Barricading windows is one of the simplest ways to slow danger down. It does not make a base invincible, but it buys time, reduces surprise line of sight, and helps shape how zombies enter your space. Good barricading is less about sealing everything and more about deciding which windows to harden and which escape routes to keep available.
Quick answer
Use planks, nails, and a hammer for the most accessible early barricades.
Start with the windows that face the street or the path zombies use most often.
Do not barricade yourself into a trap. Always leave a deliberate escape plan.
Basic wooden barricades are the fastest practical defense for a new base.
Plan barricades around visibility and escape, not only around fear.
At a glance
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| Material | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
Wood planks | Cheap, common, easy early setup | Not the toughest option |
Metal sheet | Stronger protection | Needs rarer materials and more setup |
Smart partial barricade | Keeps control and visibility where needed | Requires deliberate planning rather than brute sealing |
How to barricade a window
In current Build 42, open the Building menu and use the Barricades category on a closed window or door; some hotfixes also expose a direct context action. Bring the required materials and a valid hammer-type tool. Wooden planks are the standard early answer because they are practical and available. Once the first layer is up, think about what that window actually does for you. If it is a major sightline from the street, more reinforcement makes sense. If it is your best emergency exit, consider keeping it more flexible.
Different buildings need different barricade priorities.
Which windows to barricade first
Street-facing windows, ground-floor windows beside entrances, and windows near likely zombie flow should come first. Barricading is strongest when it supports your base plan. A house with one controlled front approach needs different choices than a warehouse with many exposed sides. Base defense starts with understanding your own traffic pattern as much as the zombies’.
Think about movement routes when deciding what to seal.
Wood versus metal
Wood is the best early default because it is cheap and fast. Metal is stronger, but most players benefit more from getting reasonable wooden protection early than from delaying all defense for a perfect metal setup. Upgrade later when your tool and material supply become comfortable.
Night activity becomes safer when exposed windows are under control.
Window barricade priority
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| Priority | Typical target |
|---|---|
Highest | Street-facing windows beside your main room or front route |
High | Ground-floor windows near doors or blind corners |
Medium | Rear windows that zombies rarely path to first |
Case-by-case | Windows you may want to keep as an escape route |
The one-exit rule
Many new players over-barricade because they are reacting emotionally instead of structurally. Keep at least one intentional fallback route. You want to know, before danger arrives, which window or door is your emergency exit and which side of the building you will run to next.
Barricades work best when they support a deliberate base layout.
Current barricade facts that are consistent across Build 42 sources
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| Fact | Current guidance |
|---|---|
Menu location | Use Building → Barricades; some hotfixes also expose context actions. |
Wood stack limit | Up to 4 planks per side; inside and outside are separate. |
Metal options | Steel/metal sheet for opaque cover; rods/bars for partial visibility. |
Removal | Wood: hammer or crowbar; metal: welding/blow torch path. |
Nail count warning | Current 42.20.x fan data sources disagree on 1 vs 2 nails per plank after hotfixes; use the recipe displayed in your 42.20.4 Building menu as final authority. |
Why this guide does not hard-code the nail count
Current Build 42.20.x fan references disagree after hotfixes: one mechanically extracted Build 42 source still shows one nail, while another 42.20.4 Steam-build data check reports two loose nails. Rather than publish a false certainty, this guide treats the in-client Building recipe as authoritative and focuses on the parts that agree: use Building → Barricades, carry a valid hammer and loose nails, and budget up to four plank layers per side.
Barricade choices differ in materials, durability, and visibility; check the current client recipe for nail count.
Reliable Build 42 barricade input path
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| Step | Action |
|---|---|
1 | Open the Building menu from the left-side building icon / building panel. |
2 | Find Barricades near the top of the building category list. |
3 | Click Build or double-click the barricade recipe. |
4 | Move the ghost placement to a closed window or door and click to place. |
Context action | Some current hotfix/client states also expose Barricade by right-clicking the frame. |
Why the menu-path wording matters
Build 41 advice often says “right-click the window, then Barricade.” In Build 42, the Building panel is the reliable path to teach. Current 42.20.x references disagree on whether the context action is always exposed, so the guide should teach Building → Barricades first and treat right-click as an optional shortcut when present.
FAQ
Is wood barricading enough?
Yes for early and midgame practical defense. It is often better to build wood defenses now than to wait for perfect metal defenses later.
Should I barricade every window?
Usually no. Prioritize exposed windows and keep a deliberate escape route.
Can barricades replace clearing the neighbourhood?
No. Barricades buy time, but area control still matters.