Zombie Cliche Lookout: Make Like a Turtle
Getting yourself safely inside from the pursuing zombies is only the first step in a survival situation. Yes, you’ve managed to avoid being taken down and devoured by an undead horde, but that doesn’t mean you’re safe. Not by a long shot. Homes simply aren’t built to prevent people from getting in through minimal force. There are usually lots of windows that are close to the ground, and many exterior doors aren’t built to withstand a lot of mistreatment; especially if you have one of those large glass sliding doors (a doorwall if you’re from Michigan like me). That’s right, with just a little effort, the zombies can easily breach your home and ruin your day.
That’s why it’s so important to be able to barricade things. At a minimum, you need to pile up everything that’s heavy but moveable in front of all points of entry. While that might do in a pinch, what you really want to do is reinforce your barricades for the long haul. That means getting some lumber and nailing or screwing it over any potential zombie ingress point. In most zombie stories, that means hastily nailing up 2x4s across windows and doors, often at comical angles. It might not be terribly effective, but at least it looks cool.
About this Episode:
Ted somehow has a fair supply of tools and materials in his basement. He doesn’t really seem like the do-it-yourself type though, does he? Don’t worry, I’ll be addressing that soon enough.
Discussion Question: Zombies and Windows
In recent discussions, someone pointed out the windows used in home construction are quite a bit more durable than most of us give them credit for. Furthermore, while many homes feature windows that are fairly close to the ground, there is always a gap between the bottom of the window and the ground of at least a couple of feet.
With this in mind, how feasible do you think it is for zombies to be able to both breach a window, and manage to get themselves inside? Let’s assume that these are slow moving zombies that won’t use simple tools like rocks to break the windows, and that all of the windows are at least three feet from the ground (apologies to my non-American readers who are used to a much more reasonable system of measurement). Would they be strong enough to break the window, and have the strength and agility required to climb through?
Typo Alerts:
Zombie Cliche Lookout:
“He doesn’t really seem to do-it-yourself type though, does he?” Either add in “be the” or replace “to” with “like the”. Dave’s choice, as always! 😀
Discussion Question, second paragraph, second sentence: “won’t use simply tools” simply–>simple 😉
Same section, same paragraph, first sentence: With this is mind” is–>in 😀
Some typos aren’t always in the order they appear, I just write them as I spot them! As always, any unreported typos other readers spot are always welcome, as I don’t always spot them all! 😀
Fixed all. Man, I was doing so well too.
Typo Alert, mouseover text on comic: my–>me 😀
Fixed that one too.
It’s interesting. In a modern home, chances are they are double-glazed windows. For someone without tools it would take a lot of effort to break in. In fact the door would be the weaker point of entry in this case. Saying that, our front room window would be a mere 1 foot off the ground (it’s a bay window) but it is fairly sturdy so I suspect it still wouldn’t be a weak point.
Very interesting indeed; I had no idea.
Sad to say, but recently installed doubled pane new style multi-swinging windows for a bathroom… Due to a small gap in the the bottom outside window to the bottom frame fixture, the gas escaped (it was starting to become winter) the inside pane broke due to the fast indoor/outdoor freeze thaw cycles. We didn’t notice until the bottom panel split a few weeks after installing the full window!
The company gave use a replacement. First was way too small, then the second they gave us was proper, but had reached us at super slow speed, so it snowed super hard before we could install the new fixture. We had already boarded up the window!
Short story long, anything breaks to pressure. And if the dead break the first seal {of some of the new window}, the elements (another thing long term survivors have to deal with) can finish the rest!
First, that’s a really shitty story, Jon. I hate when manufacturers are so slow fixing their own problems.
Second, way to make your bad luck applicable to our discussion!
Life happens, that is why we should all watch and try a little diy stuff. At least I now know what I’m facing when windows meet winter. come summer, the fix/fixes should be easier to handle and I know what to look for on the window seal.
Excellent point, and something I need to get better at myself. I can do a bit, but I try to avoid working with anything that’s going to be seen. I’ve got some pretty gnarly drywall work that I’m still embarrassed about.
While a little DIY is helpful there is a lot about modern housing that takes professional experience. Like after you have super boarded up your house what’s your toilet gonna look like after three days?
If its your own house then start getting ready now by installing good windows which don’t need to be boarded up and are energy efficient to save money for bullets and can get you a tax break.
Bullets and tax breaks, the bread and butter of the survivalist lifestyle.
Very nice tool wall and Citizen Bricks “planks”.
I was thinking about picking some up