How to Barricade a Door That Opens Inward?

When it comes to barricading a door, having an inward swinging door can pose a challenge. Unlike outward opening doors that allow you to place blocks and braces on the outside, inward doors must be secured from within the room. This presents a unique set of obstacles for those seeking to provide security and peace of mind. However, with some clever do-it-yourself tricks and the right materials at your disposal, it is still possible to effectively barricade an inward swinging door. By employing the right techniques on how to barricade a door that opens inward, you can ensure that your door is fortified against potential intruders.

Why Barricade a Door That Swings Inward?

There are a few key reasons you may want to barricade an inward swinging door:

1. Enhance Home Security

Barricading inward doors can act as a secondary lock to make your home more secure. This provides an extra layer of protection in case the main lock is compromised. It also makes it harder for an intruder to kick in or force their way through the door.

2. Natural Disaster Protection

During emergencies like hurricanes, tornadoes, or floods, barricading inward doors prevents them from blowing open or bursting inward if wind or water pressure builds up outside. This protects the interior room from damage.

3. Limit Access

Barricading doors can limit access to a certain room or area of your home. This is useful when you need to temporarily restrict entry, like keeping kids or pets out of a space unsupervised.

4. Increase Privacy

An inward barricade gives you added privacy in spaces like bedrooms, bathrooms or home offices when you want to prevent accidental intrusions or disturbances.

Choosing the Right Materials

To effectively barricade an inward-opening door, you need rigid, sturdy materials that can span the width of the door and brace firmly against the floor and frame. Here are some ideal options:

• Wood boards or beams – 2×4, 2×6, or 4×4 lumber provides strength and rigidity. Avoid flimsy 1×2 boards.
• Wood poles – Dowels, broomsticks, or closet rods work if they are at least 1-1.5 inches in diameter.
• Metal poles – Steel or aluminum poles, rods, or pipes are very sturdy if 1/2 inch diameter or more.
• Furniture – Dressers, bookshelves, tables, or other heavy furniture can brace the door.
• Door wedges and jams – Specialized wedges made for barricading can brace the bottom corners.
• Plywood sheets – These are rigid and distribute force across their surface. At least a 3/4 inch thickness is recommended.

The material should be long enough to fit snugly diagonally across the door frame from the top corner to the bottom corner. Alternatively, horizontal boards or poles can run across the entire width if braced properly.

How to Barricade an Inward Swinging Door

With the right materials prepped, here is a step-by-step guide to securely barricading doors that open inward:

Step 1 – Clear the Doorway

Remove any obstructions like floor mats, umbrellas, or other items near the doorway that could interfere with barricading.

Step 2 – Close and Lock the Door

Shut the door completely and lock any integrated locks. This secures the door in the shut position.

Step 3 – Wedge the Bottom Corner

Place a sturdy doorstop, wedge, or jam underneath the bottom corner to angle to brace against the floor and frame.

Step 4 – Lean Bracing Material In Place

Rest one end of the bracing material (wood beam, pole, etc) on the top corner of the door frame. Carefully lean it down diagonally until the bottom end rests tightly against the wedged bottom corner.

Step 5 – Apply Weight for Friction

To maximize friction and bracing force, pile heavy objects like dumbbells, boxes of books, or other dead weight on the end that touches the floor.

Step 6 – Test Bracing Strength

Attempt to manually push the door inward to check that the diagonal brace does not slide or bend. Ensure it remains firmly lodged even when force is applied from outside.

Step 7 – Add Secondary Braces

For extra strength, add identical secondary braces that cross over the first brace in an X shape. Or lean boards vertically on both sides against the horizontal brace.

Step 8 – Check on It Periodically

Check the barricade regularly to ensure the braces remain firmly in position and have not shifted out of place. Re-adjust and add wedges or weights if needed.

That covers the basics of how to quickly and effectively barricade an inward swinging door. Read on for more tips and info…

Tips for Securing Specific Types of Doors

Depending on the exact type and construction of the inward swinging door, some special tips can help create a stronger barricade:

Hollow Core Doors

The light construction of these doors makes them easy to kick through. Use multiple braces – one at each bottom corner and one or two angled from top to bottom for maximum strength.

Solid Wood or Metal Doors

Their heavy weight and rigidity allow just the wedged bottom corners and a single diagonal brace. Focus extra weight and pressure at the wedged points.

French Doors

Since each slim door panel can flex independently, use a horizontal pole to span the full width near the top. Place angled braces on the bottom corners of both doors.

Bifold Closet Doors

Fully close them into their stacked position. Use small wooden dowels or rolled towels vertically in the side tracks to prevent sliding or lateral opening.

Interior Keyed Doors

Locking the integrated lock provides initial security. Supplement with compact jams and braces since space is minimal.

Double Doors

Brace the inactive leaf closed first using horizontal boards. Then install the diagonal raking braces on the active leaf for dual protection.

Garage Entry Doors

Their large size requires very stout bracing material like 4×4 posts. Anchor the bottom brace points into the concrete floor with heavy bolts for added holding strength.

With the right technique for that door type, even awkward inward-swinging doors can be effectively barricaded.

Installing More Permanent Barricade Hardware

For quick temporary barricading, manual bracing and wedging work well. But for a more permanent reinforced solution, installing dedicated hardware provides maximum security:

• Door braces – Steel adjustable braces permanently attach to the frame header and floor to keep the door immobilized.
• Safety drop pins – These allow quick release and engagement. Rotate and drop the pin into the floor cavity steel plate when needed.
• Floor anchor and brace – A steel anchor plate mortared permanently into the floor provides a solid brace point that can be used with a removable barricade arm.
• Overhead track and drop bolt – A steel track mounts across the top of the frame. Drop the bolt into the track and secure it with a padlock when barricading.
• Wall-mounted barricade poles – Sturdy steel or iron poles mount to the adjacent wall. Unhook and pivot them across the doorway and anchor them in place when needed.

Though more invasive to install, permanent solutions provide reliable and ready barricade capabilities on demand. And they can still be removed or disengaged after the threat passes.

Top 5 Safety Tips for Barricading Doors

When barricading any door, keep these safety guidelines in mind:

1. Leave An Alternate Escape Route

Barricade only one entry point to a room. Leave a window unblocked or use a door to the outside that remains free. This provides an emergency exit option.

2. Avoid Damaging the Door and Frame

Use cushioning material like rags or cardboard where bracing surfaces contact the frame or door. This prevents dents and scratches.

3. Keep Barricading Items Close By

Stage all the materials needed in a ready stash near the door, so they are on hand when urgently needed.

4. Monitor the Barricade

Periodically check that braces have not loosened or shifted out of place over time. Tighten and reinforce the barricade as required.

5. Remove Promptly After The Threat Passes

Disassemble braces, wedges, and other items promptly once the situation is resolved. This prevents accidental barricading by occupants.

Preparation and proper safety practices help maximize the effectiveness of door barricades while preventing personal risk.

Conclusion

Barricading inward-swinging doors takes a bit more skill and preparation than outward-opening ones. But with the proper materials and installation techniques, they can be fortified nearly as strongly. Just remember to leave an alternate escape route and frequently inspect your barricades for integrity. Implementing durable supplemental hardware also helps convert an inward swing door into an impenetrable barrier. With clever DIY methods and a few special tools, you can successfully barricade doorways in any situation. Stay safe!

FAQs

Q: How much space is needed to barricade an inward door?

A: Allow at least 3 feet of clear space behind the closed door. This gives room to apply diagonal braces in the corner and leave an open escape route elsewhere.

Q: Can I barricade a door I don’t have the key for?

A: Yes, you can install blocking devices from inside even on doors with external-only locks, provided you first secure them closed.

Q: What is the best material for barricading a door?

A: Sturdy solid wood beams or poles around 2 inches thick provide ideal strength and rigidity. Steel pipes or rectangular tubes are also very sturdy options if properly sized and braced.

Q: How do I barricade a door with no exposed hinge pins?

A: Use small wooden dowels or rolled-up towels wedged vertically into the side channels that the door slides within. Avoid forcing items into the top or bottom edges.

Q: Can fire doors be safely barricaded?

A: Check with your local fire code official first. If allowed, use only temporary barricades that can be quickly removed in an emergency and don’t block fire exits.

Q: Is there a simple way to barricade double doors?

A: Start by securing the inactive door with horizontal boards screwed into the header and floor. Then install diagonal braces only on the active door for quick security.

Q: How can I barricade a slider patio door?

A: Use a dowel or pipe vertically in the bottom track to prevent opening. Supplement with angled braces placed against the door frame for maximum strength.