Deadline Defense: Zombie-Proof Window Hacks for Project Zomboid

Quick-Start SummaryBarricading windows (and doors) buys you crucial time against the undead. Right-click a window with a hammer + planks + nails to "Barricade (Planks)". Each plank nailed up adds durability to the window and blocks zombie entry. For maximum security, stack up to 4 planks per side of a window (2 per side for doors), or upgrade to metal sheets/bars if you have a torch.
Always keep a crowbar or hammer handy to remove planks in a pinch, and consider using sheet ropes for a second-floor exit so you can barricade the ground floor completely. For comprehensive carpentry skills needed for barricading, check our complete carpentry guide. The details below will turn you from a barricading beginner to a zombie-fortification pro!

        Contents
        
                    Why Barricade Windows?
                
                    Tools of the Trade
                
                    Step-by-Step Guide
                
                    Barricade Materials
                
                    Advanced Strategies
                
                    Living with Barricades
                
                    Common Questions (FAQ)
                
                    Recap & Key Takeaways
                
Why Barricade Windows in Project Zomboid?Barricading is critical for solo players, especially in the early game or during zombie swarm events. An un-barricaded window is basically an open invitation to zombies – they can see you through the glass, hear you, and with enough pounding, they will break the glass and climb right in. Boarding up a window serves several purposes:

                    Prevent Entry
                Each barricade layer adds hit points to the window. Zombies must destroy all barricade layers and the underlying window to get in. Even one plank buys time; a fully boarded window (4 planks) can withstand a lone zombie for a long time.

                    Reduce Visibility
                A barricaded window (especially with 3-4 planks or a metal sheet) blocks line of sight. With 3+ wooden planks on a window, zombies cannot see through to you, effectively acting like an opaque curtain.

                    Delay and Divert
                Barricades significantly slow down zombies that try to break in. A horde might still get through eventually, but those extra seconds (or hours in-game) can be the difference between life and death.

                    Psychological Relief
                Let's face it – hearing zombies thump on your windows all night is nerve-wracking. Boarding them up not only protects you but also reduces your anxiety (and your character's panic moodlet) by providing a feeling of security.

                Note: Barricading is not a 100% guarantee of safety – zombies will get through given enough time and numbers. Think of barricades as a seatbelt: they don't prevent a crash, but they greatly increase your chances of surviving one. Always have an escape plan in case things go south.
            
Tools of the Trade: What You Need to Board Up a WindowBefore you start nailing planks to every frame in sight, make sure you've gathered the proper tools and materials. Project Zomboid doesn't allow barricading with your bare hands – you'll need some specific items in your inventory:

            Required Items:
            
Hammer (any type)The primary tool for barricading. A claw hammer is most common, but a Ball-peen hammer, Stone hammer, or even a crafted hammer will do. In Build 42, there's also a "Wooden Mallet" – do not use that for barricading; it currently doesn't count as a hammer for this purpose (a common mistake in B42 beta).

NailsYou'll use 2 nails per plank per barricade layer. That means a single window, fully barricaded on one side with 4 planks, uses 8 nails. Make sure to open boxes of nails in your inventory, or the game won't recognize that you have nails available. (Build 42 update: the game will now auto-move nails to your main inventory when you start barricading).

PlanksWooden planks are your primary barricade material in the early game. Each plank covers one "layer" of a window or door. Windows accept up to 4 planks on each side; doors accept up to 2 on each side. Planks can be obtained by sawing logs (if you have a saw) or by dismantling furniture. Pro tip: large beds and wardrobes yield multiple planks (and nails) when disassembled. For detailed carpentry and plank-making tips, see our carpentry survival guide.

Optional ToolsSaw - If you want to make your own planks from logs, you'll need a saw.

                        Crowbar - While not needed to put barricades up, a crowbar or claw hammer is needed to take them down.

                Checklist Before Barricading:
            
                    Hammer equipped in Primary hand (check your hotbar or inventory)
                
                    Planks in inventory (floor or bags won't count)
                
                    Nails opened/unpacked (you should see individual nails, e.g. "Nails (x20)")
                
                    Area is clear (you don't want a zombie biting your back while you're busy hammering)
                
                Tip: You don't need any nails for barricading with metal bars in Build 41 – the metal bar itself acts as the fastener (with the torch). But for wooden planks and metal sheets, nails are required (wood) or propane fuel (metal). Always keep a few extra nails on you; they're light and you never know when you'll need to board up a surprise broken window.
            
Step-by-Step: How to Barricade a Window (Wooden Planks)Let's walk through a practical example of boarding up a window in Project Zomboid. Imagine you've found a nice little two-bedroom house and want to secure the front windows. Here's what you do:

                    Gather at the Window: Stand next to the window you intend to barricade. This can be done from either inside or outside – it doesn't matter for the first layer. (If zombies are outside, barricade from inside for safety; if zombies are inside, well, you have bigger problems!)
                
Right-Click the Window: This brings up the interaction menu for the window. In the list of options (which might include "Open/Close window", "Remove Broken Glass" if it's shattered, etc.), look for "Barricade (Planks)". Click this option. If you need to remove broken glass first, be careful of cuts - keep first aid supplies handy for treating glass wounds.
                    
                    If you don't see "Barricade (Planks)": Double-check that you have a hammer equipped and at least 1 plank + 2 nails in inventory. Also make sure you're clicking the window frame (the bottom part of the window works best). Sometimes the game can be finicky – if the menu doesn't show up, try adjusting your position slightly and right-click again.

                    Hammering in Progress: Once you click "Barricade", your character will kneel down and start hammering. A progress bar will appear over their head. This takes a couple of in-game seconds per plank. Stay alert – you are vulnerable while barricading (you can't cancel the action easily). Make sure no zombies are within lunge distance. Your character will automatically use 1 plank and 2 nails from your inventory and install one barricade layer.
                
                    One Plank Up! When the action completes, one wooden plank will appear nailed across the window sprite. Congrats – that window now has a basic barricade. It will now read "Barricaded" if you examine it, and it's already stronger than it was. At this point:
                    The "Barricade (Planks)" option will still be there on right-click, until you hit the max of 4 layers on that side. Go ahead and click it again to add another plank.
Each subsequent plank you add is another repetition of the hammering process. The more planks, the more durable the barricade.

                    Repeat for Additional Layers: Keep selecting "Barricade (Planks)" until it's no longer available (or until you choose to stop). If you have 4 planks on one side, that side is fully barricaded. You might notice you can barricade both sides of the window separately. A common strategy is to do 4 outside and 4 inside for maximum 8 planks total.
                
                    Barricading Doors: The process for doors is identical – right-click a door (front door, back door, etc.) and choose "Barricade (Planks)". The only differences are: (a) you can only put up to 2 planks on a door from each side, and (b) you obviously can't open a barricaded door without removing the planks first.
                
                    Finished Barricade: Now your window is reinforced. Visually, 4 planks will cover most of the window's area in a criss-cross pattern. From the outside, it's clear that window is barricaded (and it actually looks intimidating, which is half the fun).
                
                Important: Barricading does make noise – the hammering sound can attract nearby zombies (within a similar range to other construction noises). It's not as loud as a gunshot by any means, but be aware that if zombies are just out of sight, your DIY project might lure them.
            
After following these steps, you should have a nicely barricaded window or door. Do this for all ground-floor windows of your safehouse for best results. Many players prioritize front-facing windows or any large glass doors first (since zombies tend to roam streets). Second-story windows generally don't need barricading (zombies can't reach them without stairs or a sheet rope).
Finally, step back and admire your work – those boards not only add protection, they add ambience. In Project Zomboid, a boarded-up house with supplies inside feels like survival.
Barricade Materials: Wood vs. Metal (and Which Is Best)By default, you'll be barricading with wooden planks – it's the simplest and doesn't require any special skills. However, Project Zomboid also lets you use metal sheets and metal bars (rods) as barricades if you've delved into Metalworking. Each material has pros and cons. Let's break them down:

                        Material
                        Durability (HP)
                        See-Through?
                        Tools/Skills Required
                    
                        Wooden Plank
                        ~1000 HP per plank
                        Partially – 1-2 planks still allow some view/light; 3+ planks block vision
                        Hammer; Nails (2 per); No skill requirement.
                    
                        Metal Sheet
                        5000 HP per sheet
                        No – completely opaque (blocks vision and light).
                        Propane Torch + Welding Mask; Metalworking lvl 3 (recommended for efficiency). Uses propane (about 10% per sheet).
                    
                        Metal Bars (B41) / Steel Rods (B42)
                        5000 HP per set (of 3 rods)
                        Yes – acts like jail bars, you and zombies can see through (and you can shoot through).
                        Propane Torch + Welding Mask; Metalworking lvl 4 for bars (in B41). Build 42: use 3 steel rods. Torch fuel ~10%. (Mask currently not required in B42)
                    
            Key Observations:
            
                    Metal barricades are far stronger than wooden ones. One metal sheet = the strength of ~5 planks. And you can double them (inside/outside) to stack durability. If a window is fully barricaded on both sides with metal sheets, that's ~20,000 HP of barricade.
                
                    Metal Bars/Rods vs. Sheets: Bars are usually preferred by players who can get them because of the visibility factor. You can still watch the outside world and even shoot or stab through window bars (useful for clearing zombies that come knocking).
                
                    Resource availability: Wood is everywhere – every piece of furniture can yield planks. Metal sheets are a bit rarer; you find them in industrial locations or by dismantling things like car doors/hoods (with a propane torch).
                
                    Noise & Time: Nailing planks and welding metal both make noise, but welding (metal sheets/bars) creates a distinctive sound that can draw zombies similarly to carpentry. It also takes a bit longer per barricade than hammering wood.
                
                    No Carpentry XP: One might think barricading improves Carpentry skill – it doesn't. You gain no Carpentry XP for barricading (only for building or dismantling objects).
                
                Did You Know? In Build 42's unstable release, the devs changed "Metal Bars" to "Steel Rods" in the crafting recipes, because "bars" now refer to something else in crafting (like metal rods vs flat bars). So if you're reading older guides that say you need "Metal Bars" for barricading, remember it's "Steel Rods" in B42.
            
In summary, Wooden planks are best for early game and accessibility, while metal barricades are a luxury of late-game bases (or multiplayer servers where someone specializes in Metalworking). A fully upgraded base might use metal bars on all ground windows for maximum security. But many survivors have lived long using just wood. The key is to always keep those defenses maintained, whatever they're made of.
Advanced Barricading Strategies (Solo Play)Okay, you've mastered hammering up a simple barricade. Now let's level up your strategy. Barricading is one layer of defense – you can combine it with other tactics to create an almost zombie-proof home. Here are some advanced tips and setups:

                    1. Barricade Both Sides of Windows
                    
We touched on this, but it's worth emphasizing: for critical windows, barricade them from both outside and inside. Each side of a window or door has its own set of 4 (or 2) possible planks. Zombies typically attack from the outside, so they'll hit the outside barricades first. If they happen to break through those, they'll then need to break the window glass, then the inside barricades.
Practical execution: It can be time-consuming to double-barricade everything, so prioritize. Maybe you put 4 planks outside on all windows first. Later, when you have downtime and extra planks, you go around inside and add interior planks.
Metal + Wood combo: Some players like to put metal bars on the outside (for vision) and wood planks inside (for a bit of extra after they get past bars). This is somewhat resource-intensive, but it can be a good middle ground if you don't have a ton of metal.
When not to double-barricade: If you're in a hurry or on the move, barricading both sides might be overkill. Often one side fully planked is enough for the period you plan to stay.

                    2. Leave Yourself an Escape Route
                    
One rookie mistake in barricading is doing too good a job – sealing every possible exit so well that you trap yourself. Don't board up your last exit behind you without a plan. Here are some ways to stay safe but not sealed in:
Sheet Rope ExitsThis is a classic strategy. Find an upstairs window (or even attic), secure a sheet rope to it (requires 1 nail and a sheet rope, and the window must be opened). Then you can climb in and out without using the ground floor. If you do this, you can comfortably barricade every ground floor window and door to the max and not worry about coming and going. For detailed instructions, see our sheet rope guide.
Pro-tip: Set up two sheet rope exits on different sides of the house, if possible. That way if a horde is gathered at one rope, you might escape out the other.
One Door RuleSome solo players adopt the "barricade all but one door" approach. They fully barricade every window and door except a single door (usually at the back of the house, out of sight). That door they leave un-barricaded (maybe locked, but zombies can still bash it down eventually).
Have Tools ReadyIf you do barricade everything, keep a hammer/crowbar on you, and maybe don't barricade the room you sleep in from the inside. If something goes wrong (fire, overwhelming horde, etc.), you might need to escape out a window – and breaking your own barricade under pressure is not fun.

                    3. Use Fences and Furniture to Augment Barricades
                    
Barricades alone are great, but you can create layers of defense. Imagine a zombie approaching your barricaded window: what if there was also a fence outside it? Or a couch pushed in front of it inside? These can further slow zombies or even prevent some from reaching the window.
Exterior Fences/WallsIf you have Carpentry skill (or even level 2 which is easy to get from watching TV or reading), you can build wooden walls or fences. Construct a fence a tile or two away from the window outside. Now zombies have to get over the fence before they even reach the window. For comprehensive wall building strategies, check our complete wall building guide.
Moveable FurnitureYou can't nail furniture to windows, but you can place heavy objects as a first line. For instance, a large bookshelf or vending machine in front of a window. Zombies now have to destroy that object (which has its own HP) before they even hit your barricade.
Cars as BarricadesIn Build 41+ you can move cars fairly easily if you have keys. Some players park vehicles against doors or windows outside to block passage. Zombies will have to path around or attempt to break the car (which is tough).

                    4. When to Barricade: Timing and Priority
                    
Knowing when to barricade is as important as knowing how. If you spend all of day 1 barricading a base in a town full of zombies, you might not live to enjoy it. Here are timing tips:
After Clearing, Before LootingA good practice: clear out all zombies inside your chosen safehouse and immediate vicinity (within the sound of a hammer, say 20 tiles). Once clear, quickly barricade the most exposed windows. Then proceed with other tasks (looting the house, organizing supplies).
Nightfall = Barricade-fallAs evening approaches, if you plan to sleep in a location, barricade at least the bedroom windows. It's devastating to be sleeping and get the "Zzz" interrupted by a zombie bite because they crawled through an open window.
Helicopter Event PrepIf you know the metagame, around 6-9 days in, the notorious helicopter event will drag zombies all over the map. You do not want to be caught with an undefended house when that happens. It's wise to have your base fully barricaded (or to vacate the base during heli and come back after). For detailed helicopter event survival strategies, see our helicopter event guide.
Don't Barricade What You Don't NeedIf you're in a temporary safehouse or plan to move on in a day or two, you might skip barricading entirely or do the bare minimum. Save nails and planks for your "forever base."

                Real Example: "It was my 5th day in West Point. I'd set up a base in the second floor of a two-story tavern. The first floor had huge glass windows – a nightmare for zombie incursions. On day 1, I hastily hung sheets. By day 3, I finally found a hammer and some nails at a hardware store. That evening, I decided to barricade those big pub windows. By day 5, the helicopter event hit. A huge horde migrated through the area. I stayed upstairs, quiet as a mouse. The zeds pounded on those pub windows, but those 4 planks on each held like champs for hours. They never got in."
            
Living with Barricades: Surviving Day-to-DayOnce your windows and doors are all nicely boarded, there are a few lifestyle changes and maintenance tasks to keep in mind:
Visibility & LightYour safehouse will be darker inside, especially if every window is covered. You'll rely on indoor lighting (if power is on) or generators later. Zombies can't see light through barricades of 3+ planks or metal sheets, so feel free to use lights at night – it won't attract them.
NoiseExpect more random thumps. Zombies wandering might idly bump your barricades. With windows open/clear, they might just pass by, but sometimes a barricade itself seems to draw a few curious smacks from a zombie testing the wall.
RepairsYou can't repair a broken plank except by replacing it with a new one. If a window had 4 and one got destroyed, it will show 3 planks remaining; just barricade again to add a 4th (using another plank and nails). Keep some materials on-site for quick fixes.
Fire HazardSmall but noteworthy: wooden barricades can catch fire. If a fire starts inside your base and reaches a barricaded window, those planks will burn. They'll eventually turn to ash and the window will be open again. Metal barricades obviously don't burn.
Common Barricading Misconceptions (FAQ)Do I need Carpentry skill to barricade?No. Any character can barricade from the start. Carpentry skill does NOT increase barricade strength or layers. Higher Carpentry doesn't let you put 5 planks; the max is always 4.
Can zombies break barricades?Absolutely, yes. Barricades just act as extra HP on the window/door. A single zombie will take a long time to break a 4-plank barricade, but a determined group or horde will eventually get through any material. Metal holds longer than wood, but nothing is permanent.
Should I barricade from inside or outside?Either works. The game doesn't care, except for the cosmetic appearance (planks will visibly appear on the side you nailed them from). Strategically, boarding the outside means zombies hit those planks first (which makes sense). You might barricade outside when area is clear, but if zombies are actively around, do it from inside where you're safer.
Barricade or use Curtains?Do both if you can. Curtains (sheets) only block vision; they don't slow zombies at all. Barricades do both (with enough planks). Early game if you have no wood, at least put sheets on windows so zombies aren't attracted by seeing you. But once you have wood, barricade those suckers.
Can I shoot through barricaded windows?If it's wood planks, no – planks act like a solid wall (bullets will hit the planks). If it's metal bars, yes you can shoot through the gaps like a normal window with no glass. This is a major benefit of bars.
Recap & Key Takeaways
            
                    Barricading is Essential: In Build 41 and 42, the mechanics are largely the same – use a hammer, nails, and planks to barricade windows/doors. No skill needed, just the right tools.
                
                    Board Early, Board Smart: Secure your safehouse windows once you've cleared the area. Prioritize ground floor and known entry points. One plank can save your life, four planks can save your base.
                
                    Common Hurdles: Always open nail boxes, equip your hammer in hand, and avoid the "favorited hammer" bug in B42. If "Barricade" doesn't show up, double-check these.
                
                    Advanced Moves: Use sheet ropes to keep an escape. Consider metal barricades if you get the chance – they're stronger and can let you see/shoot outside (bars). Double-barricading (inside+outside) dramatically increases time to breach.
                
                    Maintaining Barricades: Keep spare materials around. Listen for warning signs (persistent banging). And remember, barricades are a delay tactic, not an invincibility shield – always have a Plan B.
                
With these tips, you're well-equipped to transform any building into a veritable zombie bunker. Stay safe, stay smart, and happy hammering!
Material	Durability (HP)	See-Through?	Tools/Skills Required
Wooden Plank	~1000 HP per plank	Partially – 1-2 planks still allow some view/light; 3+ planks block vision	Hammer; Nails (2 per); No skill requirement.
Metal Sheet	5000 HP per sheet	No – completely opaque (blocks vision and light).	Propane Torch + Welding Mask; Metalworking lvl 3 (recommended for efficiency). Uses propane (about 10% per sheet).
Metal Bars (B41) / Steel Rods (B42)	5000 HP per set (of 3 rods)	Yes – acts like jail bars, you and zombies can see through (and you can shoot through).	Propane Torch + Welding Mask; Metalworking lvl 4 for bars (in B41). Build 42: use 3 steel rods. Torch fuel ~10%. (Mask currently not required in B42)