Boarding Up FAQs

If you need emergency boarding up in Redhill or across the RH postcode area, you probably have questions as well as immediate worries. This Boarding Up FAQs page brings together calm, straightforward answers to the most common queries we hear from homeowners, landlords, shop owners and property managers who need to board up and secure quickly and safely.

We provide boarding up services in Redhill and across RH 24/7, using non-destructive methods wherever possible, with fully insured, DBS‑checked technicians and insurer‑friendly paperwork.

General Boarding Up Questions

What is boarding up?

Boarding up is the process of covering and securing damaged or vulnerable openings – usually windows, doors, shopfronts or roof lights – with timber or steel so that your property is:

  • Safe (no loose or falling glass)
  • Secure (harder to break into)
  • Protected from weather and animals

We typically use structural plywood or OSB sheets fixed with anti‑tamper fixings that can’t easily be removed from the outside. For higher‑risk or vacant properties we can also install temporary steel doors or steel security screens.

If you’d like a more detailed explanation, you can also read our guide: what is boarding up.

When do I need emergency boarding up?

You should consider emergency boarding up if:

  • A window or door is smashed or cracked after a burglary, vandalism or accident
  • Your shopfront glass has been shattered or you’ve suffered a ram‑raid
  • Storms have blown in windows, doors or roof lights
  • Fire or flood damage has left your property exposed
  • A property will be vacant or empty for a period and needs securing

Our team handles everything from a single broken window board up in a flat to full vacant property boarding on larger homes and commercial sites.

You can see more about different situations on our boarding up situations page.

Are your boarding up methods non-destructive?

Yes – non-destructive securing is our default approach.

Wherever possible we:

  • Use existing frames, reveals and fixings
  • Avoid drilling into stonework or tiles
  • Avoid damaging remaining glazing or doors
  • Fit boards so they can be removed later without major repair work

The main exceptions are:

  • Serious structural damage where we must fix into solid masonry or timber to make it safe
  • Completely destroyed frames where there is nothing sound to attach to
  • Fire‑ or flood‑damaged timbers that are unsafe or too weak to hold fixings

In those cases we’ll explain what we need to do, why it’s necessary, and how it affects later repairs before we start.

Cost, Quotes & Timing

How much does it cost to board up a window in Redhill?

There isn’t a single price for boarding up a window in Redhill because every job is different. Instead, we look at several cost factors:

  • Size and number of windows/doors to be boarded
  • Height and access (ground floor vs. ladders or towers)
  • Material used (plywood vs. OSB, and thickness)
  • Type of fixings (standard vs. high‑security anti‑tamper fixings)
  • Doors, shopfronts or roofs, which may need extra materials and time
  • Time of call‑out (daytime vs. out‑of‑hours emergency)
  • Travel and parking considerations across the RH area

For a full explanation of cost factors and what’s included, see our guide to boarding up prices in Redhill.

We’re always happy to provide a free, no‑obligation quote before starting work.

What affects the cost of boarding up a whole property?

Boarding up a whole property – for example after a serious incident or when securing a vacant building – is usually influenced by:

  • Number of doors, windows and other openings
  • Whether any need temporary steel doors or steel security screens
  • Height and access requirements
  • Whether glass and debris need clearing and safe disposal
  • Time of day and how urgent the work is
  • Any specific insurer or client security requirements

If you’re planning vacant property security, you might find our vacant property boarding in Redhill page helpful.

How long does it take to board up a property?

“How long does it take to board up a property?” depends mainly on:

  • Number and size of openings
  • Height and complexity (e.g. roof lights vs. simple ground‑floor windows)
  • Whether we’re working around emergency services or other contractors
  • Access and safety set‑up (e.g. cordons, towers, internal access only)

Approximate examples:

  • Single broken window: often under an hour once on site
  • Typical small shopfront: often 1–2 hours
  • Larger homes or commercial properties: several hours or a phased visit

We don’t promise fixed times, because safety and quality come first, but we always aim for fast boarding up services and will work efficiently to secure you as quickly as possible.

Booking, Availability & Coverage

Do you provide 24 hour boarding up in Redhill?

Yes. We provide 24 hour boarding up in Redhill and across the surrounding RH postcode areas, with technicians on call 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

That includes:

  • Out‑of‑hours boarding up
  • Night‑time and early‑morning emergencies
  • Weekends and bank holidays

We cannot guarantee exact response times, but we prioritise emergencies and dispatch from within the local area to keep travel times efficient.

For urgent help, please Call 01737 301 082.

What areas do you cover?

We’re based locally in the Redhill area and cover the RH postcode region, including but not limited to:

  • Redhill, Reigate, Merstham, Earlswood, Horley and Gatwick Airport
  • Surrounding villages and communities such as Nutfield, Bletchingley, South Nutfield, Salfords, Outwood and Godstone
  • Wider RH areas including Crawley, Horsham, Haywards Heath, East Grinstead, Burgess Hill and many more

You can see a detailed breakdown on our areas we cover section, including individual pages for places like Redhill, Horley and Reigate.

How quickly can you get to me?

We provide fast boarding up and emergency securing, but we avoid promising exact arrival times because traffic, weather and job complexity vary.

Instead, we guarantee:

  • 24/7 availability
  • Immediate telephone triage to understand your situation
  • Efficient dispatch from within the local area
  • Clear communication about expected arrival and any delays

If your situation is time‑critical (for example, a smashed shopfront on a busy street), please tell us so we can prioritise accordingly.

Materials, Methods & Property Types

What materials do you use for boarding up?

We use a range of modern, proven materials for different situations:

  • Plywood boarding: Often 12–18mm structural ply for strength and durability
  • OSB boarding: Oriented Strand Board, typically similar thickness to plywood and very strong, often used for larger openings
  • Anti‑tamper fixings: Special screws or bolts designed so they can’t easily be undone from outside
  • Temporary steel doors: Lockable steel doors for high‑risk or vacant properties
  • Steel security screens: Perforated or solid steel panels (often called “Sitex‑style security screens”) for medium‑ to long‑term void property security

Choice of material depends on risk level, insurer requirements, exposure to weather and how long the boarding is likely to remain in place.

Will boarding up damage my frames or brickwork?

We always aim for non‑destructive securing. In many cases we can:

  • Span from reveal to reveal using internal bracing
  • Fix into existing timber frames rather than masonry
  • Use fixings that can be removed later without major repair

However, if frames are rotten, burnt, water‑damaged or completely missing, we may need to fix into brick or blockwork to make the property safe. If this is necessary, we’ll:

  • Explain where we intend to fix
  • Keep the number of fixings to the minimum required for safety and security
  • Position them to minimise visible damage and future repair costs

Can you board up any type of property?

Yes. Our boarding up specialists regularly work on:

We also handle specialist openings such as roof & skylight boarding on conservatories, warehouses and flat roofs.

Insurance, Police & Paperwork

Is boarding up covered by insurance?

In many burglary, vandalism, storm, fire or flood claims, insurers will cover emergency boarding up and making safe, but every policy is different.

We strongly recommend you:

  1. Check your policy documents or online account where possible
  2. Call your insurer’s claims line as soon as practical
  3. Make a note of your claim reference and, if relevant, the police incident number

We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisers, so we can’t say definitively that your costs will be covered, but we do provide clear, insurance‑ready paperwork to support your claim.

For more detail, see our page on insurance support for boarding up in Redhill.

What paperwork do you provide for insurance claims?

To help with your insurance claim we can supply:

  • Time‑stamped photos of the damage and finished boarding
  • An itemised invoice (labour, materials, access equipment, disposal if applicable)
  • A brief written statement of works (what we found, what we did, and why)
  • Our business insurance details on request

It’s important that you keep:

  • Any police crime reference number (for burglaries/vandalism)
  • Your insurer’s claim reference
  • Any correspondence from the insurer

If your insurer wants to speak to us about the work carried out, we’re happy to help where we can.

Do I need to call the police before you come?

You should call the police first if:

  • There’s been a burglary, attempted burglary or vandalism
  • You think an intruder may still be inside
  • You can see clear signs of forced entry

Once the police confirm it’s safe and they don’t need the scene left untouched, we can proceed with post‑burglary boarding up or other securing work.

You can read more about this on our burglary repairs and boarding up in Redhill page.

Safety, Security & Access

Is it safe to stay in the property once it’s boarded up?

In many cases, yes – after emergency boarding up the property is as safe and secure as we can reasonably make it on a temporary basis. For example:

  • Broken glass is cleared away
  • Openings are covered
  • Locks or temporary doors are fitted where needed

However, there are situations where it might not be safe or comfortable to stay, such as:

  • Severe structural damage after impact, fire or storm
  • Major smoke, water or electrical hazards
  • Large shopfronts opening directly onto public pavements

We’ll always tell you if we have safety concerns and may advise you to speak with your insurer, landlord or local authority about temporary accommodation or extra safety checks.

Can I still use my doors and windows after boarding up?

Wherever possible we:

  • Keep main entrance doors usable, either by:
    • Boarding around the door, or
    • Fitting a temporary secure door with proper locks
  • Board windows in a way that doesn’t block essential opening doors or fire exits, unless absolutely necessary for safety

If security concerns mean we must fully cover a door or escape route, we’ll discuss this with you before we proceed and look for the safest compromise between security and safe evacuation.

Do you clear broken glass and debris?

Yes. As part of our emergency securing service we will:

  • Make the area safe
  • Collect and bag loose glass and obvious debris
  • Remove sharp or hazardous fragments from accessible surfaces

Where there is extensive glass, rubble or contamination (for example after a major fire or structural collapse), a specialist clean‑up contractor may be required, but we will still remove enough material to safely carry out boarding and reduce immediate risk.

Service-Specific FAQs

Can you board up a broken window and arrange replacement glass?

Yes. Our core service is emergency window boarding, and we can:

  • Secure the opening quickly with plywood or OSB
  • Protect the interior from weather and intruders
  • Provide photos and paperwork for your glazier or insurer

In many cases you will then use your own insurer‑approved emergency glazier for replacement glass. If you prefer, we can work with your chosen glazier’s requirements (for example, leaving certain parts clear for measuring or later fitting).

To learn more, visit our page on window boarding in Redhill.

Do you provide temporary steel doors and security screens?

Yes. For high‑risk, vacant or repeatedly targeted properties we can install:

  • Temporary steel doors with secure locks and keys
  • Sitex‑style security screens or anti‑vandal steel panels over windows and doors

These options are ideal for:

  • Long‑term void property security
  • Properties awaiting repair or redevelopment
  • Sites with repeated break‑ins or vandalism
  • Insurance‑driven security requirements

You’ll find more detail on our vacant property boarding in Redhill, commercial boarding up and individual situations pages.

Do you work with commercial and facilities management clients?

Yes. We regularly provide commercial boarding up in Redhill and across RH for:

  • Retail shops and shopping parades
  • Offices and business parks
  • Pubs, restaurants and cafés
  • Industrial units and warehouses
  • Landlords, estate agents and property managers

We can provide:

  • Out‑of‑hours attendance to minimise disruption
  • Simple RAMS (Risk Assessment & Method Statement) where required
  • Photo records and itemised invoices for head office or insurers

For more information, see our commercial boarding up in Redhill page and shopfront boarding service.

Need More Help?

If your question isn’t covered in these Boarding Up FAQs, or you want to talk through a specific situation – such as storm damage, fire damage, flood damage or accidental breakage – our team is available 24/7.

You can also explore:

Need help now? Call 01737 301 082 or Email us.

Helpful links