Shutters on house ??

springvalley · #1 04/11/12, 04:44 PM

How many of you have or will have shutters on your house if the shtf, to give you more protection from the outside world. We have thought about this to be able to keep the house more protected from the zombies and such that WILL start roaming the country side. Something on the inside would allow to be closed at night for protection, and opened during the day for light, but could be closed if you are under attack. Anyone thought about this? Any ideas? > Thanks Marc

ldc · #2 04/11/12, 05:47 PM

Marc, City Bound wrote about the roll down shutters that are used on small store fronts in northeastern cities, a couple weeks ago. I thought that would work. Here in Louisiana, the old houses had massive cypress shutters with strong iron closures; works against break-ins and hurricanes! I had deff'ly tho't about heavy shutters for my next place; like CB's idea too. What do you think? Anything to slow folks down...At my last place, there was a back screen porch, hidden from view in vines and woods. Homeless guys had stayed in this place for 20 yrs before me. I covered the whole thing (taking out the access door) with hardware cloth. 10 years later when I was finally robbed, he broke down the front door instead!!! Used to sleep out there, too, 'cause it was so much cooler (with weapon and dog).

chickenista · #3 04/11/12, 07:01 PM

I really want to replace my fake shutters with real, workable shutters.

And they could have so many more uses than just zombies.

I keep thinking how nice it would be in winter to plastic them and be able to close them on cold, bitter, windy nights for an added layer against the cold.
To be able to close them before violent thunderstorms with hail and wind.
To be able to shut out the hot sun in summer.

Oh, the list goes on.
I really want to put shuuters up.

kasilofhome · #4 04/11/12, 11:27 PM

Good idea. as for me I have no windows none nada ----someday. We live in the basement the upstairs is just framed in and I have windows framed in but not cut out. I did it this was because I knew it would be years before we could aford to finish the upstairs and I did not was to increase the cost of heating the place.

**Roadking** · #5 04/12/12, 12:54 AM

36 windows, 36 sets of shutters...built in 1860 and remains the same. Just a few added structural/insulation reinforcements, due to the change over the years.

Matt

kudzuvine · #6 04/12/12, 06:41 AM

Oh yeah! I have in my house plans for closeable shutters. In the earlier days, they were mounted on inside, with a diamond shape or some type of hole for your gun to be pointed out. If you think about it, they are good for storm protection, SHTF, leaving town and want to secure your home, etc. Now we women, or atleast me, would rather have them mounted outisde due to curtain/drapes. If you have the type of windows that you can lower the bottom inside, which includes the screen, that would work better. Hardware to mount can be purchased online or you could make. In the tropical areas, their shutters are mounted at top in one piece and are lowered down.

Trixters_muse · #7 04/12/12, 08:07 AM

What do you all think of burgular bars for folks like me close to the city? Some houses in my neighborhood have them. I am thinking about the updated kind that are on hinges and have a safety lever lock on the inside for easy inside escape in case of fire, etc. I have also looked into the hurricane shutters that roll down, pricey but worth it.

AverageJo · #8 04/12/12, 08:21 AM

Trixter, that would help keep people out, but not bullets.

I still like the camoflage idea I got here somewhere... When the fan gets hit, paint your windows like you had a fire in it with black above the windows. Then either put a sheet of plywood up on the windows or, if you want to be able to shoot out your windows, haphazardly nail/screw on lumber slats, leaving areas to get a barrel and peek holes. At first glance, your house will look like it was burned out and abandoned.

chickenista · #9 04/12/12, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AverageJo

Trixter, that would help keep people out, but not bullets.

I still like the camoflage idea I got here somewhere... When the fan gets hit, paint your windows like you had a fire in it with black above the windows. Then either put a sheet of plywood up on the windows or, if you want to be able to shoot out your windows, haphazardly nail/screw on lumber slats, leaving areas to get a barrel and peek holes. At first glance, your house will look like it was burned out and abandoned.

That was me.
And I still think it is a good way to go if everything has gone plumb crazy.
My idea is that if the zombies/crazies are going house to house, if my house looks abandoned and burned out I might get passed by.
Would have to be careful with leaving visible paths through the grass etc.. and only burn fires at night etc.. and it would be good to have interior shutters to block out light at night too.

||Downhome|| · #10 04/12/12, 11:36 AM

little off topic, but staying in a openly visible structure along with all your possessions would be asking for it.

I have the Idea of a hidden "bunker". with the house in view, like bait.

Just think about it, if someone was out to get you they only need to figure which door you use and plink you off on you daily foray.

could also lead to a siege situation.

be nice to have some tunnels here and there, one from the house to your safe shelter and then others going to other vantage points.

that way if you where being surveiled you could maybe through them for a loop till the problem was eliminated.

If I only had some heavy equipment.

emdeengee · #11 04/12/12, 12:23 PM

Houses and apartments in Europe use shutters a lot - either the old fashioned wooden ones or more modern roll downs made of metal. They do add security since they are available for window, doors and patio doors - but not as much as you might think. The house next to where I was staying was on fire and it took about 10 seconds for the firemen and their axes to get in through the shutters. Shutters do work wonders for temperature control - both in winter and summer.

Harry Chickpea · #12 04/12/12, 01:58 PM

Inside shutters:

Popular Mechanics - Google Books

texican · #13 04/13/12, 12:24 AM

I've thought about this and still am on the fence...

You find my house, you can lay siege, and wait me out... if I don't find you first... I'm off the beaten path, and not easy to find, even if you know where to look.

I'm of the opinion, if your home is visible from the road, or you have neighbors in shouting distance, your already lost, unless you can control the roads and all the neighbors are 'on board'.

Safe areas, sure... a foot of concrete and steel, and a foot of granite, with steel plate in the doors and shutters.

AverageJo · #14 04/13/12, 09:00 PM

Having a hidden bunker and tunnels from that to the house and barn and silo lookout and out back... I'm not sure if it's practical, given the expense of installing it all. And if you lived in town, there really isn't anywhere to put a 'bunker' that your neighbors wouldn't be aware of anyway. Making your place look undesirable or less tempting than the neighbors' would be the next best bet, IMHO. My hope, if there is a big catastrophy, is that vehicles will be inoperable thereby slowing down the swarm from the cities.

Bearfootfarm · #15 04/13/12, 09:24 PM

Quote:

My hope, if there is a big catastrophy, is that vehicles will be inoperable thereby slowing down the swarm from the cities.

After Hurricane Floyd, most all the service stations were about out of gas after just 4 days, and that's with many roads blocked and flooded, so traffic was far LESS than normal.

People were waiting in lines over a mile long to be able to buy just 5 gallons per vehicle

jwal10 · #16 04/14/12, 10:15 AM

I have inside shutters, They also keep drafts out if built right, we close ours at night just to help with heat loss even though we have good double pain windows. We close them when we leave for an extended period also. In emergencies can't hurt....James