Situations Requiring Emergency Boarding Up in Twickenham

Many people first discover they need boarding up after something sudden and stressful happens – a break-in, smashed window, storm or fire damage. This page explains the main situations where emergency boarding up in Twickenham is needed, what we can do in each case, and how we support you from first call to final insurance paperwork.

We provide fast, affordable boarding up services across Twickenham and all TW postcodes, with more than 10 years’ experience, DBS-checked technicians and full public liability insurance.

Need urgent help now? Call 020 3772 7375.

Common Situations We Help With

We cover almost any incident where a door, window, shopfront or opening is left broken or insecure. The most common situations are:

  • Burglary or attempted break-in
  • Vandalism and smashed glass
  • Storm damage to windows, doors or roofs
  • Fire-damaged properties
  • Flood and water damage
  • Accidental impact or breakage (e.g. vehicles, ladders, sports, DIY)

Below you can learn more about each type of incident and click through to detailed guides on how we deal with them.

Burglary & Break-In Damage

A break-in is upsetting and disruptive. Our post-burglary boarding up in Twickenham service focuses on securing your property quickly so you can start to feel safe again.

Typical burglary damage includes:

  • Doors kicked in or frames split
  • Locks forced or drilled
  • Windows smashed to gain entry
  • Patio doors lifted off tracks
  • Secondary damage from police gaining access (occasionally)

We can:

  • Board up damaged windows and doors
  • Install temporary secure doors (including steel units where appropriate)
  • Make frames safe and remove dangerous glass
  • Use non-destructive securing methods wherever possible, keeping damage to a minimum
  • Provide clear, insurer-friendly paperwork and time-stamped photos

If you’re not sure what to do after a break-in, our burglary page explains step-by-step how to secure your property after a break-in in Twickenham.

Vandalism & Deliberate Damage

From smashed front windows to bricks through shopfronts, vandalism often happens at night and leaves you worried about security and weather exposure.

Our dedicated vandalism repair and boarding in Twickenham covers:

  • Smashed windows at homes and flats
  • Shopfront glass broken by bottles, stones or tools
  • Graffiti combined with broken glazing
  • Repeated damage to vacant properties

We can:

  • Safely clear and contain broken glass
  • Board up broken windows and doors with 11–18mm plywood or OSB, fixed with anti-tamper screws
  • Secure shopfronts and roller shutters so they can’t be easily forced
  • Work out-of-hours to avoid disruption to business opening times

Storm Damage, High Winds & Weather

Storms across Twickenham, Richmond, Whitton and surrounding TW areas can blow out windows, damage roof lights or tear away doors and fascias.

Our storm damage boarding service in Twickenham deals with:

  • Windows blown in or out
  • Broken conservatory or skylight glazing
  • Loose frames, fascia boards or soffits causing risk
  • Roof leaks needing temporary weatherproofing

We can:

  • Board up and weatherproof damaged openings with exterior-grade plywood or OSB
  • Provide temporary tarping and coverings where boarding is not immediately possible
  • Coordinate with your roofer or glazier for follow-on works
  • Prioritise non-destructive securing, using existing fixings and frames where they are sound

Fire-Damaged Properties

After a fire, your priority is safety. Once the fire service has left and it’s safe to enter, many properties are left exposed – windows and doors broken, and sometimes no secure front door at all.

Our fire damage boarding in Twickenham focuses on:

  • Securing all entry points to prevent trespass and theft
  • Installing temporary steel doors and, where needed, steel security screens
  • Using anti-tamper fixings so boards and screens cannot easily be removed from outside
  • Providing medium-term solutions for properties awaiting insurance decisions or refurbishment

We do not handle fire clean-up, odour removal or soot remediation directly, but we will work around other contractors and your insurer’s appointed specialists.

For longer-term void properties, see our vacant property boarding services.

Flood & Water Damage

Flooding or major leaks can cause frames to swell and warp, leaving doors and windows unable to close or lock properly. Security is often reduced just when the property is at its most vulnerable.

Our flood damage boarding in Twickenham can help when:

  • Doors can’t close or latch after water damage
  • Window frames become distorted and won’t lock
  • You need a balance between ventilation and security while drying out

We can:

  • Fit temporary secure doors and boarded panels so you can still ventilate safely
  • Use non-destructive securing wherever frame strength allows
  • Advise on simple steps to support your insurance claim, alongside our formal paperwork

Accidental Breakage & Impact Damage

Not all damage is criminal – sometimes it’s just bad luck. Common accidental incidents include:

  • Children’s games breaking patio doors or windows
  • Delivery vehicles or cars striking shopfronts
  • DIY accidents or trades damage
  • Cracked glass that suddenly fails

Our accidental breakage boarding service in Twickenham focuses on:

  • Making the area safe (cordoning off and clearing broken glass)
  • Checking for obvious structural concerns before boarding
  • Boarding up broken windows and doors with appropriate thickness plywood or OSB
  • Installing temporary steel doors for heavily damaged shopfronts or fire exits

For shops and commercial units, you may also want to read about our specialist shopfront boarding in Twickenham.

How We Secure Your Property in Any Situation

Although each incident is different, we follow a consistent, insurer-friendly process:

  1. Assessment on Arrival

    • Check for immediate dangers (loose glass, unstable frames, electrical hazards).
    • Identify all compromised entry points, not just the obvious broken pane.

  2. Agree the Plan with You

    • Explain options clearly (plywood vs OSB, boarding vs temporary steel doors, short-term vs medium-term).
    • Aim for non-destructive securing methods wherever possible, preserving existing frames and fittings.
    • Flag rare exceptions where additional fixings or limited drilling are unavoidable (for example, severe frame damage or structural instability).

  3. Boarding & Securing
    We typically use:

    • 11–18mm exterior-grade plywood or OSB boarding
    • Anti-tamper fixings that cannot easily be undone from outside
    • Temporary steel doors or steel security screens for high-risk or vacant properties

    All boards are cut to size, tight-fitting, and installed to resist casual forced entry and bad weather.

  4. Tidy Finish & Safety Check

    • Remove or neatly stack waste glass and debris (as agreed).
    • Check doors and gates you still need to use open and close properly.
    • Make sure children, pets and vulnerable people can move around safely.

  5. Insurance-Ready Paperwork

    • Time-stamped photos of damage and completed boarding.
    • Itemised invoice showing labour, materials and access equipment.
    • Brief written statement of work carried out.

For a more detailed overview of materials, methods and non-destructive securing, see our dedicated pages on window boarding in Twickenham and door boarding up.

Why People Across Twickenham Trust Us in Emergencies

Choosing someone to secure your home or business after a stressful incident can feel daunting. We aim to make it straightforward and reassuring.

  • Local to Twickenham & TW postcodes
    Regular work across Twickenham, Richmond, Teddington, Whitton, Isleworth and the wider TW area means we understand typical property types and local insurer expectations.

  • 10+ years’ experience
    We’ve handled everything from single smashed panes in flats to full shopfront collapse after vehicle impacts. Our team has the know-how to adapt to unusual situations on-site.

  • DBS-checked, insured technicians
    All operatives attending your property are DBS-checked, uniformed where possible, and we hold full public liability insurance for your peace of mind.

  • Non-destructive approach, wherever possible
    We always aim to preserve frames and finishes, using existing fixing points and reversible methods first. When extra fixings are necessary, we explain why before proceeding.

  • Insurer-friendly documentation
    We understand that many customers will be claiming on their insurance. Our paperwork is clear, itemised and easy for insurers and loss adjusters to understand. You can also read more about our insurance support for boarding up in Twickenham.

  • 24/7, situation-led service
    Whether you’re dealing with burglary, storm damage or an isolated broken window, we tailor our response and materials to your situation rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.

If you have an unusual scenario not listed here, our general boarding up services in Twickenham page may help – or simply contact us and we’ll talk it through.

What Happens Next?

Wherever you are in Twickenham or the wider TW area, the steps to get help are simple:

  1. Get in touch

    • For urgent help, call 020 3772 7375 so we can respond quickly.
    • For non-urgent enquiries or planned works, you can also contact our Twickenham team online.

  2. Tell us the situation

    • What happened (burglary, vandalism, storm, fire, flood, accident)?
    • Which parts of the property are affected (front door, shopfront, bedroom window, rooflight)?
    • Are there any immediate risks (live electrics, children, pets, public pavement)?

  3. We give clear options

    • We’ll outline likely methods, such as plywood or OSB boarding, temporary steel doors or security screens.
    • We’ll discuss access (ladders or towers) and any special considerations like shared entrances or busy pavements.

  4. Attendance & securing

    • We attend with the right materials and access equipment.
    • We secure your property and leave you with paperwork suitable for insurers.

  5. Follow-up support

    • If you later need glazing replaced, longer-term vacant property security or further advice, we’re happy to help or refer you.
    • You can read more about typical costs and factors on our boarding up prices in Twickenham page.

For emergency, out-of-hours incidents, you may also want to see our dedicated page for 24/7 emergency boarding up in Twickenham.

FAQs About Different Boarding Up Situations

What should I do first if my window is smashed?

Make sure everyone is safe, keep children and pets away from the area, and avoid touching large shards of glass. If the damage is linked to a crime or anti-social behaviour, contact the police and obtain a reference number. Then call us to arrange emergency window boarding; we’ll advise what to do until we arrive.

Who do I call if my shop window is smashed late at night?

You can call us directly for out-of-hours shopfront boarding. If it’s criminal damage, also notify the police and your alarm monitoring company if you have one. We routinely secure shops and commercial premises at night across Twickenham, Richmond and nearby TW postcodes.

Can you help me secure my home after a break-in?

Yes. We regularly secure properties after break-ins in Twickenham. We can board up and secure broken doors and windows, fit a temporary secure door and provide photos and an itemised invoice to support your insurance claim. Our post-burglary boarding up page explains the process in more detail.

How long does it take to board up a property?

It depends on how many openings are damaged, their size and the access required (especially upstairs windows or roof lights). A single standard window can often be boarded in under an hour once we’re on site. Larger shopfronts or multiple floors will naturally take longer. We work efficiently while keeping safety and a neat finish as priorities.

Is boarding up covered by insurance?

In many cases, insurers do cover emergency securing after an insured event such as burglary, storm, fire or flood, but every policy is different. We recommend checking your policy or speaking to your insurer. We provide insurance-ready paperwork and photos as standard, and you can read more on our insurance support page.

Do you always have to drill into frames?

No. We focus on non-destructive securing wherever possible, using existing fixing points or framing to minimise additional holes or marks. In some situations – for example, when frames are badly damaged or missing – we may need to use additional fixings into brick or sound timber. We will always explain this before we proceed.

Need help now?
For burglary, vandalism, storm, fire, flood or accidental damage, we’re here 24/7.
Call 020 3772 7375 or Email us.

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