Boarding Up Questions in Harlow
These boarding up questions cover safety, doors and frames, materials, access, quotes and insurance paperwork in Harlow. If your question isn’t here, a person answers the phone 24 hours a day, so ring us and ask.
Safety first
Is it safe to stay near broken glass while I wait?
Keep yourself, children and pets well away from broken glass and any loose or hanging panes. Don’t try to pull shards out of a frame or sweep up near a damaged opening in the dark. If a ceiling, roof or wall looks unstable, stay out of that area completely. Making the opening and the debris safe is our job when we attend.
Should I photograph the damage first?
Only if you can do it safely. A few photos taken from a sensible distance help when you speak to your insurer and help us understand the job. Don’t climb, lean through frames or go into a room that doesn’t feel safe just to get a picture.
What should I do after a break-in?
Report it to the police and keep the crime reference number. Contact your insurer. Photograph the damage if it’s safe to do so. Then call us to secure the opening. Our page on burglary repairs explains these steps in more detail.
Can you board up after a fire?
Yes, once the fire service has handed the site back. Until then, nobody should go in. We secure the openings after handover. Smoke and odour cleaning is outside what we do.
Boarding versus permanent repairs
Is boarding up a permanent repair?
No. Boarding is a make-safe. It closes the opening, keeps out weather and unwanted visitors, and gives you time to arrange the permanent repair properly. Glazing and replacement doors come afterwards, fitted by the relevant trade. For a fuller explanation, see what boarding up involves.
Do you replace the glass or fit new doors?
No. We don’t do glazing replacement or fit permanent doors. We make the property secure so those repairs can be booked without rushing.
My shop is in Old Harlow. Does that change anything?
Boarding is temporary, so it’s simply about securing the opening for now. Harlow Council has an adopted Shopfront Design Guide that applies to planning applications for shopfronts and names Old Harlow High Street, Bush Fair and The Stow as historic shopping areas. If the permanent repair will change how your shopfront looks, it’s worth checking with the council before that work goes ahead.
Doors, frames and windows
Can a damaged door frame be secured?
Usually, yes. After forced entry, the door, frame or lock may need securing before any boarding goes on. We look at what’s still sound and what isn’t. If the frame is too badly damaged to hold fixings properly, we’ll explain the options before we start so you can decide. We won’t just carry on and hope for the best. Our door boarding service covers this in more detail.
Will boarding damage my window frames?
Where the frame allows, we use a non-destructive fixing method to keep further damage to a minimum. Some frames, particularly ones that are already broken, need a different approach. We’ll talk it through with you first.
What materials do you use?
Most openings get exterior-grade plywood, typically 18mm. For smaller openings, OSB can be suitable. The van carries boarding stock and fixings. Where security matters, such as a ground-floor window or rear door, we can use security or anti-tamper fixings that are harder to remove from outside. Not every job needs every method, so we’ll recommend what suits the opening.
Can you board upper-floor windows, roofs and skylights?
Yes. Height and access affect how the job is done and the quote, so tell us on the call if the opening is upstairs, on a roof or in a skylight. Please don’t go onto a roof yourself to check.
Quotes and attendance
How much does boarding up cost?
We give you a free, clear quote on the phone before any work starts. It depends on:
- the number and size of openings
- height and access, such as upper floors, roofs, skylights or ladder work
- materials and board thickness
- the fixing method, including security fixings
- whether a damaged door or frame needs securing first
- any debris or glass to make safe
Our pricing page explains each factor.
When can you get here?
We work out the arrival time with you on the call, based on your postcode. We attend at any hour, including nights, weekends and bank holidays.
What should I have ready when I call?
- your postcode and the address
- what’s damaged: window, door, shopfront, roof or skylight
- roughly how many openings and how big
- which floor they’re on and how easy they are to reach
- a few photos, if you can take them safely
If you’re in a residential permit parking area, mention it so we can plan where to park.
Do you cover areas outside central Harlow?
We cover Harlow and nearby, including Old Harlow, Newhall, Church Langley and Great Parndon. We also cover places like Bush Fair, Staple Tye, Potter Street and Roydon, subject to confirming your address on the call.
Empty and commercial property
Can you secure an empty property?
Yes. For landlords, agents and owners, we board windows and doors of vacant and void properties to keep them closed up while they’re empty.
Do you board shops, offices and warehouses?
Yes. We board shopfronts and commercial premises, including shops, offices, restaurants and warehouses. Tell us the size of the glazing and any access issues on the call.
Do you supply steel screens, fencing or alarms?
No. We don’t supply steel security screens, temporary steel doors, temporary fencing, alarms, CCTV or keyholding. We focus on boarding and securing openings.
Insurance and paperwork
What paperwork do I get for my insurer?
You’ll receive an itemised invoice, time-stamped before and after photographs and a written statement of the work done. Your insurer decides what’s covered. We aren’t loss adjusters or legal advisers, but the paperwork gives them a clear record. Our guide to insurance claims explains what to send.
Are you insured and checked?
Yes. We’re fully insured, and the certificate is available on request. Our team is DBS-checked, and we have over 10 years’ experience in boarding up.
Still have a question?
Ring us any time. Give us your postcode, the type and size of opening, and send safe photos if you can. We’ll talk through access and give you a free quote before anything starts.