Boarding Up FAQs

If you need emergency boarding up in Twickenham or anywhere across the TW postcodes, you probably have urgent questions: how it works, how long it takes, and what it means for your insurance. This Boarding Up FAQs page brings together clear, straightforward answers so you know what to expect when you call.

Our local, DBS-checked technicians have over 10 years’ experience providing emergency boarding up and make-safe securing for homes, shops and commercial premises across Twickenham and surrounding areas.

General Questions About Boarding Up

What is boarding up?

Boarding up is the process of securing broken or vulnerable openings – usually windows, doors or shopfronts – with strong timber boards or security screens.

We typically use:

  • Structural-grade plywood or OSB (often 11–18mm thick, depending on risk and opening size)
  • Anti-tamper fixings that can’t easily be removed from the outside
  • Optional temporary steel doors or steel security screens on higher-risk or vacant properties

The aim is to make the property safe and secure after damage from a break-in, vandalism, storm, fire, flood or accident. Wherever possible, we use non-destructive securing methods so frames and surrounding finishes are protected and ready for permanent repair later.

For a deeper explanation of how it works, you can read more on our guide: what is boarding up.

When do I need emergency boarding up?

You should consider emergency boarding up in Twickenham when:

  • A window or glass door is smashed or cracked and no longer secure
  • Your shopfront glass has been damaged, even if shutters are still working
  • A door has been kicked in or forced and cannot be locked safely
  • A storm has blown windows out or damaged roof lights
  • Fire or flood has left the property open or vulnerable
  • You’re responsible for a vacant or void property that’s at risk of trespass or vandalism

If in doubt, it’s safer to have the opening made secure. Our 24/7 emergency boarding up team can advise over the phone and attend if needed.

Do you offer 24/7 emergency boarding up?

Yes. We provide 24 hour boarding up in Twickenham and across the TW postcode area. That includes:

  • Evenings, nights and weekends
  • Bank holidays
  • Out-of-hours boarding for shops, offices, landlords and facilities teams

We do not promise fixed arrival times, but we always dispatch the nearest available technician to you and keep you updated. If you need help now, our emergency boarding up service is the best place to start.

What areas do you cover?

We are based in and around Twickenham and cover the full TW postcode area, including:

  • Twickenham, St Margarets, Strawberry Hill and Teddington
  • Richmond, Richmond Hill, Kew, Kew Bridge and Ham
  • Whitton, Hounslow, Isleworth, Osterley and Brentford
  • Feltham, Hanworth, Hampton and Hampton Hill
  • Surrounding areas such as Sunbury-on-Thames, Staines-upon-Thames, Shepperton, Ashford and many more

You can see a full list of locations on our areas we cover page, including specific neighbourhoods like Twickenham, Richmond and Teddington.

Are you insured and are your technicians checked?

Yes. We carry appropriate public liability insurance for boarding up and related make-safe works, and our technicians are DBS-checked.

We also:

  • Operate with over 10 years’ local experience in boarding up and emergency securing
  • Work to safe, documented methods (including RAMS for commercial and higher-risk sites)
  • Aim to leave every site tidy and safe, with clear handover information for you and your insurers

Process & Timing

How long does it take to board up a property?

The actual on-site boarding up is usually well under an hour for a single, easily accessed window or door. However, the total time depends on:

  • Number and size of openings to be boarded
  • Height and access (ground floor vs upper floors, need for towers/ladders)
  • Complexity (shopfront with multiple panes vs single window)
  • Whether we are installing temporary steel doors or security screens

Larger shopfronts, corner units or multiple damaged windows will naturally take longer. When you call, we’ll give you a realistic indication based on the information and photos you can share.

What is the process for emergency boarding up?

The typical process is:

  1. Call us and describe the issue
    We’ll ask what’s damaged, how big it is, what floor it’s on and whether it’s safe to attend (e.g. no active fire or exposed live electrics).

  2. We attend and assess
    Our technician checks for hazards (loose glass, unstable frames, structural issues) and agrees a plan with you.

  3. Prepare and cut materials
    We cut structural plywood or OSB boards to size on-site and choose suitable anti-tamper fixings.

  4. Non-destructive securing wherever possible
    We fix boards securely without damaging frames, bricks or sills wherever we can. Only in rare cases (serious structural damage or rotten frames) would more invasive fixings be needed, and we’ll explain this first.

  5. Clean up and make safe
    We clear broken glass and obvious debris from the work area, so it’s safe for you, your family or customers.

  6. Provide paperwork and photos
    You receive an itemised invoice, a simple work statement and, if requested, time-stamped photos for your insurer.

You can see how this applies to specific openings on our dedicated service pages for window boarding in Twickenham and door boarding up.

What information do you need when I call?

The more detail you can provide, the better we can prepare:

  • Address and access details (parking, floor, intercom etc.)
  • Type of opening (window, door, shopfront, skylight, roof opening)
  • Approximate size (a rough guess is fine – e.g. “shop window about 3m wide”)
  • Cause of damage (burglary, vandalism, storm, accident, fire, flood)
  • Any special risks (children or pets in the property, alarm systems, shutters, damaged electrics)

Photos or short videos sent while we’re on the phone are often very helpful.

Methods, Materials & Property Types

What materials do you use to board up?

For most residential boarding up and commercial boarding up in Twickenham we use:

  • Plywood boarding or OSB boarding in structural grades
  • Typical thickness between 11mm and 18mm, depending on size and risk
  • Anti-tamper fixings designed so they can’t be easily removed from outside

On higher-risk or medium-term vacancies, we may recommend:

  • Temporary steel doors to replace damaged doors or provide controlled access
  • Steel security screens (including Sitex-style, anti-vandal screens) for vulnerable windows

We’ll always discuss options and costs before we start. For a full breakdown of cost factors, see our guide to boarding up prices in Twickenham.

Do you always screw into my window or door frames?

No, not always. We aim for non-destructive securing wherever possible.

Common options include:

  • Using existing holes or fixings where they are strong enough
  • Spanning boards across openings so loads are carried into brickwork, not just frames
  • Using internal bracing where appropriate

In some situations, especially after severe impact or where frames are rotten or already badly damaged, we may have no choice but to fix through the frame or surrounding structure to make the building safe. If so, we:

  • Explain the reason clearly before starting
  • Keep fixings to the minimum needed for safety and security
  • Position them sensibly for later repair or replacement by your glazier or builder

Can you board up upper-floor windows or roof lights?

Yes, we provide roof & skylight boarding in Twickenham for storm damage, accidents and fire incidents.

Access and safety are key, so we will:

  • Assess whether ladders, towers or roof access are needed
  • Use appropriate fall protection and safe working methods
  • Coordinate with your roofer if you already have one appointed

You can read more on our roof & skylight boarding service page and our guide to storm damage boarding.

Do you work on both residential and commercial properties?

Yes. We regularly secure:

  • Houses, flats and shared entrances (residential boarding up)
  • Shops, restaurants, cafés and bars (shopfront boarding)
  • Offices, warehouses and industrial units (commercial boarding up)
  • Vacant or void properties for landlords, estate agents and property managers

If you manage a portfolio, our commercial boarding up in Twickenham and vacant property boarding pages explain our approach in more detail.

Cost, Quotes & Payment

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

There is no single fixed price, because the cost depends on several factors:

  • Size and number of windows or doors
  • Height and access (ground floor vs upper floors / roof)
  • Material type and thickness (plywood vs OSB, steel options)
  • Type of opening (simple window vs complex shopfront)
  • Time of day (normal hours vs out-of-hours emergency)
  • Location within the TW area and parking/access constraints

We do not list specific prices online, but we will always:

  • Give you a clear, no-obligation quote before starting work
  • Break down labour and materials on your invoice
  • Explain any options (e.g. temporary steel door vs timber boarding)

For more detail, see our dedicated guide to boarding up prices in Twickenham.

Can you give a quote over the phone?

In many cases, yes – especially for:

  • A single broken window
  • A standard residential door boarding up
  • Simple shopfront panes with good access

We may ask you to send photos or a short video so we can confirm opening sizes and complexity. For more complex commercial or multi-site jobs, we may recommend a site survey or a provisional estimate followed by confirmation on arrival.

Do you take payment from insurers or do I pay you?

In most cases:

  • You pay us directly for the work carried out
  • You then reclaim the cost from your insurer as part of your claim

We provide insurance-ready paperwork, including:

  • Itemised invoice
  • Simple work statement (what was damaged, what we did, date/time)
  • Time-stamped photos on request

We are not loss adjusters or legal advisers, but we do provide clear documents that usually meet insurers’ expectations. For more information, see our page on insurance support for boarding up in Twickenham.

Insurance & After a Break-In, Storm or Accident

Is boarding up covered by insurance?

This depends on your specific policy, but for many home and business policies, emergency boarding up after:

  • Burglary or attempted break-in
  • Vandalism
  • Storm or impact damage
  • Fire or flood

is treated as part of the claim for building damage. You will usually:

  1. Pay our invoice
  2. Submit it with your claim documents to your insurer

We recommend you:

  • Keep your policy number to hand
  • Note your claim reference once raised
  • Keep any police crime reference number for burglary or vandalism incidents

Our insurance support for boarding up page walks through this in more detail.

What should I do immediately after a break-in?

After a break-in:

  1. Ensure your safety first – do not enter if you think someone may still be inside.
  2. Call the police and wait for advice.
  3. Once the scene is safe and police have attended if required, arrange to secure the property.
  4. Take photos of obvious damage (if safe) before boarding, to support your insurance claim.
  5. Contact your insurer as soon as practical to report the incident.

We can help with post-burglary boarding up in Twickenham, including temporary secure doors and window boarding to make the property safe and lockable again.

What if my shop window is smashed?

If your shop window is smashed:

  • Make sure staff and customers are away from broken glass
  • If the incident involved crime, contact the police
  • Arrange for emergency shopfront boarding to secure the opening and protect stock
  • Check your alarm and shutter systems still function, or tell us if they are affected

Our team regularly handles shopfront boarding in Twickenham and vandalism repair for retail units, cafés and offices across TW.

Do you offer “board and glaze” or temporary glazing?

Our primary focus is emergency boarding up and make-safe securing. In many situations, insurers and glaziers prefer the opening to be securely boarded until full replacement glass can be measured, manufactured and fitted.

Where appropriate, we can:

  • Coordinate with your chosen glazier
  • Leave fixings arranged to make it simple to remove boards once new glass is ready

If you need guidance on glaziers or follow-on works, we can discuss this during your call, or you can contact our Twickenham team for tailored advice.

Safety & Security

Is it safe to stay in the property after boarding up?

In most residential situations, yes. A properly boarded opening is usually:

  • Stronger than the original glass
  • Weather-resistant for the short to medium term
  • Fitted to minimise draughts and water ingress as far as practical

However, you should:

  • Follow any advice from the fire service or emergency services
  • Take care around any other damaged areas
  • Avoid disturbing boarding or fixings until permanent repairs are made

On serious fire or structural incidents, you may be advised not to stay in the property until a structural engineer or your insurer’s team have assessed it. We can still secure the building externally to protect your belongings.

Will boarding up make my property look abandoned?

We understand the concern, particularly for shops and vacant properties. We aim to:

  • Cut boards neatly and fit them tightly
  • Avoid excessive over-boarding where not needed
  • Use steel security screens or temporary steel doors where a more professional, secure appearance is important, especially for vacant property security

For short-term incidents, most people recognise boarded windows or doors as a sign that the damage is being professionally managed, not that a property is abandoned.

Getting Help & Next Steps

How do I get a quote or book a boarding up visit?

You can:

  • Call us any time to discuss your situation and get a clear idea of cost and options
  • Use our site to learn more about specific services such as window boarding in Twickenham and door boarding up
  • Request more detailed information through our contact page for non-urgent jobs or planned works

We aim to make the whole process as straightforward and stress-free as possible, from first call through to insurer paperwork.

Need help now? Call 020 3772 7375 or Email us.

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