Door Boarding in Harlow
Door boarding in Harlow is the right step when a door can’t be trusted to keep people out. That might be after forced entry, a smashed glass panel, a split frame or a lock that no longer holds. We secure damaged doors, frames and locks, and board the opening so the property can be left safely while the permanent repair is arranged. Boarding Up Harlow answers the phone 24 hours a day. We’ll talk you through what we can do and give you a free, clear quote before any work starts.
When door boarding is the right fit
Doors take more strain than windows. They’re opened, slammed and leaned on, and they’re usually the first thing someone tries to force. Boarding makes sense when:
- The door has been forced. The lock has been snapped, the keep has been torn out or the door won’t close properly.
- A glazed panel is broken. This could be a glass panel in a front door, a side light or a back door with large glazing.
- The frame is split or pulled away. The door itself may be fine, but there’s nothing solid for it to shut against.
- The door can’t be closed at all. Sometimes the opening needs boarding over completely.
- The property is empty. Landlords and agents with a vacant house or flat often need doors boarded. See our page on securing vacant and void properties for that work.
If your front door is fine but a window has gone, window boarding is the better starting point.
The options for a damaged door
There isn’t one method for every door. What we do depends on how badly it’s damaged and whether you still need to use it.
Boarding a broken panel only. If the door and frame are sound and only the glass is broken, we can board over the glazed section. You can usually keep using the door as normal. For smaller panels, OSB is often suitable.
Securing and boarding the whole door. If the lock or door has been damaged, we may secure the door shut and board across the full face. Exterior-grade plywood, typically 18mm, is the usual choice because it stands up to weather and to someone trying it again.
Boarding the opening. When a door is beyond saving that night, we can board the whole opening so the property is closed up until a new door is fitted.
We use security, or anti-tamper, fixings where they’re needed, so the boarding can’t simply be unscrewed from outside. Where the frame allows, we’ll fix in a way that limits further damage. This matters on older front doors, such as some on the Victorian and Edwardian terraces in Old Harlow, where you may want the original joinery kept intact.
When the frame is badly damaged
This is the part of door work that needs a proper conversation first. Boarding is only as strong as the timber it’s fixed into. If a frame has been split along its length or pulled from the brickwork, screwing boards into it won’t give you real security.
In that case we’ll explain the options before we start, either on the call or at the door. That could mean securing the frame first, fixing the boarding beyond the damaged section, or boarding the full opening. It can change the scope and the quote. We’d rather agree that with you than leave you with boarding that looks fine but gives way.
Tell us if it’s your only way in and out
If the damaged door is the main entrance and there’s no other usable door, let us know on the call. It affects how we secure it. Fully boarding your only entrance from the outside isn’t always sensible if you’re staying in the property. We’ll talk through what works for how you’ll be using the building.
After a break-in
If the door was forced during a burglary, report it to the police and keep the crime reference number. Contact your insurer as well. If it’s safe, take a few photographs of the damage before anything is moved. Our page on what to do after a burglary covers the next steps in more detail.
Please don’t handle broken glass or try to force a damaged door shut yourself. Keep people and pets clear of the doorway until it’s made safe.
What happens on the visit
We’ll talk you through the arrival time on the call once we have your postcode. The van carries boarding stock and fixings. The work usually goes like this:
- We look at the door, frame and lock and confirm the approach we discussed on the phone.
- We clear and make safe any broken glass or loose debris around the doorway.
- We secure the door or frame where needed, then fit the boarding.
- We check the boarding is firm and talk you through what’s been done.
What you receive
- A made-safe door or doorway, secured with the method we agreed.
- An itemised invoice.
- Time-stamped before and after photographs.
- A written statement of the work done.
That paperwork is put together with insurance claims in mind. Your insurer decides what’s covered, and we’re not loss adjusters, but clear records help. Read more about the documents we supply for insurance claims.
The boarding keeps your home or premises secure for now. Your glazier or door fitter can then carry out the permanent repair when it suits you.
What affects the quote
There are no prices on this page because every door is different. The quote is free and given on the call before any work starts. It depends on:
- The number and size of openings, such as one panel, a full door or a door with side lights
- Whether the damaged door or frame needs securing before boarding
- The materials and board thickness
- The fixing method, including anti-tamper fixings
- Any glass or debris that needs making safe
- Access to the door, for example a first-floor flat entrance up external steps
You can see how these factors work in more detail on our pricing page.
Talk to us about your door
We’re an independent local boarding-up service with over 10 years’ experience. We’re fully insured, with a certificate available on request, and DBS-checked. When you get in touch, tell us your postcode and what’s happened to the door, frame or lock. If you can do it safely, send us a couple of photographs. That helps us discuss access and give you an accurate quote.