Window Boarding in Harlow
Window boarding in Harlow makes a broken or smashed window safe and closed until the glass can be replaced. We cut exterior-grade board to fit the opening, fix it securely and clear the loose glass, helping protect the house or shop from weather and entry through that gap. A person answers the phone 24 hours a day. If the window has only just gone, our 24-hour emergency boarding up page covers what to do first.
When window boarding is the right call
Boarding suits any window that can’t be left open overnight or longer:
- A pane smashed in a break-in or attempted break-in
- Glass cracked or blown out by a storm, a falling branch or an impact
- A double-glazed unit that’s shattered and is sagging in the frame
- Several windows on a vacant property that need closing up together
- Ground-floor windows where the gap is an easy way in
- Upper-floor windows where loose glass could fall onto a path or garden
A single cracked pane that’s still firmly held in place may not need full boarding. Talk it through with us on the call and we’ll tell you plainly whether boarding is worth it.
How to secure a broken window before we arrive
You don’t need to do much yourself, and most of it is about staying clear:
- Keep people and pets away from the window, inside and out. Glass often keeps falling after the first break.
- Don’t pull out loose shards or push on a cracked double-glazed unit. They can drop or split without warning.
- Leave the glass on the ground where it fell unless it’s blocking a route you have to use. We’ll make it safe.
- Photograph the damage if you can do so safely, from a distance. It helps with the quote and with your insurer.
- After a break-in, report it to the police, keep the crime reference number and contact your insurer. Our burglary repairs guide covers the next steps in more detail.
Materials: plywood, OSB and board thickness
Most window boarding uses exterior-grade plywood, typically 18mm. It stands up to weather, resists a kick or a pry bar far better than thin sheet, and holds fixings well. Plywood window boarding in Harlow is our usual choice for large panes, bay windows, ground-floor openings and anywhere security matters most.
For smaller openings, such as a toilet window, a fanlight or a small side pane, OSB is often perfectly suitable. We’ll recommend the board that suits the size, position and risk of the opening.
Fixing methods and damaged frames
How the board is fixed matters as much as the board itself.
- Security or anti-tamper fixings are used where the window could be reached from outside, so the board can’t simply be unscrewed by someone else.
- Non-destructive fixing is used where the frame allows. The aim is to secure the opening without causing extra damage that your glazier then has to put right. This is often worth discussing if you live in one of Old Harlow’s Victorian or Edwardian houses on Bury Road, New Road or Park Hill and want to protect an older frame.
If the frame itself is badly damaged, for example split timber, a uPVC frame pulled out of shape or a sill that’s come loose, we’ll explain the options before fixing anything. A board is only as secure as what it’s fixed to. Sometimes we need to fix beyond the frame into sound material, or we may need to secure the frame first. You’ll know what we’re proposing and why before we start.
What happens on the visit
When we arrive, we:
- Look at the window, the frame and the surrounding area, then confirm the work agreed on the call
- Take time-stamped photographs before we start
- Remove loose glass still held in the frame and clear the broken glass and debris around the opening
- Cut the board to size from the stock carried on the van
- Fix it with the agreed method and check it’s firm and covers the opening
- Take time-stamped photographs of the finished work
For boarding up smashed windows across a whole frontage or several rooms, we work through each opening in turn. If a door was also forced, we can deal with that on the same visit through our door boarding service.
What you receive
- Every agreed window boarded, fixed and safe
- Broken glass and debris cleared from the openings we’ve boarded
- An itemised invoice
- Time-stamped before and after photographs
- A written statement of the work carried out
That paperwork is put together for your insurer. They decide what’s covered. We’re a boarding-up service, not loss adjusters, but you’ll have a clear record to send them. See our insurance claims guide for how to use it.
Boarding is the make-safe that holds things secure. Once your glazier is ready to fit the new glass, the board comes down and the permanent repair goes in. We don’t replace glazing ourselves.
What affects the quote
The quote is free and clear, and we agree it on the phone before any work begins. There are no prices on this page because no two windows are the same. The things that shape it are:
- Number and size of windows: one small pane is a different job from a row of bays
- Height and access: upper floors, ladders, or windows reached over a conservatory or extension
- Materials and board thickness: 18mm plywood or OSB, depending on the opening
- Fixing method: standard or security/anti-tamper fixings
- Frame condition: whether it needs securing before the board goes on
- Glass and debris: how much needs making safe and clearing
Our pricing page explains these in more depth.
Who we board windows for
We’re an independent local boarding-up service with over 10 years’ experience. We’re fully insured, with the certificate available on request, and DBS-checked. We board windows for householders, landlords and letting agents, shop and office owners, and people looking after empty properties. We cover Harlow and nearby places including Bush Fair, Staple Tye, Potter Street and Roydon, and we confirm your address when you call.
Ask about boarding up a broken window in Harlow
Tell us the postcode, how many windows are affected, roughly how big they are, which floor they’re on and whether the frame looks damaged. Safe photographs, taken from a distance, help us plan access and give you an accurate quote. If you’re in a residential permit parking area, mention it so we can plan where to stop. We’ll work out an arrival time with you on the call.