Vandalism Boarding Redhill
Vandalism boarding in Redhill is for those moments when your window has been smashed, a door has been damaged, or your shopfront has been attacked and you need the property secured quickly and safely. We provide fast, professional emergency boarding up to make your home, business or vacant property secure again after vandalism.
Need urgent help after vandalism? Call 01737 301 082 now – 24/7 emergency response across Redhill and the wider RH postcode area.
When You Need This
Vandalism can happen without warning and leave you feeling exposed and unsure what to do next. Our vandalism boarding in Redhill is designed to take away that immediate worry by making your property safe and secure as quickly as possible.
Typical situations where you may need vandalism boarding include:
- Smashed windows at home – a stone through a front-room window, a broken patio door, smashed side or bathroom window.
- Shop window smashed on the high street – damage to display glass, frames or entrance doors in Redhill town centre, Reigate, Horley or other RH high streets.
- Emergency glass boarding for commercial units – offices, cafés, bars, takeaways or salons with broken glazing or kicked-in panels.
- Graffiti and damage to doors – where locks, panels or letterboxes have been attacked and the door no longer closes or locks safely.
- Vandalism at schools or community buildings – smashed entrance doors, broken windows or skylights.
- Vacant or void property attacks – repeated attempts to get into an empty home, flat or commercial premises, often needing stronger, anti‑vandal security.
If you’ve experienced:
- smashed window boarding needs
- a shop window smashed repair situation
- or any other kind of emergency glass boarding after vandalism
we can help with calm, practical advice and fast on-site securing.
Where there is a crime reference (for example, the police have attended after a break-in or criminal damage), keep that number safe – it will help with any insurance claim later on.
How We Secure Your Property
Our focus after vandalism is simple: make the property safe, keep the weather out, and deter any further damage or attempted entry. We use non-destructive securing methods wherever possible, meaning we avoid extra damage to your frames or structure unless there is no safe alternative.
Step 1 – Assess the Damage and Make Safe
On arrival, our DBS‑checked technicians will:
- Check for broken glass, loose frames or unsafe structures.
- Clear up dangerous glass shards from floors, pavements and public areas.
- Decide the best method of vandalism boarding based on the size and position of the opening.
If there is any sign of structural damage (for example, a vehicle hitting a shopfront), we will create a safety cordon and only board where it is safe to do so. In these cases we may recommend a structural engineer or builder to inspect the area.
Step 2 – Choose the Right Boarding Materials
We typically use:
- Plywood or OSB boarding (usually 11–18mm thick) – robust enough to resist kicking and tampering.
- Timber bracing where required – to span larger openings and add rigidity.
- Weatherproof fixings and sealant – to keep out rain and draughts where practical.
Both plywood boarding and OSB boarding provide strong, reliable protection for most vandalism repairs. Where you have very large glazed areas (for example, for shopfront boarding in Redhill), we might use thicker sheets or additional bracing to keep everything solid and safe.
Step 3 – Secure Fixings with an Anti‑Tamper Approach
To help prevent further vandalism or unauthorised removal of boards, we tend to use anti-tamper fixings. These are screws or bolts designed so they cannot easily be undone from the outside.
Depending on the frame and construction, we may:
- Fix into solid window or door frames where this can be done safely and reversibly.
- Span the opening with timber and clamp boards from inside, avoiding damage to external frames.
- Use masonry fixings into brick or blockwork where frames are too badly damaged.
This approach supports non-destructive securing wherever possible – particularly important for homes and listed or character properties in areas such as Reigate or Nutfield, where you’ll want to minimise any additional marks or holes.
Step 4 – Doors, Shopfronts and Empty Properties
Vandalism often affects doors and commercial fronts as much as windows. We can:
- Board over broken doors and sidelights to prevent unauthorised entry.
- Fit a temporary secure door where you still need daily access (ideal for shops, offices and shared entrances).
- For empty or repeatedly attacked premises, install steel security screens or Sitex‑style security screens and temporary steel doors for stronger, medium‑term protection.
For domestic front doors or rear doors kicked in during vandalism or attempted burglary, our door boarding up service focuses on securing the opening while keeping lock areas accessible for follow‑on repairs or replacement.
Step 5 – Cleaning Up and Insurer‑Friendly Evidence
Once everything is boarded and secure, we:
- Tidy up glass, debris and packaging.
- Take clear, time‑stamped photos of the damage and our boarding.
- Provide an itemised invoice and a brief, plain-English statement of work completed.
These documents usually give insurers what they need to handle a claim. If you want more detail on this, see our dedicated insurance support for boarding up in Redhill.
Why Choose Us After Vandalism?
When your property has been vandalised, you need more than just someone with a few boards and a drill. You need a local, reliable, properly insured team that understands how to secure different property types without creating more problems.
Local Redhill Presence, RH‑Wide Coverage
- Based in and around Redhill, we cover the full RH area – including Merstham, Earlswood, Salfords, Horley, Reigate, Dorking, Oxted, Haywards Heath, Horsham and surrounding villages.
- Our mobile vans carry a range of boarding materials, fixings and safety kit so we can respond efficiently day or night.
10+ Years’ Experience Securing Properties
- Over a decade of experience in emergency boarding up, including vandalism boarding, burglary repairs and storm damage.
- Used to working with homes, small shops, large retail units and vacant properties.
- Familiar with insurer expectations for emergency property securing Redhill and across the RH postcode area.
Fully Insured and DBS‑Checked
- Public liability insurance for your peace of mind.
- Technicians are DBS‑checked, so you know who you’re letting into your home or business in the middle of the night.
Non‑Destructive Securing Wherever Possible
- We always look for non-destructive securing methods first.
- We explain clearly if we have to drill into certain frames or walls (usually when they are already damaged or unsafe).
- You’ll understand what we’re doing, why, and what follow‑on repairs might be needed.
Tidy, Respectful and Reassuring
- We work cleanly, remove loose glass and leave the area safe.
- We’ll talk you through what we’ve done and what the next steps are – whether that’s contacting glaziers, your insurer or a builder.
- Many customers tell us simply having the property secure again helps them feel a lot calmer after the shock of vandalism.
What Happens Next
If your property has just been vandalised and you’re not sure what to do, here’s how to proceed:
- Make sure you’re safe. If vandals might still be nearby or you feel threatened, stay away and call the police first on 999 (emergency) or 101 (non‑emergency).
- Take a quick look from a safe distance. Note where the damage is (front window, back door, shopfront, etc.) and whether there’s broken glass on pavements or public areas.
- Call us for emergency boarding up.
- Explain what’s happened and where the property is (for example, near Redhill Station, along Merstham High Street, or on an industrial estate).
- We’ll advise you on immediate steps and arrange for a technician to attend as soon as possible.
- Keep any police incident number. This will help when you speak to your insurer.
- Contact your insurer once the property is secure. We’ll provide photos, a work statement and invoice to support your claim.
If the vandalism has damaged windows only, you may want to read more about our dedicated window boarding in Redhill. For shopfronts and commercial premises, our specialist shopfront boarding services explain how we tackle large glass panels, shutters and roller doors.
You can also find general information about different emergency situations, including vandalism, on our boarding up situations page, or check our boarding up prices in Redhill to understand how we calculate quotes (we don’t list fixed prices, because every job is different).
FAQs
What should I do immediately after my window is vandalised?
Stay clear of broken glass, keep children and pets away, and if you suspect a crime is in progress, call the police. Once things are safe, take a couple of photos if you can, then contact us for smashed window boarding. We’ll talk you through what we’ll do and arrange for emergency boarding up.
Will you clean up the broken glass?
Yes. As part of our emergency glass boarding, we clear loose and accessible glass from floors, window sills and external paths so that the area is safe. Heavily contaminated or high‑risk areas may require specialist cleaning, which we’ll advise you about if needed.
Can you help if my shop window is smashed late at night?
Yes. We regularly deal with shop window smashed repair and out‑of‑hours incidents for retailers, takeaways, salons and offices. We provide commercial boarding up and can liaise with your alarm company or landlord if required. For more detail, see our shopfront boarding in Redhill.
Do you replace glass as well as boarding up?
Our core service is boarding up and emergency securing. In many cases, your insurer or property manager will appoint a glazier for the final glass replacement. If you don’t have anyone in place, we can often recommend local glaziers or work on a board & glaze basis alongside them.
Will the boarding damage my window or door frames?
We always aim for non-destructive securing. Where frames are sound, we often brace from inside or use existing fixing points. When frames are already damaged or too weak, we might need to screw into the frame or surrounding masonry to keep the boards secure. We’ll explain what we’re doing and keep fixings to the minimum necessary for safety.
Is vandalism boarding covered by insurance?
Many home and business policies do cover emergency boarding up after vandalism, but this varies by insurer and policy. We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisers, but we do provide insurance‑ready paperwork, including time‑stamped photos, an itemised invoice and a brief description of the damage and work carried out. For more detail, see our insurance support for boarding up in Redhill.
Need help now? Call 01737 301 082 for 24/7 vandalism boarding in Redhill and across the RH area, or Email us for non‑urgent enquiries and quotes.
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