We had a cottage that we used to shutter the doors and windows on come late fall. It was only for weather issues as we left an emergency box on the porch with food, water, candy bars, first-aid kit, and a note showing how to enter the cottage in an emergency. In 20 years a few hunters, and lost folks, and even folks with cars which stopped running or got stuck in the snow, came into the cottage. There they found more emergency food and water, tea, coffee, non dairy creamer, plenty of blankets, bedding and the like. There were candles and lanterns as well. The old Quebec heater had a fire built and ready to go, and plenty of wood inside, and on the porch. Everyone who used the place cleaned the dishes, rebuilt the fire, and even left cash or a check for the goods used with a thank you note. I miss the good old days.
not yet all gone! I still purchase my horses hay on the 'honor system' from a local hay guy who has it set up that way. Load it up, pay and go, and this just 40 miles outside Seattle!!! yeeha another world does exist!
Now see if everyone were this kind like you and if others did not take advantage of such kindness or destroy the place. This world would be so much better to live in.
I did this back in the Y2k era but made the mistake of leaning the plywood up against the wall for a few months in the garage. Every single piece was bowed and didn't fit properly. A small tip, put some orange or black paint where the pre drilled holes are. It'll make it a lot easier to find, especially if you aren't the one doing it putting it up.
@@himesjon Same here. I've got mine laying flat on a 4x8 skid, with clamps all around to sandwich all tight to the skid. I'm not gonna cut mine till D-day. I've got 1/2 " for windows and 3/4" for doors.
Having boarded up my house in Florida against hurricanes for over 20 years, I would suggest that you drill peepholes in the plywood at strategic locations. It gets very claustrophobic in a house with all the doors and windows covered. Also, you want to be able to monitor what's going on outside.
As a carpenter, I have to say plywood is the most amazing of materials and even one of the greatest tech advancements of modern times. So incredibly strong and versatile! Not to mention a great prep to store if you have space!
One thought would be to cut the plywood 1 1/2” taller than the window. This would allow you to screw on a strip at the top of the sheet to serve as a cleat to hang the plywood to the top of the window frame. That way it would be easier for one person to hang and screw down the plywood without having to hold it in place and screw it at the same time.
That's a dandy idea. Just make sure you know what kinda fire you're fighting because if you spray water into a molotov fire you're just going to spread it. Have plenty extinguishers. Still a great idea.
How come no one says anything about shooting the zombie that set your house on fire. I have the small kids inside and if they start the fire, they will get the shotgun pellets fly! fair fight...
I have mine set up for an inside installation. I figured if a group gets the jump on me I won't be able to go outside. I mounted 4 gate slide latches on each sheet and drilled holes the window frames for the lock to slide into. Now to install the sheets I just put them in place and slide the locks. My theory is by the time someone breaks the window and bashes through the plywood I'll be there to welcome them with a twelve gauge.
interesting point, then also they won't simply be able to unscrew the plywood. However with the window prices today it would financially ruin me if that group started smashing all my windows
so sad that you have to feel you have to do that. i have the same thing but for hurricanes. i put webbing straps or handles on mine to make it easier to handle. and i put the hurricane screw/bolts in our window frames. that way you just pop the plywood on the screw/bolts and use wing nuts to tighten
Having some plywood, 2X4s, tarps, and nails on hand (or in a bug out trailer) allows you to build expedient shelters if your house is destroyed during a large scale disaster. Great to have around.
Or get an RV, travel and have fun with family store it somewhere safe and in the scenario you mentioned you can go pick up your second home (RV) and take it to a beautiful spot and enjoy life while your home is being repaired or the situation is resolved. That's what I did anyway.
Looks good. T25 bit is a good move. Alot more people have Phillips bits and sockets than T25 bits. There is a number of verious security screws with matching bits. The long span on larger windows and doors should have extra screws. A pull in the middle has a lot of leverage. Also if the wind can get behind the plywood it wont last long. 5/8" plywood is much stronger than 1/2" plywood. A lot of plywood is made with four layers, plywood made with five layers is much stronger and may cost about the same. Good planning, plywood on the day of may cost alot more if you can even get it.
When we lived in Hawaii, we had panels of corrugated galvanized metal that slid into metal channels bolted to the top and bottom of each window and the patio door. Angle iron bars were then locked in place along the vertical edges of the panels to keep the metal panels in place. The metal panels did not take up much space when stacked together and laid against a wall inside our garage. It did take two adults about an hour to cover all the glass with these panels and standing on a ladder and hauling up panels to cover the windows on the top floor was tricky. When spray-painted the right color, the metal channels blended into the window trim. Our insurance company gave us a discount because of this panel system to protect our windows during hurricanes. If I was going to use plywood to cover windows and glass doors, I would do what I could to prevent someone from just using a crowbar to pry off a plywood panel. I would want to pre-drill the holes in each plywood panel and reinforce those holes with glued-on washers on the underside of the plywood and then use more washers and screws long enough to bite into the wall studs to hold the panels in place in the hope anyone trying to get in did not have a screwdriver with them. And I would want the panels to sit flush against the house wall or window trim so there was no way for two strong criminals to get a hand hold on the panel and just pull it away. One downside to using plywood panels to protect your window glass is that the windows and doors of abandoned drug houses are also covered with plywood to keep out squatters. Those plywood panels on your home could be seen by some criminals as an invitation to break into and hide in what they assume is an abandoned house. Think twice before using such inexpensive and obviously homemade barriers. At the very least I would post "Armed guard on duty" signs on the plywood panels. Where I live now, our exterior doors are either steel security doors or are protected by either forged steel bar screen doors or forged steel bar grills and all the windows are shatter resistant. What ever you do to prevent break-ins, just make sure you can still quickly egress the building in case of a fire and that you have working smoke alarms and a fire extinguisher that every member of the household has been trained to use. Remember, the same criminals who do "smash and grab" thefts under cover of a riot are just as likely to do arson for fun. Another thing to consider if you are living in a rented home and are limited in what security measures you are allowed to take, is you probably have the option of quickly evacuating if rioting or an out of control arson fire is heading your way. Just have renter's insurance to cover the replacement value of your household goods and get out of Dodge. Everything except lives can be replaced. If you are paying mortgage on your home and do have the option of any kind of security measures you want, do make sure the door between your attached garage and home is sturdy enough that no one can break the door lock or a door panel by kicking it. And do have the firepower to stop an intruder if he gets inside your home. Shotguns loaded with deer slugs are good if you have poor accuracy with a handgun. For other kinds of home defense firearms, be aware that hollow point rounds are less likely to penetrate house walls and accidently hit a next-door neighbor who is sheltering in place.
you might want to put more then 4 holes in plywood so it's not as easy to pry off . Also keep in mind that screws will leave holes in your window trim. Might want to fashion some decorative brackets that will serve dual purpose or just get wood shutters
When storing your pre-cut panels wrap them in plastic (cling wrap style) to prevent moisture loss and keep out of direct sunlight. The wood drying out is what causes warping, or cupping as it's called.
We have the plywood cut for our house before hurricane Hugo. September 1989, 30 years ago. They're still good, after 3 cat 5 monsters and numerous major hurricanes.
I wonder about adding a "lip" to the top edge of each panel - 1 inch or so strip at a 90 degree angle to the panel, and screwed in every few inches - to rest on the top edge of the frame and sort of let it the whole panek hang there / transfer weight load?
Yeah, don't rely on video cameras or other electronic tools. Another youtuber indicated that Antif-@ that came to his little hamlet were using electronic hammers to wreak havoc with security systems.
as some of the guys have said about home defense also have physical barriers leading to the house, or stuff so it looks like the house has been ransacked already. on a non lethal defense the cat spike strips and home made irritants and paint ball gun both effective.
Paint with exterior primer and top coat,white. Store inside and flat like you see at lowe s or home depot. Keep them dry and straight or they will warp and make installation difficult or impossible after a while of storage.
I am curious, and I am sure you planned for it. Once you mount all that plywood with exterior screws how do you plan to back into the house -- or out if you need to get leave.
Add a couple of rolls of weather stripping and you could make those plywood boards into seals as well in case of chemical weapons. I mean not perfect but substantially better than just plywood. Also clamping a piece of 2x4 on to the plywood to act as a guide for circular saw cuts will make them so much easier to cut straight.
When marking your boards, you can use the alphabet system like is used by FEMA ICS and most Emergency responders. A is the front then go clockwise. It makes it easy B1 is the first window, left side of house, etc
This is such a good video, Cliff! Simple, informative, and useful in situations other than our current one. Using the insulation as a cutting surface with the circular saw, genius!
I done this except we made brackets at the top and bottom of the windos that our boards slide in to. It makes putting them up way easier. for example have you tried to holding a board across your window and screwing it in at the same time, its difficult under ideal conditions now add wind / rain / fear/ adrenalin and it becomes way harder. We also drilled a few 20mm holes in ours, it let's light in, provides you view ports etc... and also allows you to multi use a board on top of 2 saw horses, to make a workbench with clamping holes for use in the post incident repair. We also used some duck taps to secure screws to each board, that way they are always with the boards
Depending on your location, you might want to include insulation as well. It could be a while before you could get the glass replaced, and if it gets cold enough, the damage could spread to the plumbing.
It's actually better to put the plywood sheets on the inside . It will keep glass from falling inside of the home. As well, it is very convert so it gray man.
I've actually been working on pre-cutting plastic sheeting for that purpose. I was originally planning it for CBRN purposes, but I think it's changing to this purpose now.
@@SimpleLivingForever He's referring to security or tamper resistant screws that require a specific bit for that specific screw head: button head, triwing flat, triangle socket are examples.
Those screws don't matter. Anyone can take a battery powered saw and cut them all down in less time than it took to put up. So regular screws will be fine lol
Discussion: screws vrs nails. Screws hold better and are more easily removable but require power tools. Nail require only a hammer and are impossible to remove quietly but leave more damage.
Screws with torx or square bit heads are more secure. Especially if applying wood from the outside. A pry bar and hammer will remove nails/wood in seconds.
If it is for riots and not weather, you can do it from the inside. It will be more stealth. Sure they will break your windows but the sound is an alarm/warning someone is trying to break into your home. You can also use 2x4's to brace the plywood from the inside to make sure intruders have a harder time entering. You should also be prepared to frame out garage doors and the garage entry door. Have pre-cut plywood, lag screws, and concrete masonry screws for this area too. IMO, this is more important as most people store their valuable gear in their garage. Most board-ups are only a temporary fix until a door or glass can be replaced. It doesn't offer any additional security. Keep that in mind.
Stop being afraid of mask-less people, fears can be overcome thru wisdom not political or media 'knowledge' based on political motivated 'science.' just saying
For an interesting project, look at getting some steel sheets and sandwich them between two sheets of plywood. Then, fiberglass the whole thing to make it waterproof and to prevent it from warping. Home Depot also sells 10'x3' ribbed steel roof panels for about $35 that you could put on the outside of these wood panels for added security. For your current setup, I would also use more screws and do them about every 6 inches. If you only put them at the corners, that will leave a lot of room on the sides to pry it open and either break it or rip it off. I saw a lot of plywood being ripped off during the riots by people jumping and grabbing the top of it. I always thought it would be cool if somebody had placed a strip of razor blades across the top to prevent that. haha
Have cut and stacked correct size for each window but wondering the many ways to install such as your photo of the inside cross boards and your direct outdoor fastening. Ever hear of internally mounting on the window so as to limit shattering spray of glass from high-speed projectiles? Metal foam would add up fast all around.
Plywood on all ground floor doors and windows...how you going to get out? Ladder for 2nd story window? Definitely need a plan for entry or emergency egress.
Great tips, but I'd also drill a pilot hole in the top center of the board to make it easier for 1 man to hang. Shoot that screw in the top center and the plywood hangs level so the installer doesn't have to hold a corner up while shooting the 2nd top corner.
Retractable handles like tool box handles or some kind of hand grip makes installation easier. How much time did you spend researching this subject before making this video. You usually have such well thought out videos.
I'm thinking that hidden, pre-made, holes with some kind of nut/anchors would be a viable idea (both for the window and the plywood). If one plans to be able to do it more than once without destroying their house, that is. I really like those internal mountings, that's one of the things I've been unsure about when thinking about things like this (mostly when watching zombie/disaster films or news about the US). It'd be nice if you added links to the other videos you're mentioning.
I've thought about this to be prepared for time of civil unrest, but my house is slump block, so there's no way to attach the wood to the blocks. I thought maybe I'd need to secure the windows from inside but then my windows could still be broken. I suppose the main purpose is to keep invaders out but is there any other thoughts for securing windows with my situation?
Most big box stores like Home Depot will provide 2 cuts for free and charge .25 for each additional. Take your measurements with you and have them cut the wood for you. This could help if you don't have the equipment to cut and might make it easier to get the project home.
I like this idea, and there are several good tips in the comments (mainly concerning bending/bowing of the plywood over time; other nice recommendations too) ... one thing i would advice to do would be to at least cut some slits in all the plywood so you can at least look out. As it be mighty scary hearing a lot of noise outside while not being able to check the outside... obviously camera's could work (given you have your own power supply, the emergency wasn't an EMP and likely having a closed wired system (instead of wifi) makes it less prone to local technical disruption (f/e turning on a microwave oven can hinder wifi considerably! ~ yes, for some dumb reason!) ... obviously slits in the boards are a lot cheaper and more low tech, when you go for that option do consider tactical placement in regards to actual cover and consider concealment as well (as this obviously means people can look in as well, so having curtains closed (or an A4 taped to the inside of the window) would prevent that. obviously opening them could break concealment through movement, so consider cover!
Well this video is incredibly relevant for Seattle or Portland 😃. Extremist organizations have been sieging the cities for almost a year. The complacency to the point of encouragement from government officials and police is mind boggling. Stay safe, and get the hell out of Seattle.
This is pretty vital. WHEN you need it, you won't be able to find it. It will sell out faster than toilet paper. Good advice to have some extra sheets around home.
Good idea I help putting in plywood back in the 1960's but Each and every time there is so much damaged in so the wood was used in fitting the roof and/or sections of the house
great video. I have a brick home so not sure how to mount the ply? any ideas?. Also have you considered making the ply say an inch longer, then attaching on the back some 1x1 timber. This would allow you to hang the ply on the frame at the top quickly and allow you to more easily screw the board. Keep up the good work
Screws should be every 6-8 inches. Those larger windows and doors can be easily torn off by hand with only the corners held on. Also consider running screws through fender washers before going into the plywood. The washers spread the pulling force over a larger area than the screw head making it much more resistant to prying. Even better would be hurricane rated hardware designed for this purpose. I would harden the doors themselves, as you will still most likely need access/egress rather than boarding them over.
Perhaps using a method to install and secure from the inside might be better? If things do kick off, being outside installing plywood will expose yourself.
Maybe a stupid question that I haven't thought through but wouldn't you have to have at least one exit fastened from the inside so you don't "paint yourself into a corner" and can't get in? If you're outside boarding up all the doors and windows how do you get back into the house once you're through or is this for when you're evacuating the premises?
Bugging out is not a solution. We need local law enforcement to empower communities to defend their areas. I do not want to harden the home this close - I want to harden the neighborhood and community before they arrive.
About level 2, is it meant to protect your home while you're bugging out? The reason I'm asking this is that I'm wondering how you're going to cover the last door/window and still be able to get inside - I'm not being cynical, just genuinely puzzled. On another video you mentioned your pantry's porch upstairs; would that be your point of entry, then? Also, you mentioned screwing the panels in place. Are you going to put screw plugs in the window frames? or just screw directly into the frame? On a side note, a couple of months ago I started watching videos on window grates and how some states in the US now have laws requiring new houses to have ones that can be unlocked and swung open, especially in case there's a fire inside - firefighters may have rescue power tools, but it takes time to cut through the bars, not to mention you're literally trapped inside the whole time. Here in Brazil it's fairly common for all windows to have bars -some models are even sold with bars as part of their frame-, meaning we get so used to this feature we barely notice it's even there. But I've recently realized that, while bars may prevent burglars from having easy access to the interior of my home, they also prevent me from escaping at all, should there be a fire blocking my exit through a door. I'm now considering how to replace my outdated window bars and have a removable type installed. By the way, houses over here are built using brick and mortar, so fires aren't as frequent as I believe they would be if we used a wooden frame.
Maybe they'll go in and out through the garage when it's all boarded up? Although, that's a-whole-other security issue (the garage door), but it can't really be boarded up.
Great option. Why dont you also do this for you inside of your home? So they,.. rioters or storms have to go to 2 sheets plywoods and your glass windows to get in? You are doing a great job!@ Keep it up! Greetings from the Netherlands! E
Great vid. I would like to see a follow up with such products as riot film and their Kin. Also, they make a rollup metal door type thing for the exterior of your windows. There are probably other products that u could find and talk about. How-about fortifying your utility shutoffs and or generator, also in a followup? I want a mote with gators. lol
The question I've always had has been do you drill into frame of the window ahead of time and when you remove them what do you fill the holes up with so they do not look bad?
How can I attach the plywood to my house -- it has frameless windows and the "siding" is some sort of concrete stuff (not adobe, it looks like wood but acts more like slate)?
The guys on doomsday preppers had like a bar or sth running through the middle of the board. That somehow made it stronger. Do you know anything about that?
At what point do you decide or commit to putting these up. A couple weeks ago, my city had a protest downtown, I live about 10 -12 minutes away. After they were dispersed they got a little wild and destructive along there path. I was not expecting this enormous crowd to have made it 1 block from my house and quit a few going by my house. It would have looked weird me pulling out plywood and boarding up at that moment. Maybe even encouraged a bad behavior.
It may be hard to make the call on when to do it, but I’m sure Cliff will have a proximity on a map, and once it is breached he would take action. He may also want to deploy them if he has to leave his house. I never thought about it encouraging bad behavior. I’ve always heard people look for the path of least resistance, but I’m willing to learn on this.
Once he gets phase 3 done, every door and window boarded, he may have to use the inside mount (sandwich reference) for one opening to secure from inside. Maybe?
Inside. You want the boards inside. This isnt a hurricane. A) you could paint them to look like window interior. B) you can remove or peek out from the inside to see if the looting hoard is still outside your home. Boards outside give them the option to pull them off. Boards on the inside give you the option. Your windows are no longer part of the equation. Also amazon. Frames to put 2x4’s in front of your doors old school castle style. Wood of metal 2x4’s to reinforce. “Once youve made an area impossible to get in. It’s also impossible to get out” Murphy’s rules of combat or “once you’ve secured an area never forget to inform the opponent“
And they are stored inside. Next to each window. Screw your awesome interior. You want you and your friends to be able to slap those on from the inside in less then 30 min. Not you outside panicking trying to find the right ones, in the right order(as you search the garage for them) and secure them. Then the hoard grabs you while you’re outside doing this. Now your family has no protector. Like watch old westerns or something. You aren’t gonna be given an option to calmly take a day and slap these up like it’s an episode of “this old house”.
This is sensible if you are bugging out, or have severe weather but for civil unrest remember that no one wants to live in a prison. The reality is that if you live in "suburbia" your best bet of avoiding literal rioters is (a) knowing your neighbours very well, (b) working out how to shut down access to your neighbourhood. Make sure you don't remove your means to exit the property if you have to. Hope everything in Seattle settles down :-)
Big mistake using screws to attach to window frame. First, the screws need to be long enough to go a few inches into the stud wall framing. Second, every time you screw in and remove screws, you make a hole that gets bigger and bigger and it doesn't hold firmly. What you want are "panelMates" by the windstormroducts company. they attach to the studs with wingnuts holds g them to the window frame. There are bolts/screws that work on brick, masonry or wood exteriors. Ideally you want expensive steel shutters. How do I know, I live in hurricane country , southern Louisiana! Google TVAS panelmates by windstormproducts.
We had a cottage that we used to shutter the doors and windows on come late fall. It was only for weather issues as we left an emergency box on the porch with food, water, candy bars, first-aid kit, and a note showing how to enter the cottage in an emergency. In 20 years a few hunters, and lost folks, and even folks with cars which stopped running or got stuck in the snow, came into the cottage. There they found more emergency food and water, tea, coffee, non dairy creamer, plenty of blankets, bedding and the like. There were candles and lanterns as well. The old Quebec heater had a fire built and ready to go, and plenty of wood inside, and on the porch. Everyone who used the place cleaned the dishes, rebuilt the fire, and even left cash or a check for the goods used with a thank you note. I miss the good old days.
not yet all gone! I still purchase my horses hay on the 'honor system' from a local hay guy who has it set up that way. Load it up, pay and go, and this just 40 miles outside Seattle!!! yeeha another world does exist!
@@VestaLouise Yes! That is great! Quite rare these days.
Truly a good neighbour! That is how it should be. I wish more people were like you!
Now see if everyone were this kind like you and if others did not take advantage of such kindness or destroy the place. This world would be so much better to live in.
That's awesome ☺️
I did this back in the Y2k era but made the mistake of leaning the plywood up against the wall for a few months in the garage. Every single piece was bowed and didn't fit properly. A small tip, put some orange or black paint where the pre drilled holes are. It'll make it a lot easier to find, especially if you aren't the one doing it putting it up.
I was wondering if running some 1x1 around the ply may prevent this...or perhaps clamping all the sheets together?
Thanks for the pro tip! I really appreciate that.
What if you lay it flat and put some weight on it to prevent it from warping up? Thanks all for the good tips!
@@ronicarbine8723 I clamped mine that I bought in February.
@@himesjon Same here. I've got mine laying flat on a 4x8 skid, with clamps all around to sandwich all tight to the skid. I'm not gonna cut mine till D-day. I've got 1/2 " for windows and 3/4" for doors.
Having boarded up my house in Florida against hurricanes for over 20 years, I would suggest that you drill peepholes in the plywood at strategic locations. It gets very claustrophobic in a house with all the doors and windows covered. Also, you want to be able to monitor what's going on outside.
As a carpenter, I have to say plywood is the most amazing of materials and even one of the greatest tech advancements of modern times. So incredibly strong and versatile! Not to mention a great prep to store if you have space!
One thought would be to cut the plywood 1 1/2” taller than the window. This would allow you to screw on a strip at the top of the sheet to serve as a cleat to hang the plywood to the top of the window frame. That way it would be easier for one person to hang and screw down the plywood without having to hold it in place and screw it at the same time.
Brilliant idea
Having a garden hose inside that could be used to put out fires could come in handy too. Those rioters set everything on fire.
Great idea!
That's a dandy idea. Just make sure you know what kinda fire you're fighting because if you spray water into a molotov fire you're just going to spread it. Have plenty extinguishers. Still a great idea.
dont forget the power of lighting them up too, rioters and wrong dooers dont like being seen or startled.
Wow. Thats a great idea. !!
How come no one says anything about shooting the zombie that set your house on fire. I have the small kids inside and if they start the fire, they will get the shotgun pellets fly! fair fight...
Don't forget the gun ports
@@1977BangBang 😂😂 You're messed up.
I have mine set up for an inside installation. I figured if a group gets the jump on me I won't be able to go outside. I mounted 4 gate slide latches on each sheet and drilled holes the window frames for the lock to slide into. Now to install the sheets I just put them in place and slide the locks. My theory is by the time someone breaks the window and bashes through the plywood I'll be there to welcome them with a twelve gauge.
interesting point, then also they won't simply be able to unscrew the plywood. However with the window prices today it would financially ruin me if that group started smashing all my windows
so sad that you have to feel you have to do that. i have the same thing but for hurricanes. i put webbing straps or handles on mine to make it easier to handle. and i put the hurricane screw/bolts in our window frames. that way you just pop the plywood on the screw/bolts and use wing nuts to tighten
Renaissance MarineTV Do the wing nuts tighten on the inside or outside?
Eye nuts are easy to turn, too, and they can be turned with some rod or bar.
Renaissance MarineTV Doesn’t that make it easy for someone else to remove them?
@@Belovelyava i am fighting hurricanes, not rioters.
@@YourHostNathanBurke the tighten on the outside. this is made for hurricanes, not rioters
Consider fire retardant paint on the plywood. And don’t forget, that while the plywood is in storage it may warp on you and no longer fit.
Great tips! Thanks Eric!
Matching the paint to the color of the siding might make it much more reasonable to your neighbors and less noticable to the threats.
jainouye paint the panels to look like windows and doors with a picture of Cliff smiling and waving.
Thats important. Store wood flat with weight on top or strap them all together.
You and your family have been on my mind with everything that's going on. You're all in my prayers... stay safe!
Having some plywood, 2X4s, tarps, and nails on hand (or in a bug out trailer) allows you to build expedient shelters if your house is destroyed during a large scale disaster. Great to have around.
Great tip, Jim!
@@TheUrbanPrepper I had some plans for emergency shelters just using 4X8 plywood, 2X4s, and hand tools but can't find them.
Or get an RV, travel and have fun with family store it somewhere safe and in the scenario you mentioned you can go pick up your second home (RV) and take it to a beautiful spot and enjoy life while your home is being repaired or the situation is resolved. That's what I did anyway.
glue squares of wood to the corners before drilling for more durability, and it makes it more sturdy. Zax from South Africa
If you live in Seattle Two Words= GUN PORTS!
Already done. ;)
just leave soy across the street from your house they wont even know your house is there
Looks good. T25 bit is a good move. Alot more people have Phillips bits and sockets than T25 bits. There is a number of verious security screws with matching bits. The long span on larger windows and doors should have extra screws. A pull in the middle has a lot of leverage. Also if the wind can get behind the plywood it wont last long. 5/8" plywood is much stronger than 1/2" plywood. A lot of plywood is made with four layers, plywood made with five layers is much stronger and may cost about the same. Good planning, plywood on the day of may cost alot more if you can even get it.
When we lived in Hawaii, we had panels of corrugated galvanized metal that slid into metal channels bolted to the top and bottom of each window and the patio door. Angle iron bars were then locked in place along the vertical edges of the panels to keep the metal panels in place. The metal panels did not take up much space when stacked together and laid against a wall inside our garage. It did take two adults about an hour to cover all the glass with these panels and standing on a ladder and hauling up panels to cover the windows on the top floor was tricky. When spray-painted the right color, the metal channels blended into the window trim. Our insurance company gave us a discount because of this panel system to protect our windows during hurricanes.
If I was going to use plywood to cover windows and glass doors, I would do what I could to prevent someone from just using a crowbar to pry off a plywood panel. I would want to pre-drill the holes in each plywood panel and reinforce those holes with glued-on washers on the underside of the plywood and then use more washers and screws long enough to bite into the wall studs to hold the panels in place in the hope anyone trying to get in did not have a screwdriver with them. And I would want the panels to sit flush against the house wall or window trim so there was no way for two strong criminals to get a hand hold on the panel and just pull it away. One downside to using plywood panels to protect your window glass is that the windows and doors of abandoned drug houses are also covered with plywood to keep out squatters. Those plywood panels on your home could be seen by some criminals as an invitation to break into and hide in what they assume is an abandoned house. Think twice before using such inexpensive and obviously homemade barriers. At the very least I would post "Armed guard on duty" signs on the plywood panels.
Where I live now, our exterior doors are either steel security doors or are protected by either forged steel bar screen doors or forged steel bar grills and all the windows are shatter resistant. What ever you do to prevent break-ins, just make sure you can still quickly egress the building in case of a fire and that you have working smoke alarms and a fire extinguisher that every member of the household has been trained to use. Remember, the same criminals who do "smash and grab" thefts under cover of a riot are just as likely to do arson for fun.
Another thing to consider if you are living in a rented home and are limited in what security measures you are allowed to take, is you probably have the option of quickly evacuating if rioting or an out of control arson fire is heading your way. Just have renter's insurance to cover the replacement value of your household goods and get out of Dodge. Everything except lives can be replaced. If you are paying mortgage on your home and do have the option of any kind of security measures you want, do make sure the door between your attached garage and home is sturdy enough that no one can break the door lock or a door panel by kicking it. And do have the firepower to stop an intruder if he gets inside your home. Shotguns loaded with deer slugs are good if you have poor accuracy with a handgun. For other kinds of home defense firearms, be aware that hollow point rounds are less likely to penetrate house walls and accidently hit a next-door neighbor who is sheltering in place.
you might want to put more then 4 holes in plywood so it's not as easy to pry off . Also keep in mind that screws will leave holes in your window trim. Might want to fashion some decorative brackets that will serve dual purpose or just get wood shutters
When storing your pre-cut panels wrap them in plastic (cling wrap style) to prevent moisture loss and keep out of direct sunlight. The wood drying out is what causes warping, or cupping as it's called.
We have the plywood cut for our house before hurricane Hugo. September 1989, 30 years ago. They're still good, after 3 cat 5 monsters and numerous major hurricanes.
I wonder about adding a "lip" to the top edge of each panel - 1 inch or so strip at a 90 degree angle to the panel, and screwed in every few inches - to rest on the top edge of the frame and sort of let it the whole panek hang there / transfer weight load?
That’s a good idea. It would make installation easier too, since you wouldn’t need to wrestle with holding the panel in place while screwing it in.
LOL just made the same comment prior to reading yours...great minds as they say.
I would just pound a nail in half way, rest the sheet on the nail and hang it with nails, once it's up I'd screw it off and pull the nails.
Incidentally, I hope you still have a means to see out and see what's coming at you. Good luck, TUP family. 🇺🇲
Yep. We have a few of them with modifications for that purpose. :)
Disasters 2020 video😢
Search "yocotox" in youtube
Yeah, don't rely on video cameras or other electronic tools. Another youtuber indicated that Antif-@ that came to his little hamlet were using electronic hammers to wreak havoc with security systems.
@@gregrobertson9957 Also the security cameras are very lagging for some reason. I tested my system today and it was like 10 second
@@SimpleLivingForever Then yours is digital or wireless or something. Get a simple analog system, mine has zero lag.
as some of the guys have said about home defense also have physical barriers leading to the house, or stuff so it looks like the house has been ransacked already. on a non lethal defense the cat spike strips and home made irritants and paint ball gun both effective.
Paint with exterior primer and top coat,white. Store inside and flat like you see at lowe s or home depot. Keep them dry and straight or they will warp and make installation difficult or impossible after a while of storage.
I am curious, and I am sure you planned for it. Once you mount all that plywood with exterior screws how do you plan to back into the house -- or out if you need to get leave.
your backdoor should always be super powerful for many reasons, so that one could be left unplywooded
Add a couple of rolls of weather stripping and you could make those plywood boards into seals as well in case of chemical weapons. I mean not perfect but substantially better than just plywood. Also clamping a piece of 2x4 on to the plywood to act as a guide for circular saw cuts will make them so much easier to cut straight.
When marking your boards, you can use the alphabet system like is used by FEMA ICS and most Emergency responders. A is the front then go clockwise. It makes it easy B1 is the first window, left side of house, etc
This is such a good video, Cliff! Simple, informative, and useful in situations other than our current one. Using the insulation as a cutting surface with the circular saw, genius!
I done this except we made brackets at the top and bottom of the windos that our boards slide in to.
It makes putting them up way easier. for example have you tried to holding a board across your window and screwing it in at the same time, its difficult under ideal conditions now add wind / rain / fear/ adrenalin and it becomes way harder.
We also drilled a few 20mm holes in ours, it let's light in, provides you view ports etc... and also allows you to multi use a board on top of 2 saw horses, to make a workbench with clamping holes for use in the post incident repair.
We also used some duck taps to secure screws to each board, that way they are always with the boards
I know gun ports was suggested but I’d still consider it just so you can see outside and assess what’s going on.
Depending on your location, you might want to include insulation as well. It could be a while before you could get the glass replaced, and if it gets cold enough, the damage could spread to the plumbing.
It's actually better to put the plywood sheets on the inside . It will keep glass from falling inside of the home. As well, it is very convert so it gray man.
I've actually been working on pre-cutting plastic sheeting for that purpose. I was originally planning it for CBRN purposes, but I think it's changing to this purpose now.
Use prefab fire door sheets. The ones with metal sandwiched in them. Fire and bullet resistance but heavy and expensive.
Nice! Do you have a link to one you recommend?
I am not from America but if you send me a link to a lumber yard or building supply shop I can help.
Stuck here in Europe.
You should use safety screws instead or they are easy to remove.
Good recommendation!
What are the safety screws? do you have a picture of it? I was thinking of the same time but it was a little better than the Phillip screws right.
@@SimpleLivingForever He's referring to security or tamper resistant screws that require a specific bit for that specific screw head: button head, triwing flat, triangle socket are examples.
@@mrwhitten7704 indeed I was.
Those screws don't matter. Anyone can take a battery powered saw and cut them all down in less time than it took to put up. So regular screws will be fine lol
Discussion: screws vrs nails.
Screws hold better and are more easily removable but require power tools.
Nail require only a hammer and are impossible to remove quietly but leave more damage.
Screws with torx or square bit heads are more secure. Especially if applying wood from the outside. A pry bar and hammer will remove nails/wood in seconds.
If it is for riots and not weather, you can do it from the inside. It will be more stealth. Sure they will break your windows but the sound is an alarm/warning someone is trying to break into your home. You can also use 2x4's to brace the plywood from the inside to make sure intruders have a harder time entering. You should also be prepared to frame out garage doors and the garage entry door. Have pre-cut plywood, lag screws, and concrete masonry screws for this area too. IMO, this is more important as most people store their valuable gear in their garage. Most board-ups are only a temporary fix until a door or glass can be replaced. It doesn't offer any additional security. Keep that in mind.
Omg we just went to buy plywood for prep. How timely...however my husband left without buying since no one was wearing masks and were coughing around.
Wow! Perfect timing then. I hope you're able to go back.
Go to a real lumber store.
Stop being afraid of mask-less people, fears can be overcome thru wisdom not political or media 'knowledge' based on political motivated 'science.' just saying
For an interesting project, look at getting some steel sheets and sandwich them between two sheets of plywood. Then, fiberglass the whole thing to make it waterproof and to prevent it from warping. Home Depot also sells 10'x3' ribbed steel roof panels for about $35 that you could put on the outside of these wood panels for added security. For your current setup, I would also use more screws and do them about every 6 inches. If you only put them at the corners, that will leave a lot of room on the sides to pry it open and either break it or rip it off. I saw a lot of plywood being ripped off during the riots by people jumping and grabbing the top of it. I always thought it would be cool if somebody had placed a strip of razor blades across the top to prevent that. haha
Good video TUP! Make sure you have an exit strategy if you’ve boarded everything up and suddenly need to leave.
Have cut and stacked correct size for each window but wondering the many ways to install such as your photo of the inside cross boards and your direct outdoor fastening. Ever hear of internally mounting on the window so as to limit shattering spray of glass from high-speed projectiles? Metal foam would add up fast all around.
Thank you! such a great idea to make ahead. I watched downtown Long Beach scramble to board up.
You give me confidence that I can do is.
You CAN do this! 😀
Plywood on all ground floor doors and windows...how you going to get out? Ladder for 2nd story window? Definitely need a plan for entry or emergency egress.
Great tips, but I'd also drill a pilot hole in the top center of the board to make it easier for 1 man to hang. Shoot that screw in the top center and the plywood hangs level so the installer doesn't have to hold a corner up while shooting the 2nd top corner.
A copious amount of security cameras will be needed because the second you put those up you are blind.
I would drill sight holes.
A smart idea that protects your home in case of disaster. You are very strong in everything you do.
Retractable handles like tool box handles or some kind of hand grip makes installation easier. How much time did you spend researching this subject before making this video. You usually have such well thought out videos.
I'm thinking that hidden, pre-made, holes with some kind of nut/anchors would be a viable idea (both for the window and the plywood). If one plans to be able to do it more than once without destroying their house, that is.
I really like those internal mountings, that's one of the things I've been unsure about when thinking about things like this (mostly when watching zombie/disaster films or news about the US).
It'd be nice if you added links to the other videos you're mentioning.
I've thought about this to be prepared for time of civil unrest, but my house is slump block, so there's no way to attach the wood to the blocks. I thought maybe I'd need to secure the windows from inside but then my windows could still be broken. I suppose the main purpose is to keep invaders out but is there any other thoughts for securing windows with my situation?
Most big box stores like Home Depot will provide 2 cuts for free and charge .25 for each additional. Take your measurements with you and have them cut the wood for you. This could help if you don't have the equipment to cut and might make it easier to get the project home.
Also try a T square and a carpenters pencil instead of the sharpie
The "volcano" thing is unlikely, but in the Pacific Northwest (think Mt. Saint Helens) it's still a real possibility.
Yep. I've always been concerned about Rainier blowing one day.
@@TheUrbanPrepper Apparently Rainer has monitoring stations, but some of the ones in our area DON'T. Whee!
People in hurricane prone areas are required to have precut plywood or storm shudders. Often stores in the attic when you buy the house.
I like this idea, and there are several good tips in the comments (mainly concerning bending/bowing of the plywood over time; other nice recommendations too) ... one thing i would advice to do would be to at least cut some slits in all the plywood so you can at least look out. As it be mighty scary hearing a lot of noise outside while not being able to check the outside... obviously camera's could work (given you have your own power supply, the emergency wasn't an EMP and likely having a closed wired system (instead of wifi) makes it less prone to local technical disruption (f/e turning on a microwave oven can hinder wifi considerably! ~ yes, for some dumb reason!) ... obviously slits in the boards are a lot cheaper and more low tech, when you go for that option do consider tactical placement in regards to actual cover and consider concealment as well (as this obviously means people can look in as well, so having curtains closed (or an A4 taped to the inside of the window) would prevent that. obviously opening them could break concealment through movement, so consider cover!
Also, use a pair of wooden saw horses to cut and drill plywood.
Well this video is incredibly relevant for Seattle or Portland 😃. Extremist organizations have been sieging the cities for almost a year. The complacency to the point of encouragement from government officials and police is mind boggling. Stay safe, and get the hell out of Seattle.
Great idea. Maybe you could roll on white paint to match your trim.
Saw what's going on in Seattle. Good luck to you and your family.
This is pretty vital. WHEN you need it, you won't be able to find it. It will sell out faster than toilet paper. Good advice to have some extra sheets around home.
I agree. That's what I was concerned about.
Good idea I help putting in plywood back in the 1960's but Each and every time there is so much damaged in so the wood was used in fitting the roof and/or sections of the house
great video. I have a brick home so not sure how to mount the ply? any ideas?. Also have you considered making the ply say an inch longer, then attaching on the back some 1x1 timber. This would allow you to hang the ply on the frame at the top quickly and allow you to more easily screw the board.
Keep up the good work
Screws should be every 6-8 inches. Those larger windows and doors can be easily torn off by hand with only the corners held on. Also consider running screws through fender washers before going into the plywood. The washers spread the pulling force over a larger area than the screw head making it much more resistant to prying. Even better would be hurricane rated hardware designed for this purpose. I would harden the doors themselves, as you will still most likely need access/egress rather than boarding them over.
Why not straight up use metal sheets? They do it on abandoned buildings for a reason.
It's be down for that too! This was quick and fairly inexpensive.
Glad to see this video! Getting our first house and we were discussing this with everything going on with rioting and looters currently!
Those of us who live in areas affected by hurricanes are very familiar with that method of protecting windows and doors!
Perhaps using a method to install and secure from the inside might be better? If things do kick off, being outside installing plywood will expose yourself.
Just a tip, write the window location much bigger. In a time of crisis you dont want to be squinting to read where it goes.
How do you get in and out of the house once you cover the doors?
Cover front doors/glass doors, but a rear door could be steel or hardwood and barred from the inside, that’s your in and out
Maybe a stupid question that I haven't thought through but wouldn't you have to have at least one exit fastened from the inside so you don't "paint yourself into a corner" and can't get in? If you're outside boarding up all the doors and windows how do you get back into the house once you're through or is this for when you're evacuating the premises?
Bugging out is not a solution. We need local law enforcement to empower communities to defend their areas. I do not want to harden the home this close - I want to harden the neighborhood and community before they arrive.
Just wondering about shutters? Would that be good on a hurricane? I would think it is more convenient and quick to use.
This is so been on my mind, good timing.
It's been on my mind for a few years now, but with things going on the project got expedited for me.
Awesome video, as usual 💕 I wondered, how do you get inside the house after you’ve boarded up the doors and windows?
Thank you! I wasn't planning on locking ourselves completely in.
Just curious why you wouldn’t mount these on the interior of your home.
I was thinking of doing this myself. Great idea!👍🏼
I was thinking of storm shutters
Genius. I have this idea and want to execute. Thanks for sharing the process.
Good job. I like how you go step by step approach. Keep it up!
About level 2, is it meant to protect your home while you're bugging out? The reason I'm asking this is that I'm wondering how you're going to cover the last door/window and still be able to get inside - I'm not being cynical, just genuinely puzzled. On another video you mentioned your pantry's porch upstairs; would that be your point of entry, then?
Also, you mentioned screwing the panels in place. Are you going to put screw plugs in the window frames? or just screw directly into the frame?
On a side note, a couple of months ago I started watching videos on window grates and how some states in the US now have laws requiring new houses to have ones that can be unlocked and swung open, especially in case there's a fire inside - firefighters may have rescue power tools, but it takes time to cut through the bars, not to mention you're literally trapped inside the whole time.
Here in Brazil it's fairly common for all windows to have bars -some models are even sold with bars as part of their frame-, meaning we get so used to this feature we barely notice it's even there. But I've recently realized that, while bars may prevent burglars from having easy access to the interior of my home, they also prevent me from escaping at all, should there be a fire blocking my exit through a door. I'm now considering how to replace my outdated window bars and have a removable type installed. By the way, houses over here are built using brick and mortar, so fires aren't as frequent as I believe they would be if we used a wooden frame.
Maybe they'll go in and out through the garage when it's all boarded up? Although, that's a-whole-other security issue (the garage door), but it can't really be boarded up.
Awesome vid. Keep up the great content.
Thanks Christian!
Great option. Why dont you also do this for you inside of your home? So they,.. rioters or storms have to go to 2 sheets plywoods and your glass windows to get in?
You are doing a great job!@
Keep it up!
Greetings from the Netherlands!
E
Should do the front upstairs in faze 1 because u can still throw bricks from the ground up just as easy as throwing it through the bottom windows
Great vid. I would like to see a follow up with such products as riot film and their Kin. Also, they make a rollup metal door type thing for the exterior of your windows. There are probably other products that u could find and talk about. How-about fortifying your utility shutoffs and or generator, also in a followup? I want a mote with gators. lol
The question I've always had has been do you drill into frame of the window ahead of time and when you remove them what do you fill the holes up with so they do not look bad?
Please answer. Would this work for an apartment I love on the second floor?
How are you going to get back In the house after you put up all the boards
I hope you're all staying safe, I've heard that some really crazy stuff is going up there! Thanks for sharing and take care!!!
How would you install if wanting to keep people out who are trying to break in
How can I attach the plywood to my house -- it has frameless windows and the "siding" is some sort of concrete stuff (not adobe, it looks like wood but acts more like slate)?
The guys on doomsday preppers had like a bar or sth running through the middle of the board. That somehow made it stronger. Do you know anything about that?
I've seen that! I'm still researching it. I have some 2x4's available. There's a few good videos on how to do that.
How to make a pillbox should be next.
Detroit beat you to it. Most the homes have these up every day!
Wow!
Wow! Wow!
DemolitionRanch!!!
If you don’t have a garage that’s connected to your house, how to you get back inside when everything is boarded up?
I wasn't planning on boarding ourselves completely in. Some will allow for escape if needed. :)
At what point do you decide or commit to putting these up. A couple weeks ago, my city had a protest downtown, I live about 10 -12 minutes away. After they were dispersed they got a little wild and destructive along there path. I was not expecting this enormous crowd to have made it 1 block from my house and quit a few going by my house. It would have looked weird me pulling out plywood and boarding up at that moment. Maybe even encouraged a bad behavior.
It may be hard to make the call on when to do it, but I’m sure Cliff will have a proximity on a map, and once it is breached he would take action. He may also want to deploy them if he has to leave his house. I never thought about it encouraging bad behavior. I’ve always heard people look for the path of least resistance, but I’m willing to learn on this.
Once deployed how do you get back in?
Once he gets phase 3 done, every door and window boarded, he may have to use the inside mount (sandwich reference) for one opening to secure from inside. Maybe?
How about entering through the garage since I'm sure that's where the boards would be stored.
you are such a good guy Cliff! thanks for all of your great and informative vids!
Inside. You want the boards inside. This isnt a hurricane. A) you could paint them to look like window interior. B) you can remove or peek out from the inside to see if the looting hoard is still outside your home. Boards outside give them the option to pull them off. Boards on the inside give you the option. Your windows are no longer part of the equation.
Also amazon. Frames to put 2x4’s in front of your doors old school castle style. Wood of metal 2x4’s to reinforce.
“Once youve made an area impossible to get in. It’s also impossible to get out” Murphy’s rules of combat or “once you’ve secured an area never forget to inform the opponent“
And they are stored inside. Next to each window. Screw your awesome interior. You want you and your friends to be able to slap those on from the inside in less then 30 min. Not you outside panicking trying to find the right ones, in the right order(as you search the garage for them) and secure them. Then the hoard grabs you while you’re outside doing this. Now your family has no protector. Like watch old westerns or something. You aren’t gonna be given an option to calmly take a day and slap these up like it’s an episode of “this old house”.
You know i never would have thought about weather staining the board for added protection
This is sensible if you are bugging out, or have severe weather but for civil unrest remember that no one wants to live in a prison.
The reality is that if you live in "suburbia" your best bet of avoiding literal rioters is (a) knowing your neighbours very well, (b) working out how to shut down access to your neighbourhood.
Make sure you don't remove your means to exit the property if you have to.
Hope everything in Seattle settles down :-)
Big mistake using screws to attach to window frame. First, the screws need to be long enough to go a few inches into the stud wall framing. Second, every time you screw in and remove screws, you make a hole that gets bigger and bigger and it doesn't hold firmly. What you want are "panelMates" by the windstormroducts company. they attach to the studs with wingnuts holds g them to the window frame. There are bolts/screws that work on brick, masonry or wood exteriors. Ideally you want expensive steel shutters. How do I know, I live in hurricane country , southern Louisiana! Google TVAS panelmates by windstormproducts.