Storm Damage Boarding Up in Harlow
If a storm has broken a window, cracked a skylight or opened a gap in your roof, storm damage boarding up closes that opening against wind, rain and intruders until permanent repairs can be arranged. Boarding Up Harlow answers the phone 24 hours a day, and we can attend at night, at weekends and on bank holidays. Call 01279 744 842 and tell us your postcode, what’s broken and roughly how big it is. We’ll give you a free, clear quote on the call and work out when we can reach you.
First, keep everyone safe
Storm damage is often worse than it looks from one angle, and the weather may not have finished. Before you think about boarding, do the following.
- Stay clear of broken glass. Glass left in a frame can drop without warning in gusts. Keep children and pets out of the room and don’t try to pull loose pieces out by hand.
- Don’t go onto the roof or up a ladder. Wet, windy conditions make a roof dangerous even for people who work at height. Look from the ground or from inside, and only where it’s safe.
- Watch for water near electrics. If rain is coming in near sockets, lights or the consumer unit, keep away and get electrical advice.
- Keep away from anything unstable. That includes a leaning chimney, a damaged wall, a fallen tree or a ceiling that’s bulging with water. If part of the building looks unsafe, stay out and call the appropriate emergency service.
- Take photographs if you safely can. Pictures of the damage before anything is moved help with your insurance claim and show us what we’re dealing with.
Which openings we can make safe after a storm
Broken or blown-in windows
Flying debris, falling branches and strong gusts can crack or shatter glazing. We board the opening from the outside where access allows, using exterior-grade plywood, typically 18mm, for most windows, or OSB for smaller openings. Where the frame is sound we can often use a non-destructive fixing method, which matters on older properties such as the Victorian and Edwardian houses in parts of Old Harlow, where you may want the original frame kept for repair. Our window boarding service explains the options in more detail.
Skylights and roof openings
Skylights take a lot of punishment in a storm: a falling branch or loose debris can break the glazing and leave a hole straight into the house. If you need to make safe a broken skylight after a storm, we’ll ask about the height, the roof pitch and how we’d reach it before we quote, because access shapes the whole job. The same applies to other roof openings where we can board the gap securely. See roof and skylight boarding for how we approach work at height.
Doors, conservatories and commercial glazing
Storms can also damage glazed doors, door frames and larger panes on shops and offices. If a door won’t close or lock properly, we can secure it as part of the visit. If a frame has been badly twisted or split, we’ll talk you through the options on the call or on site before fixing anything, because boarding is only as secure as what it’s fixed to.
What to tell us when you call
The more we know, the more accurate the quote. Have these ready if you can:
- Your postcode and address, so we can work out when we can reach you.
- What’s damaged: window, skylight, door, roof opening or shopfront.
- Rough sizes and how many openings there are.
- Height and access: ground floor, upper floor, roof, or reached only from a neighbour’s garden or a flat roof.
- The condition of the frame: intact, cracked or partly missing.
- Loose glass or debris that needs making safe.
- Photographs, taken safely from the ground or indoors. You can email us photos to go with your call.
How the price is worked out
There’s no fixed price for storm damage because no two jobs are the same. The quote depends on:
- the number and size of openings
- height and access, including upper floors, roofs, skylights and ladder work
- materials and board thickness
- the fixing method, including security or anti-tamper fixings where they’re needed
- whether a damaged door or frame needs securing first
- any glass or debris that has to be made safe
You get the quote on the call, free and clear, and nothing starts until you’ve agreed it.
What happens when we arrive
Our van carries boarding stock and fixings. We’ll make safe any loose glass in the opening, measure and cut the boards, then fix them securely. If something on site turns out to be different from what we discussed, such as a frame that’s in worse shape than it looked in the photos, we’ll explain it and agree any change with you before carrying on.
When we leave, the openings we agreed to board will be closed against the weather and against anyone trying to get in. Boarding is a make-safe that holds your property secure while you arrange the permanent fix, so your glazier, roofer or door fitter can take over from there.
Paperwork for your insurer
Your insurer decides what your policy covers. To help with your claim we provide:
- an itemised invoice for the boarding work
- time-stamped photographs taken before and after the work
- a written statement of what we did
We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisers, so check the details of your policy with your insurer. Our guide to insurance claims covers the documentation in more depth.
Landlords, agents and business owners
If you manage a rental property or run a shop, office or warehouse, the same steps apply. Let tenants or staff know to stay clear of broken glass, send us photos, and tell us about access, such as keys, a site contact or parking for the van. We cover Harlow and the surrounding area, including Bush Fair, Staple Tye, Potter Street and Roydon, subject to confirming your address on the call.
Over 10 years of making properties safe
Boarding Up Harlow is an independent local boarding-up service with over 10 years’ experience. We’re fully insured, with a certificate available on request, and DBS-checked.
Get your storm damage made safe
Tell us your postcode, what’s broken and how high it is, and send a few safe photographs if you can. We’ll give you a free, clear quote and agree a time to attend.