How To Barricade A Door

If you are ever caught in a situation where you need to barricade a door for any reason, you don’t want to waste time searching how to do it. The best thing to do is this: already know how to barricade a door.

How to Barricade a Door

While it might sound scary, knowing how to keep both yourself and your loved ones safe should always be a priority.

In the panic of the moment, knowing what you need to do should be second nature, not something you need to take the time to learn then and there.

As such, we will be covering how to properly barricade a door, should you ever find yourself in a situation when you need to.

We hope it never has to happen, but this information can save your life.

How To Barricade A Door

Why Would You Need To Barricade A Door?

You might need to barricade your door for a number of reasons. Different situations may require this, such as being in the area of a shooter, or if you are experiencing a home invasion by a burglar.

Unfortunately, there are too many situations where the outcome could have been different if people had the knowledge of how to keep themselves safe.

Because of this, it is crucial that you take away the information we are giving you today.

What Kind Of Items Should You Use To Barricade A Door?

If you are barricading a door to a room that you have ownership of, try to use large items of furniture. This could be items such as wardrobes, beds, desks, or anything similar.

The heavier, the better. It would be ideal to be able to position furniture so that walls or unmovable objects are in the way if any force is put against it.

A great example of this would be moving a bed so that it is sandwiched between a wall and a door. This would ensure that the door cannot be opened unless the bed is moved.

If you don’t have large items to barricade the door with, use leverage to your advantage, too.

Position things like chairs underneath the door knob to prevent it from being opened, or use belts and similar objects to hold doors together. You can even barricade a door without furniture, if you need to.

Which Room Is Best For Barricading?

If you need to barricade yourself into a room of your house, the safest option would be a bathroom or bedroom.

These are places that are usually located upstairs, and they often have items in them that can help to protect you.

Closets in your bedroom would also be a good option. Smaller spaces where you can have more control over the situation could help to keep you safe.

Barricading Outward Opening Doors

This can be a challenge. However, it is very doable if you have the right kind of supplies with you.

There are four ways for you to barricade an outward opening door, and you can use more than one method if it’s applicable.

Let’s go through them below:

  1. Tie a belt, robe, power cord, or something similar to the doorknob, and fasten it to a heavy object nearby.
  2. Using a strong tape, secure a broom handle or something similar perpendicular to the door (see also: How To Secure A Sliding Glass Door)frame. Tie something around the door handle and the object to keep it shut. The object can be anything that will work, so this includes sports equipment, or anything else you have in the area.
  3. You can true a belt or similar item around the hinge of the door, if applicable.
  4. Gather all the heavy objects in the room, and pile them in front of the door. While this will not prevent the door itself from being opened, the objects will act as an obstacle and either prevent or slow down anyone on the other side.

Barricading Inward Opening Doors

Barricading an inward opening door is usually the easier option of the two, but of course, it won’t always be a suitable choice.

You have probably seen people barricade their doors using the below method plenty of times in movies, and it really works.

If you need to barricade a door that opens inward, there are two simple steps to follow:

  1. Either a) get a chair and wedge it beneath the doorknob, or b) get a doorstop and drive it into the door frame’s space.
  2. Use any heavy furniture or objects available to you to block the door

Useful Advice To Keep In Mind

Although we can never imagine such awful things happening to us, it is something you should always be prepared for.

This does not mean that you should spend your days worrying about it, though. Instead, simply be mindful of the possibilities and reality of life, and make preparations.

This means that there should be items that you could potentially use to barricade yourself in a room, if you ever need to. Having items that you can use for self defence (see also: Best Martial Arts For Self-Defense)will also be beneficial.

You can have things like pepper spray or tasers in different parts of the house to use if you ever need it – whatever is legal where you are.

Have items such as ropes or cords hidden away in potential rooms that you can barricade yourself in, too.

Things like brooms, hockey sticks, and similar items can come in handy in these situations. As such, it could be smart to have a few hidden away.

Just make sure that these items are not out in the open, and keep them away from windows and entrances to the house.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to barricade a door can save your life, as well as your family’s.

Depending on the type of door you have, the method will differ. However, as long as you are aware of the options at your disposal, you can get the job done right.

Hopefully this article has been helpful, and you know what you need to in order to barricade yourself in a room safely.

We have also linked to YouTube videos showcasing the different methods to barricading yourself, just to be safe.

Matt Anderson
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