I live in an apartment, and it would only take a good kick to bust through the door. Does anyone know of a good door barricade device? I am looking for something that can be easily put up and taken down, and either good enough to drastically slow down someone trying to get in or would make so much noise it would wake up the whole building. The end result would be I would now be awake and have a gun in hand while the person was still trying to get in. Any advice?
Door baricades
- Thread starter RDavidP
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sm
member
Weak links in Apt dwelling include:
1. Master Keys are given out to Exterminators, HVAC, Maint Folks (plumber on call for example). Just less hassle to for them to have a key, get a call the hot water heater went out in Apt 1A , than for Mgr, Assit Mgr to have to meet them and let them in.
2. Doors Frames are...Apt door frames.
Construction is simply meet code, do it fast, lowest bid on materials.
3. Door Locks.
Apt mgmt company will buy the least expensive by the Gross, oh, and anyone that does any Maint as mentioned in #1 has a Master Key. I mean all the Apts in town pretty much the same.
Rental Deposit : Well you ain't gonna get it all back anyways...
Simple : Get/Make a wooden door stop. Just set this at the door and "kick it to set it" .
Oldest tip used, especially when traveling and staying in hotels, motels and condos.
Not simple, very effective.
Get a Steel "T" made. At least 1/2 " in diameter. *
On the floor, inside of dwelling, drill a hole "right there" so when this "T" is inserted, that door ain't gonna open.
A second hole can be drilled where with the "T" inserted, the door cannot be opened more than 1.5" - 2". Anymore, Leverage starts working against you.
Toss a mat and most folks will never notice, "goofy builders when they built these apts" work for the more curious.
Moving out, well, in doing this, go ahead and keep your eyes peeled for matching tile for entryway, vinyl flooring squares [Apt maint person most likely has some, BS for a sample(s) as you want to show someone/ take this sample to get some as "mom/grandma really like this" (just come up with some BS and stick this back)].
If wood, wooden dowels, if carpet, well...you could cut and put in a nice tile deal to look "decorative"
This goes w-a-y back before I was born in the 50's.
Door Stops always used ...too many nursing moms kept one as nobody locked a door, or used in the Bedroom as many bedrooms did not have locks.
Kept the kids out, hence the reason mom is nursing a baby again...keeps the kids out while folks change clothes , nurse kids - whatever.
*Stilson Wrench.
Now while the wrench was used and kept handy to turn off the meter...most folks don't keep one in the house and handy.
Look at older homes, front and back doors. Those holes do not have wooden dowels in them because the Gas Heater was installed Right inside the front and back door where one had to step over them.
Yep! Them holes are where a Stilson or a Steel "T" was dropped into the hole for security.
Old stuff still works...
Where do you think business doors with steel rods going into concrete got the idea?
1. Master Keys are given out to Exterminators, HVAC, Maint Folks (plumber on call for example). Just less hassle to for them to have a key, get a call the hot water heater went out in Apt 1A , than for Mgr, Assit Mgr to have to meet them and let them in.
2. Doors Frames are...Apt door frames.
Construction is simply meet code, do it fast, lowest bid on materials.
3. Door Locks.
Apt mgmt company will buy the least expensive by the Gross, oh, and anyone that does any Maint as mentioned in #1 has a Master Key. I mean all the Apts in town pretty much the same.
Rental Deposit : Well you ain't gonna get it all back anyways...
Simple : Get/Make a wooden door stop. Just set this at the door and "kick it to set it" .
Oldest tip used, especially when traveling and staying in hotels, motels and condos.
Not simple, very effective.
Get a Steel "T" made. At least 1/2 " in diameter. *
On the floor, inside of dwelling, drill a hole "right there" so when this "T" is inserted, that door ain't gonna open.
A second hole can be drilled where with the "T" inserted, the door cannot be opened more than 1.5" - 2". Anymore, Leverage starts working against you.
Toss a mat and most folks will never notice, "goofy builders when they built these apts" work for the more curious.
Moving out, well, in doing this, go ahead and keep your eyes peeled for matching tile for entryway, vinyl flooring squares [Apt maint person most likely has some, BS for a sample(s) as you want to show someone/ take this sample to get some as "mom/grandma really like this" (just come up with some BS and stick this back)].
If wood, wooden dowels, if carpet, well...you could cut and put in a nice tile deal to look "decorative"
This goes w-a-y back before I was born in the 50's.
Door Stops always used ...too many nursing moms kept one as nobody locked a door, or used in the Bedroom as many bedrooms did not have locks.
Kept the kids out, hence the reason mom is nursing a baby again...keeps the kids out while folks change clothes , nurse kids - whatever.
*Stilson Wrench.
Now while the wrench was used and kept handy to turn off the meter...most folks don't keep one in the house and handy.
Look at older homes, front and back doors. Those holes do not have wooden dowels in them because the Gas Heater was installed Right inside the front and back door where one had to step over them.
Yep! Them holes are where a Stilson or a Steel "T" was dropped into the hole for security.
Old stuff still works...
Where do you think business doors with steel rods going into concrete got the idea?
Mandirigma
Member
Love sm's advice.
Here's one I use, but its all dependant on your floor plan of course.
I use a simple 4x4. I fits between my door and the "backstop" in my case stairs when I'm leaving I just kick it out of the way, when I'm done for the evening I kick it in place.
Again it works for me because the door opens in, and I do have a backstop to prop it up against.
Here's one I use, but its all dependant on your floor plan of course.
I use a simple 4x4. I fits between my door and the "backstop" in my case stairs when I'm leaving I just kick it out of the way, when I'm done for the evening I kick it in place.
Again it works for me because the door opens in, and I do have a backstop to prop it up against.
Deanimator
Member
Back when I was a kid in Chicago in the '60s, there was a rash of home invasions where we lived.
Along with welded iron gates on the front and back door, my father had installed a steel prop rod on the front door. There was a socket installed in the back of the door and one set into the floor in front of the door on the inside. When we went to bed, we'd set one end of the rod into the socket on the door and the other in the socket in the floor. That put the rod at about a 45deg. angle, bracing the door shut. You pretty much had to destroy the door completely to get in.
Along with welded iron gates on the front and back door, my father had installed a steel prop rod on the front door. There was a socket installed in the back of the door and one set into the floor in front of the door on the inside. When we went to bed, we'd set one end of the rod into the socket on the door and the other in the socket in the floor. That put the rod at about a 45deg. angle, bracing the door shut. You pretty much had to destroy the door completely to get in.
Fox police lock and similar devices have been n use in NYC and other places with good success.
Here's a real fox vertical bar lock for $15
http://newyork.craigslist.org/stn/hsh/385387090.html
Here's a real fox vertical bar lock for $15
http://newyork.craigslist.org/stn/hsh/385387090.html
siskiyou3
Member
I was thinking something like a door brace bar like these:
http://www.defensedevices.com/bigjamdoorbr.html
http://www.daviebar.com/
or those barricade bars like these:
http://www.safesecurity.ca/com_barricade.htm
I had one of those brace bars when I lived in an apartment and it worked surprisingly well. Great reinforcement to doors and will buy you some extra time to wake up and prepare for whatever intruder is trying toc ome in.
http://www.defensedevices.com/bigjamdoorbr.html
http://www.daviebar.com/
or those barricade bars like these:
http://www.safesecurity.ca/com_barricade.htm
I had one of those brace bars when I lived in an apartment and it worked surprisingly well. Great reinforcement to doors and will buy you some extra time to wake up and prepare for whatever intruder is trying toc ome in.
TallPine
Member
I dunno where you get them, but the former owner of our current house had installed these square vertical slide bolt things that go into a socket in the floor. You can push them down with your foot, and there is also a short lever that sticks out that you can push with your toe to raise it back up.
Would kind of mess up a floor in a rental unit, unless it was carpeted.
Would kind of mess up a floor in a rental unit, unless it was carpeted.
sm
member
Safety Reminder!
Anytime one does Anything to keep BGs Out :
-It Keeps Good Guys Out.
- It Keeps Good Guys in.
Rescue Folks have to be able to get in.
Oh they will!
Just Time may be Critical such as during a Fire.
Occupants have to get out as well.
Kids, Elderly, Physically Limited, Expectant Mothers, Those Recovering from Surgery...
Fire breaks out, smoke, dark, and being able to access under stress Anything one does to Keep BGs out, Can IMPEDE Occupants.
Tornado, Flooding , hits and Rescue folks needing to check on Folks.
Again, keep in mind the LEAST Skill sets of occupants on any home/business measures.
Grandma watching Grandkid :
-Are these two able to get out if a fire breaks out?
-Grandma falls, and is unconscious?
Now, the grandkid.
Dials 911, but, still the grandkid is going through a Trauma themselves.
Maybe he/she knows the neighbor "and it all right" can this kid let the neighbor in to help?
Rescue Folks, are going to get into the dwelling to assist Grandma.
Kid going through another Trauma of the house gotten into plus Grandma...
Step Back and access and if need be get other sets of eyes to access.
Young eyes (kids) see things olders eyes do not.
Ditto for Older eyes.
Anytime one does Anything to keep BGs Out :
-It Keeps Good Guys Out.
- It Keeps Good Guys in.
Rescue Folks have to be able to get in.
Oh they will!
Just Time may be Critical such as during a Fire.
Occupants have to get out as well.
Kids, Elderly, Physically Limited, Expectant Mothers, Those Recovering from Surgery...
Fire breaks out, smoke, dark, and being able to access under stress Anything one does to Keep BGs out, Can IMPEDE Occupants.
Tornado, Flooding , hits and Rescue folks needing to check on Folks.
Again, keep in mind the LEAST Skill sets of occupants on any home/business measures.
Grandma watching Grandkid :
-Are these two able to get out if a fire breaks out?
-Grandma falls, and is unconscious?
Now, the grandkid.
Dials 911, but, still the grandkid is going through a Trauma themselves.
Maybe he/she knows the neighbor "and it all right" can this kid let the neighbor in to help?
Rescue Folks, are going to get into the dwelling to assist Grandma.
Kid going through another Trauma of the house gotten into plus Grandma...
Step Back and access and if need be get other sets of eyes to access.
Young eyes (kids) see things olders eyes do not.
Ditto for Older eyes.
sm
member
Re: Safety "T"
In case I missed someone that PM-ed me about this:
Hi.
Go get a 12" ruler, go to your closed front door and in the middle of the door, set the ruler vertical with one edge of the floor.
Step back and take a look.
Now imagine that ruler was Steel, and going into the floor pretty deep, where it is solid as can be.
The "T" handle is only about 3"-4" wide.
Now crack the door open 1.5" no more than 2". Just enough to get mail from a neighbor, for instance.
Again set the ruler vertical in the center of the door, with one edge on the floor.
Step Back, and imagine again, that ruler is Steel going into floor pretty deep, and solid as can be.
Being in the center of door, and it not being opened NO more than 2", a hand, arm, upper arm cannot reach around and pull this up.
That help?
In case I missed someone that PM-ed me about this:
Hi.
Go get a 12" ruler, go to your closed front door and in the middle of the door, set the ruler vertical with one edge of the floor.
Step back and take a look.
Now imagine that ruler was Steel, and going into the floor pretty deep, where it is solid as can be.
The "T" handle is only about 3"-4" wide.
Now crack the door open 1.5" no more than 2". Just enough to get mail from a neighbor, for instance.
Again set the ruler vertical in the center of the door, with one edge on the floor.
Step Back, and imagine again, that ruler is Steel going into floor pretty deep, and solid as can be.
Being in the center of door, and it not being opened NO more than 2", a hand, arm, upper arm cannot reach around and pull this up.
That help?
Regolith
Member
Those door braces that siskiyou3 posted work fairly well. My parents have a couple made out of aircraft aluminum that they use to to keep some doors shut that need to have their doorknobs replaced.
I got locked out one time, and tried to force my way past one. I'm a big guy, 6' 3" 300 or so lbs, and I could NOT get the door to budge. The door I tried it on was steel, however, so I don't know how well a wooden door would have held up. Its more likely that the door will break before one of those things give way.
I got locked out one time, and tried to force my way past one. I'm a big guy, 6' 3" 300 or so lbs, and I could NOT get the door to budge. The door I tried it on was steel, however, so I don't know how well a wooden door would have held up. Its more likely that the door will break before one of those things give way.
Last edited:
Thanks regolith and siskiyou, that is exactly what I am looking for. It is simple to put up, and simple to take down. It may not be as secure is something that is bolted to the floor or door frame, but something bolted is not an option for me.
SevenMichael
Member
The BEST Door Jamb / Stop
I use the SWEGE - STANDARD SIZE:
http://www.swatools.com/browse.php?c=18
It works great on carpet, and the door will have to be broken off the hinges to get past it.
I haven't tried it on hard floors yet, but assume it will work just as well; it's used by LEO's to make sure once a door is "checked closed", it STAYS CLOSED ! 
MORE IMPORTANTLY, It gives off the LOUDEST, SHRILLEST siren sound I've ever heard.
First time I set it off I seriously wondered if I would damage my ears (you have to wait for it to silence on it's own, no "off" switch) !
I highly recommend it !
I use the SWEGE - STANDARD SIZE:
http://www.swatools.com/browse.php?c=18
It works great on carpet, and the door will have to be broken off the hinges to get past it.
I haven't tried it on hard floors yet, but assume it will work just as well; it's used by LEO's to make sure once a door is "checked closed", it STAYS CLOSED ! MORE IMPORTANTLY, It gives off the LOUDEST, SHRILLEST siren sound I've ever heard.
First time I set it off I seriously wondered if I would damage my ears (you have to wait for it to silence on it's own, no "off" switch) ! I highly recommend it !
There is little you can do to prevent your door from being breached if someone is serious about it.
Make it as difficult and time consuming as you can.
Keep in mind that many homes are made with doors that are easy to breach and walls that are even easier to breach. A battery powered saw can open up a man sized hole in your outer wall in under 60 seconds. A chain saw can do it in about 10 seconds.
You can pop most doors with a car jack, or a long pry bar, no matter how sturdy.
And hinges are often a weak link. Take out the short screws and put in some long ones.
BTW, the way most windows are installed makes them very vulnerable to cutting or prying the whole unit out of the wall.
Do your doors and windows have easy access to vehicle traffic? Can someone just pull a car up to a door or window. You'd be amazed at how easy it is to push in a door or window with a car or other vehicle if it has direct access.
There was a raft of burglaries in this area about ten years ago where a guy with a tow truck would come by, take down a business's door or wall, and yank out the safe with the tow truck hook. He was in and out very quickly.
Make it as difficult and time consuming as you can.
Keep in mind that many homes are made with doors that are easy to breach and walls that are even easier to breach. A battery powered saw can open up a man sized hole in your outer wall in under 60 seconds. A chain saw can do it in about 10 seconds.
You can pop most doors with a car jack, or a long pry bar, no matter how sturdy.
And hinges are often a weak link. Take out the short screws and put in some long ones.
BTW, the way most windows are installed makes them very vulnerable to cutting or prying the whole unit out of the wall.
Do your doors and windows have easy access to vehicle traffic? Can someone just pull a car up to a door or window. You'd be amazed at how easy it is to push in a door or window with a car or other vehicle if it has direct access.
There was a raft of burglaries in this area about ten years ago where a guy with a tow truck would come by, take down a business's door or wall, and yank out the safe with the tow truck hook. He was in and out very quickly.
Bob F.
Member
If MIL had had a fire, she'd likely have burned to death before she got all the locks opened. When she had a stroke it took 2 kicks to get in and 2 hours the next day to replace the door frame, and I was working from 2 steps down.
Stay safe.
Bob
Stay safe.
Bob
ilbob,
I live on the second floor up a flight of stairs. One thing around this apartment is you can here almost any noise in any of these apartments. Our weak spots then are the front door and the balcony sliding glass door if they had a ladder and could fight their way through bushes. Again, we would hear them, and so would those around us. If someone cranked up a chainsaw to cut through our wall, it would wake everybody in the building up, and us. If they cut through the wall, and come in, I am going to start shooting because they are coming after me with a chainsaw. The typical Joe Criminal though would very unlikely carry a chainsaw to break in. What I am wanting to do is discourage Joe Smash'n Grab by making it slow and loud to get in when we are home.
I live on the second floor up a flight of stairs. One thing around this apartment is you can here almost any noise in any of these apartments. Our weak spots then are the front door and the balcony sliding glass door if they had a ladder and could fight their way through bushes. Again, we would hear them, and so would those around us. If someone cranked up a chainsaw to cut through our wall, it would wake everybody in the building up, and us. If they cut through the wall, and come in, I am going to start shooting because they are coming after me with a chainsaw. The typical Joe Criminal though would very unlikely carry a chainsaw to break in. What I am wanting to do is discourage Joe Smash'n Grab by making it slow and loud to get in when we are home.
Deanimator
Member
That's one of the things which I notice when I take the train into Chicago from Cleveland.
Large stretches of the south side of Chicago look like a human zoo, with bars on windows and doors and 6-8' fences with locked gates. That's what happens when nobody has the means to defend themselves.
I'm sure I've heard of a few people dying in fires because they couldn't be reached through all of the gates, bars, etc.
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