Are you looking to bullet proof your walls? There are numerous reasons why you might need bullet resistant walls. You might be interested in an increased security at home. You might need to include bulletproof drywall to protect your business. You might even be interested in DIY bullet resistant panels for doomsday or end of the world scenarios.
In this tutorial, you will learn more about how to bulletproof a wall in your home. Take a look at a few key steps to follow if you want a bullet proof house.
Types of Bullet Proof Material
If you want bulletproof house walls, there are several materials from which to choose. Some of the most popular options include:
Bullet Proof Metals
If you want to use bulletproof metals, you need to think about how thick they are. Different metals have different densities, which affects how thick they need to be if you want them to be bulletproof. If you have a particularly dense metal, it might not need to be as thick as a metal that is relatively loose.
As an example, ballistic steel might only need to be a quarter of an inch thick to be bulletproof. On the other hand, aluminum is significantly lighter. Therefore, it might need to be 0.75 inches thick. Furthermore, the larger the round, the thicker the metal will need to be.
Kevlar Fabrics
Kevlar fabrics can also be bulletproof; however, their microscopic construction plays a significant role in their strength. Kevlar fabric has a very high tensile strength. Therefore, they can stop a relatively large caliber bullet, particularly if the fabric is reinforced with metallic plates. Kevlar is typically used in body armor because of its durability.
Bullet Proof Glass
Bulletproof glass is a combination of hard and soft glass. The soft glass is important because it is more elastic. Therefore, it has a lot more gift, essentially “catching” the round and “bending” without actually breaking. Hard glass is just as important because it has more stopping power.
Fiberglass Laminates
The goal of bullet-resistant fiberglass panels is to take the force coming from the bullet and dissipate it across the strength of the frame. Many fiberglass panels include synthetic resin and Kevlar sheets for protection. When a bullet strikes fiberglass, the energy from the round is spread out across the entire sheet, preventing it from focusing on a single point in space. Therefore, fiberglass can stand up to a decent caliber round.
Think carefully about the benefits and drawbacks of each of these choices before you make a decision.
How To Bullet Proof Your Walls
If you want to bulletproof your walls, there are several steps to follow. They include:
Select a Material
First, you should select your material. You might be interested in steel, poured concrete, cinderblocks, fiberglass, or sandbags.
Brick and concrete aren’t technically bulletproof, but they’re affordable and have plenty of stopping power against a range of projectiles. Sandbags absorb energy well and have been used by the military for centuries, but they aren’t the most practical option for your home. Fiberglass and steel have become popular for bulletproofing homes, particularly those with safe rooms.
You can learn more about bulletproof wall panels for your home in this video.
Frame the Stud
The next step is to frame the stud. Make sure to measure the distance from the stud to the floor. You can use chalk to draw a line from the floor to the ceiling. Measure the chalk lines, as these will be the dimensions of the plates you use for your walls. Remember to leave room for the door if you decide to include a door on that specific wall.
Learn more about framing studs and drywall in this video.
Mount to the Stud or Install the Drywall
After this, you need to mount the panels to the wall or install the bulletproof drywall. If you decide to use fiberglass, you need to mount them directly to the studs themselves. Therefore, you’ll need to remove the current drywall. Again, if you decide to go with fiberglass, you can cover it with a variety of materials. Therefore, you can still customize them to meet your needs.
Take a look at this video to learn more about installing fiberglass panels.
Finish the Wall
Finally, you’ll need to finish the wall. Once the ballistic panels are in place, you should have the right bulletproof protection in the room, but you still need to make the wall look aesthetically pleasing. You may need to blend the rest of the materials together, and you should make sure you don’t have any gaps in the area. If you have any gaps, you can fill them with bricks, sand, or gravel. Even though these are not completely bulletproof, they are better than leaving the gaps completely open.
Other Parts of Your Home To Bullet Proof
There are other parts of your home you may want to bulletproof as well. For example, you might be interested in bulletproof windows. There are plenty of ways to provide ballistic protection for your windows, but even for smaller caliber rounds you’ll need a nominal thickness.
When it comes to levels of protection in windows, you need to think about what type of bullets you’d need to stop. In general, anything from UL 752 Level 1 to 3 will stop a handgun bullet; however, if you want to stop a 30-06 rifle round, you should opt for Level 4 glass. Here is a YouTube video of some Level 3 resistant glass.
Installing a bulletproof door is relatively easy because you simply need to buy the frame and the door itself. Windows frequently have to be customized, but most residential doors are a standard size. Therefore, it is much easier to find what you’re looking for. Many companies carry ballistic doors in stock at the factory, so you only have to order them. You can choose from steel, wood, or glass models. Again, you could take a look at the UL 752 rating to figure out what the door will stop. Remember that you need to replace the frame as well as the door.
Alternatives To Bullet Proof Walls
It can be expensive to build new walls to stop bullets, so you might be interested in building a safe room instead. Instead of bulletproofing every existing wall in your home, you can turn one room into a safe haven. You might want to include some supplies that can help you stay alive in the event of an emergency. If you have a room in your house that doesn’t have any windows, this is probably the best option for a safe room. You may want to use ballistic concrete or fiberglass panels to reinforce the walls.
Get the Most out of Your Bullet Proof Walls
If you want to keep your home and family safe, then you should invest in bullet resistant materials in your wall construction. Consider the benefits and drawbacks of each option before you make a decision on what material to use.
FAQs
Can you bullet proof a wall?
Yes, there are plenty of materials you can use to bulletproof your walls. Common options are steel, concrete, and fiberglass.
Are concrete walls bullet proof?
Unless you use ballistic concrete, the walls are not bulletproof. Concrete has a lot of stopping power, but it is not necessarily bulletproof.
Is a brick wall bullet proof?
Brick also has a lot of stopping power, but it is also not technically bulletproof. You should reinforce it with something else if you want to make it Bulletproof.
