Insurance Claims Support for Boarding Up in Ilford (IG)

When something goes wrong—break-in, vandalism, storm damage, or an accident—the insurance side can feel almost as stressful as the damage itself. If you need boarding up in Ilford and you’re also thinking, “Will my insurer cover this?”, we can help you take the next practical steps.

We’re Boarding Up Ilford, covering IG1–IG11, with 10+ years trading, fully insured, and DBS-checked technicians. We’re not loss adjusters and we can’t approve claims—but we can make the property safe and provide the documentation insurers typically ask for.

Need urgent help first? Call 020 4634 8292 (out of hours available) or email us.

What we can (and can’t) do for insurance claims

What we can do

  • Make safe your property quickly to reduce further loss (e.g., board up a broken window, secure a forced door, protect a damaged shopfront).
  • Provide time-stamped photos of the secured openings (before/after where safe and possible).
  • Provide an itemised invoice and a clear work statement describing what was done, where, and why.
  • Talk you through the options and trade-offs (plywood vs OSB, internal vs external fixing, temporary steel door vs boarded opening).

What we can’t do

  • We can’t guarantee an insurer will pay or confirm coverage on their behalf.
  • We don’t assess total loss or structural safety beyond obvious access and fixing limitations.
  • We don’t handle remediation (e.g., smoke/odour cleaning after fire, or full drying after flood). We secure the building so other trades can work safely.

If you’re unsure what you need right now, start with emergency boarding up and we’ll guide you on the phone.

The goal: secure the property and protect your claim

Insurers typically expect you to take “reasonable steps” to prevent further damage. That’s where emergency boarding up and temporary security measures help:

  • A smashed window left open can lead to weather damage and repeat entry.
  • A boarded-up door can stabilise access until a full replacement is arranged.
  • A shopfront boarded up can help protect stock and reduce business interruption risks.

Our job is to secure property quickly and leave a clear paper trail of the work completed.

To understand the basics of the service itself, see: what is boarding up?

What you should do before we arrive (if it’s safe)

If you’re dealing with a break-in or criminal damage, your safety comes first.

  1. Call the police if needed and get a crime reference number (or incident number).
  2. Take a few photos of the damage only if it’s safe—wide shots and close-ups help.
  3. Do not touch broken glass or disturbed items (especially after burglary).
  4. If it’s a commercial site, secure staff and customers away from the opening.
  5. If you can, find your policy details and insurer contact number for later.

If you need help tonight or out of hours, call: 020 4634 8292.

What we provide for insurers (documentation you can pass on)

After we complete temporary boarding or security works, we can provide:

  • Time-stamped photos showing the secured opening(s)
  • Itemised invoice (materials + labour shown clearly)
  • Work statement describing:
    • what was damaged (e.g., ground-floor window, rear door, shopfront glazing)
    • what temporary measures were installed
    • the fixing method used (e.g., anti-tamper fixings where appropriate)
    • any access limitations or safety notes we encountered

If the frame or surrounding structure is too damaged for non-destructive fixing, we’ll explain the options before proceeding. We aim to be transparent because it affects both security and claim paperwork.

How our boarding-up work supports your claim (practical detail)

Insurers generally want to know what you did to prevent further loss. We focus on security, stability, and clear documentation.

Materials we commonly use (and why)

  • 18mm exterior-grade plywood for most windows/doors where robust protection is needed
  • 12mm OSB for smaller openings or lower-risk areas where appropriate

We choose materials based on opening size, exposure to weather, and whether the property will be left unattended.

For more detail on methods, see:

Fixing methods: security matters

Where suitable, we use anti-tamper fixings because they’re significantly harder to remove from outside—important if the building is empty or the incident was targeted.

In some cases (e.g., badly split frames or fragile masonry), we may recommend alternative approaches such as a temporary steel door rather than relying on boarding alone.

Common insurance-related situations we attend in Ilford & the IG area

We regularly get calls after:

Working with landlords, tenants, and managing agents

Insurance claims often involve multiple parties. We’re used to dealing with:

  • Landlords needing vacant property security or between-tenancy make-safe
  • Tenants needing urgent securing while the landlord/agent is contacted
  • Managing agents arranging access, keys, and documentation for portfolios

If you’re managing a void, consider: vacant property boarding

For domestic settings, see: residential boarding up
For retail/office sites, see: commercial boarding up

Coverage: Ilford and across IG1–IG11

We cover Ilford and the wider IG postcode area, including nearby districts such as IG1, IG2, IG3, IG4, IG5, IG6, IG7, IG8, IG9, IG10, and IG11.

If you’re looking for a local page, you may find these helpful:

How the process works (and what to tell your insurer)

1) Call us with the essentials

Call 020 4634 8292 and tell us:

  • address and IG postcode
  • what’s damaged (window, door, shopfront, rooflight)
  • whether the property is occupied or vacant
  • any immediate hazards (loose glass, exposed edges, unsafe access)

We don’t quote fixed arrival times because conditions vary, but we’ll give you a realistic ETA on the phone and prioritise urgent risks.

2) We make safe and secure the opening

We assess the opening, choose the right sheet size and fixing method, and install temporary boarding or alternative security (e.g., temporary steel door where suitable).

3) We provide paperwork you can forward to the insurer

You’ll receive photos, an itemised invoice, and a work statement—useful for claims and for follow-on repairs.

FAQs – Insurance claims & boarding up in Ilford

Will my insurance cover emergency boarding up?

Often, emergency measures are covered under buildings or commercial policies, but it depends on your policy terms and excess. We recommend contacting your insurer as soon as practical and keeping copies of our invoice and photos for your claim.

Do you provide receipts and proper invoices for insurance?

Yes. We provide an itemised invoice and a work statement, and we can supply time-stamped photos of the make-safe work.

What details should I give my insurer after a smashed window?

Typically: the date/time of the incident, how it happened (if known), your police reference number (if relevant), photos of the damage, and confirmation the property was secured (with our documents attached).

Can you board up my window tonight (out of hours)?

We can attend out of hours for urgent situations where you need to secure property immediately. Call 020 4634 8292 and we’ll advise and provide a realistic ETA.

I’ve had a break-in—should I wait for the insurer before boarding up?

Usually, no. Leaving the property exposed risks further damage and repeat entry. If safe, take a few photos first, note your police incident number, then arrange emergency boarding up. Insurers commonly expect “reasonable steps” to prevent further loss.

Can you work if the door frame is damaged or the surrounding area is unsafe?

Sometimes. If the frame is too compromised for secure fixing, we’ll explain what is and isn’t possible and discuss alternatives (like a temporary steel door) before we proceed.

Do you handle the full repair or replacement after the board-up?

We focus on make-safe and temporary security. We can advise what a follow-on contractor will likely need to address (frames, glazing, door sets), but the permanent repair is typically handled by a glazier, locksmith, or builder.

What if the property is vacant while the claim is ongoing?

That’s common. In that case, we’ll discuss more robust options like enhanced boarding, anti-tamper fixings, or longer-term solutions depending on risk and access. See: vacant property boarding

Do you cover all of Ilford and the IG postcodes?

Yes—Ilford and surrounding IG1–IG11. If you’re unsure, call and we’ll confirm.

Need insurance-friendly boarding up documentation?

If your property has a smashed window, a forced door, or a damaged shopfront and you need to make safe and document the work clearly for your insurer, we can help.

Ready to get started? Call 020 4634 8292 or email us for a free, no-obligation quote.