After a scare with a violent intruder and long police response, I’m thinking of setting up a safe room where I can wait it out until help arrives. I have a security system with a panic button now, but I need an interior door and deadbolt that would be hard to break down.
Brick walls and a steel door with a solid bar across it.
Just keep in mind that if you’re trapped inside, you’ll want to be able to get out quickly in case of a fire.
Lyric said:
Brick walls and a steel door with a solid bar across it.
Just keep in mind that if you’re trapped inside, you’ll want to be able to get out quickly in case of a fire.
True. If the intruder knows anything about home construction, they could punch or kick through the wall. With standard drywall, it could take them under a minute. Adding 3/4" plywood to the inside walls could be a great, cost-effective improvement.
@Jin
That’s actually a smart solution!
Might sound like overkill, but for some people, the fear of another break-in is real.
If you have a big bedroom, you could make a 4x4 ft. panic room with brick walls. Make it look like a regular wall outside and hide the door as a ‘shelf’ for disguise. The door should be really strong and lockable from the inside. Soundproofing is essential so they won’t hear you, and add ventilation.
Stock it with essentials: food, water, a backup phone, a surveillance system, and self-defense items like pepper spray or tasers. Reinforce the bedroom door too, so you have enough time to get to the panic room. You could also put something like a remote-controlled music player in the bedroom to create noise and cover any sounds.
Here’s a plan if someone enters:
- Run to your bedroom and lock the door.
- Open a window (it may trick them into thinking you escaped).
- Hide in the panic room, call the police, and activate the noise device.
- Monitor the situation with your cameras.
- If they reach the bedroom, activate pepper spray or a smoke device to drive them away.
This setup should buy you time until the police arrive. Also, keep someone else, like a neighbor, in the loop if you need them to check in.
Unless the intruder is totally irrational, they might come through the wall instead of the door. Most modern walls are pretty weak, so it’s worth reinforcing or even adding bulletproofing to the closet or wall interior.
Are you planning to use your main bedroom as the safe room? Securing that room makes sense because you’re already there when you sleep, and it usually has a bathroom. Reinforce the door and windows to buy yourself time. If you’re worried about them breaking through walls, that’ll need a bit more effort. If you have a firearm, you’ll be able to prepare if they do try to break through.
If you’re serious about it, consider installing an interior fire door with a deadbolt for your bedroom. Should cost around $300-$400, a bit more if you hire someone to install it, but it’s a worthwhile investment.
A steel door with a steel frame would be a solid choice. You could even install an exterior-grade door on the inside.
If budget allows, there are European doors with bolts all around like a safe door. Otherwise, you can add extra deadbolts, security hinges, and bolt latches on all sides to increase security.
Upgrading the door with a quality deadbolt will help. If you’re worried about walls, you could remove the drywall and put up 1/2" plywood glued and screwed to the studs. Then re-sheetrock over it for a strong but hidden barrier.
Nothing’s foolproof, but these improvements go a long way. Also, consider training with a self-defense tool like a firearm if that’s something you’re comfortable with.