What Is Boarding Up?

Boarding up is the process of using strong timber or steel panels to temporarily secure damaged or vulnerable openings in a property – such as broken windows, doors, shopfronts, roofs and skylights – so your building is safe, weather-tight and protected from intruders.

Across Twickenham and the wider SW and TW postcode areas, boarding up is most often used after a break‑in, vandalism, storm or accident, but it is also common for vacant properties and during building works.

If you’re reading this because something has just happened, you may prefer to go straight to our 24/7 emergency boarding up service or contact our Twickenham team for immediate help.

When You Need Boarding Up

You typically need boarding up when glass, frames or doors are broken, missing or unsafe, or when a property is left empty and needs securing. Common situations in Twickenham, Richmond, Teddington and nearby include:

  • Burglary or attempted break‑in (doors kicked in, windows forced)
  • Vandalism or criminal damage to windows or shopfronts
  • Storm damage, fallen trees or wind‑blown debris
  • Fire damage, where glass has cracked or blown out
  • Vehicle impact to a home, shopfront or boundary wall
  • Flood or water damage leaving frames swollen and not closing properly
  • Securing a vacant or void property before or during refurbishment

Some typical signs you might need emergency boarding up and securing:

  • Broken or missing window panes, especially at street level
  • External doors that no longer lock or close properly
  • Cracked or hanging glass that could fall at any moment
  • Skylights or roof lights damaged, leaving the roof exposed
  • A property that will be empty for days or weeks and easy to enter

If this sounds familiar, you may want to look at:

Boarding up is a temporary solution, but it’s an important first step to:

  • Keep you, your family, staff or tenants safe
  • Stop further damage from weather or intruders
  • Satisfy insurer expectations for “emergency property securing”
  • Give you breathing space to arrange permanent repairs or glazing

How We Secure Your Property

Although every job is slightly different, the boarding up process follows a clear, safe method. Our goal is non-destructive securing wherever possible, meaning we protect frames and finishes so permanent repairs are easier and cheaper later.

1. Initial Assessment and Safety Check

On arrival, our DBS‑checked technicians:

  • Make the area safe (cordon off broken glass, check for loose masonry)
  • Assess the opening: size, height, type of frame and surrounding structure
  • Identify any hazards (live electrics near water, fire damage, unstable brickwork)
  • Agree the plan with you before starting work

Where there is structural damage (for example after a vehicle impact), we’ll explain clearly if a full structural engineer or builder is needed before complete boarding up.

2. Choosing the Right Boarding Materials

We typically use:

  • Exterior‑grade plywood – strong, durable, ideal for doors and shopfronts
  • OSB (oriented strand board) – widely used for window boarding and general openings

Board thickness is usually:

  • 11–12 mm for small to medium windows
  • 18 mm+ for doors, shopfronts and high‑risk areas

For most homes and small commercial units in Twickenham, this strikes the right balance between strength, security and weight.

For higher‑risk or longer‑term security (such as empty shops or repeatedly targeted sites), we may recommend:

  • Temporary steel doors to replace a compromised entrance
  • Steel security screens (Sitex‑style or anti‑vandal security screens) over windows

These solutions are popular for vacant property boarding in Twickenham and some commercial properties.

3. Anti‑Tamper Fixings and Non‑Destructive Methods

We fix boards using methods designed to resist casual attack:

  • Anti‑tamper fixings – special screws or bolts designed so they can’t be easily removed from the outside
  • Timber framing or battens – where possible, boards are clamped to internal timbers rather than screwed directly into window frames
  • Non‑destructive securing – we avoid drilling into uPVC frames, stone sills or decorative joinery unless there is no safe alternative

Where we do need to screw into a frame or wall (often after severe damage, fire, or where nothing solid is left to clamp onto), we:

  • Explain why it’s necessary
  • Keep fixings to the minimum needed for safety and security
  • Position screws sensibly to make later repair as straightforward as possible

4. Weatherproofing and Finishing Touches

A key part of boarding up is temporary weatherproofing:

  • Overlapping boards to shed water away from the opening
  • Using sealant or temporary flashing tape for roof/rooflight boarding
  • Ensuring no sharp edges or protruding fixings are left at reachable height

For roof and skylight damage, we can provide roof and skylight boarding in Twickenham and work alongside your roofer where needed.

5. Insurer‑Friendly Documentation

Most insurers expect you to secure your property quickly. We help by providing:

  • Time‑stamped photos of damage and the completed boarding
  • An itemised invoice clearly stating labour, materials and emergency attendance
  • A brief work statement summarising what we did and why

You can read more on our dedicated page about insurance support for boarding up in Twickenham.

Why Choose Our Boarding Up Specialists in Twickenham?

Choosing the right boarding up contractors matters. You need a team that makes your property safe without causing unnecessary extra damage or cost.

Local, Mobile and Available 24/7

  • Based in and around Twickenham, covering all TW and SW postcodes
  • Regular work in Twickenham, Whitton, Teddington, Hampton, Richmond, Isleworth and nearby
  • 24/7 availability for emergency boarding up and out‑of‑hours securing

If you need help right now, go straight to our 24/7 emergency boarding up in Twickenham page.

10+ Years’ Experience with All Property Types

We routinely secure:

  • Family homes and flats – see residential boarding up in Twickenham
  • Shops, cafés, salons, offices and light industrial units
  • Vacant and void properties for landlords, estate agents and local organisations

Over the years we’ve boarded everything from period sash windows in St Margarets to modern glazed shopfronts on Twickenham High Street, always focusing on safety, security and neat workmanship.

Insured, Vetted and Professional

  • Public liability insurance for your peace of mind
  • DBS‑checked technicians for boarding up in occupied homes and sensitive sites
  • Clear explanations before we start work – no pushy sales, no hidden extras

Wherever possible we offer non‑destructive securing, and we always aim to leave the area clean and tidy, removing loose glass and waste from our work.

Designed with Insurers and Follow‑On Trades in Mind

Because we frequently work after burglaries, vandalism and storm damage, we understand what insurers and follow‑on trades (glaziers, builders, roofers) need:

  • Boards installed so glazing can be refitted without unnecessary rework
  • Access left where needed for fire or insurance inspections
  • Clear, itemised paperwork to support your claim

You can check typical cost factors on our page about boarding up prices in Twickenham.

What Happens Next?

If you think you may need your property boarded up, the usual process is simple:

  1. Get in touch
    Call us or contact our Twickenham team with a brief description of what’s happened, including:

    • Type of property (house, flat, shop, office, vacant)
    • What’s damaged (window, door, shopfront, roof, skylight)
    • Location and floor level (ground floor, first floor, etc.)

  2. We ask a few quick questions
    We may ask for photos by email to confirm the best approach and materials. Based on this we explain:

    • How we propose to secure the property
    • Any access considerations (ladders, towers, difficult rear access)
    • Estimated timescale for attendance, depending on urgency

  3. On‑site securing and clean‑up
    When we arrive, we:

    • Make the area safe and remove loose glass
    • Board up and secure the affected openings
    • Check for any obvious additional vulnerabilities

  4. Paperwork for your records and insurer
    After the work, you receive:

    • An itemised invoice for materials and labour
    • A short work summary (e.g. “emergency window boarding after break‑in”)
    • Photos on request, ready to forward to your insurer

If you’re comparing options, you can find more detail about the specific services we offer on our boarding up services in Twickenham page, and see how costs are typically built up on our boarding up prices page.

FAQs

What exactly is “non-destructive securing”?

Non‑destructive securing means we avoid drilling into or damaging your existing frames, walls and finishes unless it’s absolutely necessary for safety.
Where possible we clamp boards using internal timbers or existing strong points. This keeps future glazing, door replacement or decoration simpler and cheaper.

How long does it take to board up a property?

For a single window or door, boarding up is usually completed in under an hour on site once we start work.
Larger shopfronts, multiple windows or high‑level work can take longer. The priority is always to make the property safe and secure as efficiently as possible.

Is boarding up covered by insurance?

Many home and business policies do cover reasonable emergency securing after events like burglary, vandalism or storm damage, but every policy is different.
We can provide insurance‑ready paperwork and photos to support your claim, but we’re not loss adjusters and can’t give legal or financial advice. You can read more under insurance support for boarding up in Twickenham.

Do you remove the boards later?

Yes, we can return to remove our boarding once your permanent glazing or doors are ready, or your roofer has repaired the roof. Some customers have their glazier remove the boards as part of their work; either way, we can advise on the simplest option when we attend.

Can you help if my shop window is smashed at night?

Yes. We regularly carry out out‑of‑hours boarding up for shops, cafés and commercial units along Twickenham, Teddington and Richmond high streets.
We quickly board and secure the opening so you can trade again safely, and we can coordinate with your glazier for later shopfront boarding and glass replacement if needed.

What should I do before you arrive?

If it’s safe to do so:

  • Keep people and pets away from broken glass and damaged areas
  • Avoid touching any sharp edges or leaning on damaged frames
  • If a crime has occurred, contact the police and make a note of your reference number
  • Turn off electrics in affected rooms if there is water or obvious fire damage

We’ll take care of the rest when we get there.

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

Helpful links