stuff. In real life, I doubt you'd be ble to even reach a safe
room, let alone get everyone inside. Personally, I'd want to have
firepower available too.
The reinforced rooms I feference in Israel were in case of
Palestine attackks, and soetime able to be reached in time, sometimes
not. One case was where a Palestine attacker was killed by one shot
from a .22 target pistol. Not the weapo of first choice I'm sure, but
what was available at the time, and did the job.
Fortunately (?) I should have no worries about home invasions, I
don't own anything worth stealing.
JOAT
It was too early in the morning for it to be early in the morning. That
was the only thing that he currently knew for sure.
- Clodpool
"J T" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Wed, Mar 7, 2007, 8:38am (EST-1) [email protected] (RonB) doth sayeth:
> We have started seeing these in high-end homes in our area. One included
> a pretty large section of built-in bookshelf that swung out from the
> wall to reveal a small room under the eves of the house. The room was
> the size of a walk-in closet and included lights, an internal lock and a
> phone connection. Supposedly it was a hidy-hole for family members in
> case of an intrusion. <snip>
>
> If I was going to have a "secret" room, in case of a home invasion,
> one thing I would NOT have is a phone connection. Can't count of
> criminals being too stupd to cut the phone lines.
>
> I wouldn't count on a secret room either, even with a latch, people
> talk, builders are people. Besides, in a panic I sure wouldn't want to
> have to depend on closing my secret door securely for my safety.
> Instead, I'd have a reinforced safe room someone centrally located.
> Battery backup (in case the power is cut), some sort of reliable
> ventilation system, cell phone - pre-tested to be sure you could send
> and receive calls. TV security system so you could view all the room in
> the h ous, they have pinhole cameras that can be eaily concealed. Yeah,
> and if I had that kind of bucks I'd have videotape equipment too, that'd
> go over good in court. Some sort of toilet. Bunk beds along one wall,
> could be pipe racks, 3-4 high, not prob. Chests for storing supplies,
> and seating. I'd have supplies enough to last your entire family for
> maybe 72 hours. I understand the Israelies (?) out long the border
> often had rooms like this. I don't know as I'd have a "secret"
> entrance, but I definitely would NOT advertise either the room or entry
> way. It'd be a bitch to actually have to use such a room for real, then
> find out someone had used up all your supplies.
>
>
>
> JOAT
> It was too early in the morning for it to be early in the morning. That
> was the only thing that he currently knew for sure.
> - Clodpool
>
They used to have these in the 50s. They were called bunkers.
Wed, Mar 7, 2007, 6:17pm (EST+5) [email protected] (efgh) doth sayeth;
They used to have these in the 50s. They were called bunkers.
This is decadeslater than the 50s, and they were/are concrete
reinforced rooms inside the homes.
JOAT
It was too early in the morning for it to be early in the morning. That
was the only thing that he currently knew for sure.
- Clodpool
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] (J T) wrote:
> I wouldn't count on a secret room either, even with a latch, people
> talk, builders are people.
I thought that the traditional method, in pyramids and castles and such,
was simply to kill the builders.
OTOH, many years ago in Austin, TX, the local construction trade got
together and built a new women's shelter safe-house for free, and AFAIK,
the location was successfully kept secret.
--
"Keep your ass behind you."
Thu, Mar 8, 2007, 10:00pm (EST-1) [email protected]
(Australopithecus=A0scobis) doth sayeth:
I thought that the traditional method, in pyramids and castles and such,
was simply to kill the builders. <snip>
It is, but if you do that a couple of times it gets to be a real
bitch to get any work done on your house.
JOAT
It was too early in the morning for it to be early in the morning. That
was the only thing that he currently knew for sure.
- Clodpool
From: Australopithecus scobis <[email protected]>
> OTOH, many years ago in Austin, TX, the local construction trade got
> together and built a new women's shelter safe-house for free, and AFAIK,
> the location was successfully kept secret.
How do women in need find it?
;)
--
flip
Just on the border of your waking mind, There lies - Another time,
Where darkness & light - are one. And as you tread the halls of sanity,
You feel so glad to be, Unable to go beyond. ELO - Twilight Prologue
In my email replace SeeEmmYou.EeeDeeYou with CMU.EDU
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi everyone,
>
> The main reason I've always wanted a secret room is just because I
> think they are cool and I think they are a fun conversation piece.
> Thats really the only reason I have. I wonder if rollers are necessary
> if heavy duty hinges are used. I would imagine that a bookcase would
> be signifigantly heavier than a linen closet.
>
> In my first post I mentioned the show about secret rooms that was on
> HGTV on sunday. Check out the website of the engineer that was
> profiled on the show. Some of his inventions are very clever; a clock
> that must have the hands at 12 in order to send a signal to open the
> lock.
>
> http://www.hiddenpassageway.com/catalog1.htm
>
Talk about a unique business. This guy has cerainly identified a niche
market and is supplying some very specialized products and services. I hope
he does well.
"RonB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> We have started seeing these in high-end homes in our area. One included
a
> pretty large section of built-in bookshelf that swung out from the wall to
> reveal a small room under the eves of the house. The room was the size of
a
> walk-in closet and included lights, an internal lock and a phone
connection.
> Supposedly it was a hidy-hole for family members in case of an intrusion.
I
> don't recall the hinges but the hinges and structure would have to be very
> beefy, because the cabinet full of books could probably weigh in the range
> of a ton.
>
> We recently helped our son trim his new house in Missouri. His plan
> included a nook in the walk-in closet that could be hidden behind a
shelving
> unit. It was big enough to hide a shelving unit or a large gun-safe or
> both. That intrigued me because we are looking at building in the next
year
> or so and it would be a good place to hide a gun safe.
>
> BTW, why do you want this secret room?
>
It's a secret.