400m - You might want to consider 3/8” or 1/2” thick AR500 or AR550 steel that you could have small holes pre-cut into the sheets to allow you to attach the sheets from the inside to your existing 2x4 wall studs and 2x8 ceiling joists behind your rooms Sheetrock. Once installed you could then attach corner brackets to create rigidity.


This would provide you adequate wall and ceiling protection and then you could focus on attaching a significant door frame to the AR500 or AR550 steel for a door unit.

Just a thought on an affordable DIY method. AR sheets are heavy so they would need to be cut to a size that you could manage/handle/move and install.

quote:

Two stories with all the bedrooms upstairs is better.

That was my set-up when I lived in Alaska. Even better, the MBR door was at the top of the stairs and that stairway would've been a fatal funnel.

Years ago I seem to recall reading about someone who used chicken wire in the walls. I can’t remember if it was sandwiched between the plywood/cement board, or if it was attached directly to the studs first.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:

quote:

Two stories with all the bedrooms upstairs is better.

That was my set-up when I lived in Alaska. Even better, the MBR door was at the top of the stairs and that stairway would've been a fatal funnel.

Particularly when we had children at home I never found the first floor master appealing.

know a guy,,, well actually a couple, that took the bonus room, as in the room over a garage or just an upstairs bedroom, and hardened it just a bit,

fire proof sheetrock, one guy did one layer, another did 2,

steel as in exterior door and frame hardened from the inside

so up the stairs and it looked like a regular door, only with an extra lock

fool proof or impenetrable, not with time,

but it was not expensive, and gave them peace of mind in a way

If one had the space, a hidden room might be better.

I would put a solid, reinforced frame door on a room with window access to the back or side yard. I would then put a fire ladder, the kind that goes in a box under the window on the inside. I would also make sure that room had two firearms in it, one pistol, and one AR or other semiauto equipped with a sling, with a minimum of two magazines each.

The plan would be to make it into the room, close and lock the reinforced door, arm up, and go out the window on the ladder. Once on the ground, escape if possible, start shooting if not.

If you are worried about bad guys shooting into the room, you only need to harden the walls or door in a line between where the bad guys will be in the hallway, and the window. You don't need to harden the whole thing.

Have a plan, be faster than the bad guys, and buy the best exterior doors you can afford to give you more time to execute the plan.

If someone breaks into my home when I am at home, no effing way I am going defensive. I would immediately go on the offense. Even if I expended thirty rounds from a rifle, which is highly unlikely I have a loaded handgun within two or three steps anywhere in my house.
My home, my castle, my job to protect my family, not to cower inside a closet.
Besides, my wife was a pretty good shooter as were my sons.

Some really good suggestions here.

Granted, my children are grown and gone, I live in a blue collar section of a wealthy city so I'm not a prime target, but you never know.
You never know what's going to happen until the shit hits the fan. Adrenaline is an amazing thing.

Following as I'm gathering ideas for a home renovation in the next year or two. I was listening to the ideas about being secure upstairs and that all makes sense, but I live in Oklahoma aka tornado alley. If I want a secure room it needs to be downstairs. Basement would be better, but they are not common in Oklahoma or Texas and retrofitting one would be too expensive.

Baer Safes are down the street from me and I thought about going to see them when I get ready. They have a pre-built rooms or bring in panels and build on site. I have no idea what this costs. I could see where a cinder block walls and a solid steel door could be cheaper and an improvement over what I have now.

I saw in OPs post where he mentioned the specs were well laid out by FEMA for storm rooms so I looked that up. First thing that popped up was a 214 page pamphlet and I don't want to read that right now, but he was right!

They are constructing rooms under garages now . In new homes.


The wall between the basement and the garage basement is
poured and then they put a walk through safe door there.

The very high end models have plumbing, air handling and electrical.


One guy on youtube spent $100.000.00
on his safe room.

For his $250,000.00 main house.

Illinois has a castle doctrine.

I'd start with a 6ish foot fence and a lockable gate. if they're willing to surmount that and then in your house, clearly they're not there to sell cookies.

Did Patton not say, "Fixed fortifications are a monument to stupidity". For a house, I would make it hardened on all sides, then plan on being on the offensive.

Steel door and door frames, plus security windows would make a great start. Have some interior walls that are bullet resistant, to shoot behind from. For a two floor house, have some downstairs lights where the switch is upstairs. If you hear noises, take a good position and flick on some downstairs lights. You will have the advantage, being in the dark half of the house.