Project Zomboid: How to Board Up Windows

In Project Zomboid, finding a secure shelter is only half the battle—keeping it safe from the undead hordes is where your survival truly begins. One of the most effective and essential methods of fortifying your base is by barricading windows, which are often the weakest points in any structure.

How to Barricade Windows in Project Zomboid

To begin reinforcing your windows, you’ll need a wooden plank, a hammer, and at least four nails in your inventory. Once you’ve gathered these materials, simply right-click on the window you wish to barricade. Your character will then start nailing the plank into place along the window frame. Each window can be reinforced up to four times for maximum durability.

Finding nails and hammers shouldn’t be too difficult—they’re commonly located in toolboxes, garages, sheds, basements, and closets. Wooden planks can typically be found at construction sites or obtained by dismantling wooden furniture like chairs, tables, and shelves. If you're playing in admin mode, you can use the /additem command to spawn these items directly into your inventory.

Barricaded windows significantly slow down zombies attempting to break inside. The more boards you attach, the longer it takes for them to breach your defenses. Should you ever need to remove a plank, simply right-click on the boarded section and select "Remove." To do this, you must have either a claw hammer or a crowbar in your inventory.

It’s worth noting that while large furniture such as bookshelves or refrigerators may seem like logical obstacles, they offer no real protection. Zombies and other players can simply walk through them, rendering them ineffective for defense purposes. However, knowing how to pick up and move furniture is still useful for organizing or redecorating your base.

For stronger, more permanent defenses, consider crafting barricades using metal bars or metal sheets, though these require a sufficient level of the Metalworking skill to create. These advanced barricades provide superior protection and take far longer for zombies to destroy, making them ideal for long-term bases.