Boarding Up Cost in Harlow: How Your Quote Is Worked Out
The cost of boarding up in Harlow depends on what needs securing, how high it is and what state the frame is in. That’s why there’s no price list here. Instead, you get a free, clear quote on the phone, based on your actual openings, and it’s agreed with you before any work starts. A person answers 24 hours a day, so you can ask for that quote at any hour.
Why there’s no price list
Two jobs that sound the same can need very different work. A single ground-floor window with a sound frame is a short job. The same size of window on an upper floor, with the frame split and broken glass across the sill, needs ladders, extra fixings and clearing up before the board goes on.
A flat rate would either overcharge the simple job or leave the harder one short. Talking it through on the call means the quote covers what your property actually needs.
What affects a boarding up quote
Number and size of openings
This is the starting point. A broken kitchen window, a glazed back door and a full shop frontage each need different amounts of board, fixings and time. Large openings may need more than one sheet joined and supported so the boarding sits firm.
Height and access
Ground-floor openings that you can walk up to are the most straightforward. Upper-floor windows, roofs and skylights take longer because they need ladders and careful working at height. Anything that limits access, such as a narrow side passage, a locked rear yard or an opening above a conservatory, is worth mentioning on the call. If a skylight or roof light is involved, our roof and skylight boarding page explains what that work involves.
Materials and board thickness
Most openings are boarded with exterior-grade plywood, typically 18mm, which stands up to weather and resists being forced. OSB can suit smaller openings. The material and thickness are chosen to fit the opening and how long the boarding is likely to stay up, and that choice shows in the quote. See window boarding for more on how different windows are covered.
Fixing method
Standard fixings suit many jobs. Where the boarding needs to resist tampering, for example on an empty property or a shop left unattended overnight, security or anti-tamper fixings are used instead. Where the frame allows, boards can be fixed in a way that avoids further damage to it. That matters on older frames, such as the original shopfronts along Old Harlow High Street, where you’ll want the frame in good shape for the permanent repair.
Damaged doors, frames and locks
After a forced entry, a door often can’t simply be boarded over. The frame may be split, the lock broken or the door hanging off its hinges. Securing that first adds to the work. If a frame is too badly damaged to hold fixings properly, we’ll explain the options on the call or on site before going ahead, so nothing is added without you knowing. Our door boarding page covers this in more detail.
Glass and debris
Broken glass left in a frame or scattered on the ground has to be made safe before boarding can start. How much there is, and where it is, affects the time on site.
How the phone quote works
When you call, we’ll ask for:
- Your postcode, so we can work out when we can get to you. The arrival time is given on the call, not promised in advance.
- The type and size of each opening: window, door, shopfront, roof light or skylight, and roughly how big.
- Which floor it’s on and anything that affects access.
- The condition of the frame, if you can tell from a safe distance.
- Photographs, if you can take them safely. Stay well clear of broken glass and don’t climb anything to get a picture.
From that, you get a clear quote for the agreed work. Nothing starts until you’ve said yes. If something on site turns out different from what was described, such as a frame that’s worse than it looked, we’ll talk it through with you before doing anything extra.
What you receive for the quoted price
When the work is finished, you’ll have:
- Openings made safe and secure with the agreed boarding and fixings.
- An itemised invoice.
- Time-stamped before and after photographs.
- A written statement of the work done.
Boarding up is the make-safe stage. It keeps the weather and intruders out while you arrange the permanent repair, such as new glazing or a replacement door, at a sensible pace.
If you’re claiming on insurance
The itemised invoice, photographs and written statement are there to help you put a claim together. Your insurer decides what’s covered, so it’s worth checking your policy or calling them. We’re not loss adjusters and can’t advise on whether a claim will succeed. After a break-in, report it to the police, keep the crime reference number and contact your insurer. Our insurance claims guide explains the paperwork in more detail.
Common questions about cost
Is the quote really free? Yes. The quote is given on the call, free, and you’re under no obligation to go ahead.
Does it cost more at night or at weekends? Ask on the call. The quote you’re given is the one agreed before work starts, whatever the time.
Can I get a quote for several properties? Yes. Landlords and agents securing more than one empty property can talk through each address on the same call. Each opening and access situation is still considered on its own.
Will you replace the glass or the door as well? No. We board up and secure. Permanent glazing and door replacement are separate trades that follow on.
Get your boarding up quote
Have your postcode ready, tell us what’s damaged and roughly how big it is, and send safe photographs if you can. We’ll talk through access and give you a clear quote before any work begins.