Accident Damage Boarding Up in Ilford (IG) — Secure Your Property After Impact
Accident damage is disruptive, stressful, and often happens with little warning — a vehicle clipping a garden wall and taking out a window, a delivery mishap cracking a shopfront pane, or a heavy object impacting a door panel. If your property in Ilford has been left exposed, our priority is simple: make safe, secure the opening, and help you move forward with the documentation your insurer typically needs.
If you need urgent help to board up a broken window, board up a door, or secure a smashed window out of hours, call us now: Call 020 4634 8292.
We cover Ilford and the IG postcode area (IG1–IG11) with 10+ years trading, fully insured service, and DBS-checked technicians.
When accident damage happens (and why boarding up matters)
“Accident damage” covers any unexpected impact that compromises your building’s security or weather protection. In Ilford and across the IG area, common call-outs include:
- Vehicle impacts into walls, bays, doors, garage frames, or low-level shop glazing
- Accidental breakage during removals, building works, or deliveries
- Falling objects (branches, loose materials) causing cracks or holes
- Internal impacts where glass panels shatter and leave sharp edges and an unsecured opening
Even if the damage looks “small”, a cracked pane can fail later, and a broken frame can leave your property vulnerable. Boarding up is often the fastest way to:
- secure property against opportunist entry
- prevent further damage from wind and rain
- keep the site safe for residents, staff, or passers-by
- stabilise an opening until glazing, joinery, or masonry repairs are arranged
If you’re unsure whether you need temporary boarding or a more robust solution, call and we’ll talk it through. We’ll give you a realistic ETA on the phone — we don’t promise fixed arrival times because conditions and workload vary, but urgent “make safe” jobs are prioritised.
Need emergency boarding up in Ilford now?
Call 020 4634 8292
First steps after accident damage (before we arrive)
If it’s safe to do so, these actions can make the situation easier and support any insurance claim later:
- Check for injuries and hazards first. If there’s danger from sharp glass, exposed wiring, or unstable masonry, keep people away.
- If the incident involves a vehicle or suspected offence, contact police and keep any reference number.
- Take photos of the damage (wide shots and close-ups) before anything is moved — only if safe.
- Avoid clearing glass that could be evidence if police are involved.
- Call your insurer early if you plan to claim. We’re not loss adjusters, but we can provide the paperwork insurers typically request.
Then call us for practical help securing the building.
What we do: make safe and secure the opening
Accident damage often creates awkward, irregular openings — cracked frames, torn hinges, bent shopfront rails, or holes where the surrounding structure is compromised. Our approach is to secure the property without making later repairs harder than they need to be.
1) Rapid assessment on arrival
We’ll inspect:
- the size and position of the opening (ground floor, upper floor, rear access, etc.)
- frame condition (timber/uPVC/aluminium) and whether it’s safe to fix into
- glass hazards and immediate risks to occupants or public
- whether boarding needs to be internally fixed, externally fixed, or both
If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain the options before proceeding.
2) Choosing the right material (and why)
Depending on the situation, we typically use:
- 18mm exterior-grade plywood for stronger security and better resistance to impact and weather
- 12mm OSB for smaller openings or lower-risk temporary boarding requirements
We’ll select board thickness and fixing method based on security risk, exposure to weather, and how long the property is likely to remain unattended.
3) Fixing methods that prioritise security
We use appropriate fixings for the substrate and scenario, including anti-tamper fixings where needed. The aim is to prevent removal from outside — especially important if:
- the property is vacant
- the opening faces a public area
- the incident has drawn attention and there’s a higher risk of repeat damage
Where required, we can also discuss more robust medium-term options such as temporary steel doors or steel security screens for repeat-risk or void properties (more on that below).
4) Making the site safe
We’ll help reduce immediate hazards by:
- boarding to contain broken edges where practical
- advising on safe access/egress routes
- leaving the area stable and secure until permanent repairs are arranged
We’re here to secure the property — smoke/odour remediation after fire is outside our scope, and we don’t undertake structural rebuilding as part of boarding up. If there are signs of structural instability, we’ll advise you to involve the appropriate professionals before reoccupation.
Which boarding-up service is right after accident damage?
Accident damage can affect windows, doors, shopfronts, roofs, and side access points. Below are the most common solutions we provide in Ilford.
Window damage: smashed, cracked, or missing glazing
If you need to board up a broken window after impact, we can board over the opening to keep the property secure and weather-resistant.
Learn more about the approach and options on our window boarding in Ilford page.
Urgent smashed window? Call 020 4634 8292
Door damage: forced hinges, split frames, or broken panels
Accidents can shear hinges, buckle door frames, or smash glazed panels in entrance doors. If you need to board up a door or the door won’t close safely, we’ll secure it and discuss whether a stronger temporary solution is needed.
Shopfront damage: impact cracks or shattered commercial glazing
Retail and commercial sites often need fast action to protect stock, maintain safety, and satisfy landlord or facilities requirements. If you need a shopfront boarded up, we can secure the opening in a way that suits the risk level and site layout.
See: shopfront boarding in Ilford
Rooflights / overhead openings
Where accident damage has affected roof glazing, skylights, or overhead panels, access and weatherproofing become the priority. We can secure roof-level openings where safe access is possible.
Temporary steel doors and longer-term security options (when boarding isn’t enough)
Plywood boarding is often the fastest immediate answer. But after certain incidents — especially when the door frame is compromised or the property will be vacant — you may need something more robust.
We may recommend:
- Temporary steel doors for repeated access needs (contractors, insurers, surveyors) while keeping security high
- Security screens for voids or properties at higher risk of repeat entry attempts
If you’re managing a vacant unit, also see: boarding up for vacant property
What you receive for insurance and property records
After an accident, admin can be almost as stressful as the damage. We help by providing clear, practical documentation commonly requested by insurers and property managers:
- Time-stamped photos of the damage and the secured boarding
- Itemised invoice detailing labour and materials
- Work statement describing what was done and why (make-safe and security measures)
For more guidance on the claims process, visit insurance claims support. We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisers, but we can help you keep your paperwork tidy and consistent.
What happens when you call (3 simple steps)
-
Tell us what’s happened
What’s damaged (window/door/shopfront/roof), whether anyone is on site, and whether the property will be left unattended. -
We give a realistic plan and ETA
We prioritise urgent calls and aim to attend as quickly as possible. Arrival times vary by traffic, time of day, and current workload — we’ll be honest about what’s achievable. -
We make safe, secure, and document
We board up, fit the appropriate fixings, and provide photos and paperwork for your records/insurer.
To get started: Call 020 4634 8292 or email us.
Accident damage in Ilford: practical considerations we plan for
Properties across Ilford and the wider IG area include a mix of family homes, flats above shops, and busy commercial frontages. That often affects how we approach an accident make-safe:
- Access and parking: some sites have limited stopping space, so we plan for efficient loading/unloading
- Flats above shops: boarding may need careful placement to protect entrances and shared areas
- High-footfall areas: we focus on safety, visibility, and secure fixing methods
- Rear access: where the rear is exposed after an impact, we prioritise securing less-visible entry points too
If there’s anything unusual (gated access, alleyway entry, concierge, site rules), mention it when you call.
Typical scenario (what we often see after an impact)
If a vehicle clips a front wall and cracks a ground-floor window, the glass can spider and collapse hours later. In that situation, we’d usually:
- board the opening with appropriately sized sheet material
- use fixings suited to the frame/substrate and the risk level
- aim to leave the property secure and as weather-tight as practical
- provide time-stamped photos and an itemised invoice for insurance
Every incident is different — especially where frames are twisted or masonry has shifted — so we’ll assess on arrival and explain the safest approach.
FAQs — accident damage boarding up in Ilford
How quickly can you attend after accident damage?
We prioritise urgent make-safe calls and aim to attend as quickly as possible, including out of hours. We don’t quote guaranteed arrival times because workload and conditions vary, but when you call we’ll give you a realistic ETA.
Can you board up a smashed window tonight?
Yes — if you need emergency boarding up for a smashed window in Ilford or across IG postcodes, call 020 4634 8292. We’ll advise what to do until we arrive and attend as soon as we can.
Do you secure doors as well as windows?
Yes. We can board up a door, secure damaged frames, and advise if a temporary steel door is more suitable for medium-term security. See door boarding in Ilford.
Is boarding up covered by insurance after an accident?
Often it can be, but it depends on your policy and circumstances. We provide time-stamped photos, an itemised invoice, and a work statement to support your claim. More guidance: insurance claims support.
What if the frame is too damaged to fix boards securely?
If the frame/substrate won’t hold fixings safely, we’ll explain the options before proceeding. Sometimes that means fixing to surrounding solid structure or discussing a different security method depending on the damage.
Can you board up shopfront glass after a delivery or vehicle impact?
Yes — we regularly secure commercial glazing and can arrange a shopfront boarded up solution that protects staff, customers, and stock. See shopfront boarding in Ilford.
Will boarding prevent rain getting in?
Boarding is designed to secure the opening and reduce exposure. We aim to make it as weather-resistant as practical, but severe damage or irregular openings can limit what’s possible without more extensive repair work.
Do you cover my area within Ilford and the IG postcodes?
Yes. We cover Ilford and surrounding IG districts (IG1–IG11). If you’re not sure, check areas we cover or call and we’ll confirm.
I’m in a block of flats — can you still make safe the window/door?
Yes. Access and permissions can vary in flats; tell us about entry systems, floor level, and any building management requirements when you call so we can plan appropriately.
Need help now?
If your property has been damaged by an impact and you need to secure property fast — whether it’s a board up broken window, a board up door, or a shopfront boarded up after an incident — we can help.
Need help now? Call 020 4634 8292 for immediate assistance.
Or email: info@boarding-up-ilford.co.uk
