What Is Boarding Up? (A Practical Guide for Ilford & the IG Postcodes)

Boarding up is a temporary way to secure a damaged or vulnerable opening—most commonly a window, door, shopfront, or rooflight—using strong sheet materials and robust fixings. If you’ve had a smashed window, a forced entry, or storm damage, boarding up helps you make safe the property quickly, reduce the risk of further damage, and keep people out until repairs can be completed.

At Boarding Up Ilford, we provide boarding up services across Ilford and the IG postcodes (IG1–IG11). If you need urgent help, see our emergency boarding up page or call Call 020 4634 8292.

When is boarding up needed?

People often search “board up broken window” in a hurry—usually because something has just happened and they need the property secured fast. Boarding up can be appropriate after:

Boarding up is also used for vacant or void properties while awaiting sale, probate, refurbishment, or new tenants—often with longer-term options like steel screens or temporary steel doors. If that’s your situation, see vacant property security.

What does “make safe” actually mean?

“Make safe” is the practical part: reducing immediate risk and securing the building. That might include:

  • Covering a smashed window so nobody can climb in or be cut by remaining glass
  • Securing a boarded-up door opening after a forced entry
  • Protecting a shopfront so stock and fittings aren’t exposed overnight
  • Boarding a roof opening or skylight to reduce water ingress and hazards

It’s important to be honest about scope: boarding up is about security and temporary weather protection. It is not a substitute for full repairs, and it won’t “restore” a damaged frame or glazing system. It buys you time—safely.

How boarding up works (materials and methods)

There isn’t one single method that fits every property. A ground-floor sash window, a rear uPVC door, and a commercial shopfront each need different approaches.

Common boarding materials

  • 18mm exterior-grade plywood
    A strong, reliable choice for many window and door openings. Often used where the property may be unattended or security risk is higher.

  • OSB (Oriented Strand Board), typically 12mm for smaller openings
    A cost-effective option for temporary boarding in some scenarios. Suitable where the opening is smaller or risk is lower (we’ll advise).

Material choice depends on: opening size, exposure to weather, security risk, and how long the boarding is likely to stay in place.

Fixings: why anti-tamper matters

For many jobs, we use anti-tamper fixings or methods that reduce the chance of removal from outside. This is especially important if:

  • The property is vacant
  • The opening is at street level
  • There has already been a burglary/vandalism incident

Where possible, we aim for secure fixing that balances security with minimising unnecessary damage. If the surrounding frame is too compromised for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain the options before proceeding.

Ventilation and safety considerations

Boarding up needs to be secure, but the property also needs to remain safe. Depending on the situation, we may discuss:

  • Whether some ventilation is required (common after flood damage, for example)
  • Safe access routes for occupants or contractors
  • How to avoid creating hazards (sharp glass, unstable frames, loose debris)

What can be boarded up?

Boarding up isn’t just for windows. We regularly secure:

If you’re unsure what you need, you can also browse all services or contact us with photos (only if it’s safe to take them).

Boarding up vs temporary steel doors vs security screens

Not every property should be boarded with timber—especially if you need medium-term security.

Boarding up (plywood/OSB)

Best for:

  • Immediate make-safe after a break-in, accident, or smashed window
  • Short-term security while glazing/frames are being repaired
  • Many residential properties and straightforward openings

Trade-offs:

  • It’s temporary
  • Timber can be targeted if the property is left unattended long-term

Temporary steel doors

Best for:

  • Forced entry through a door where the frame is damaged
  • Empty properties where you need controlled access for trades
  • Situations where a boarded door would be awkward or unsafe to use

A temporary steel door can provide a more robust, practical solution while you arrange permanent repairs.

Steel security screens

Best for:

  • Longer-term void security
  • Repeated vandalism risk
  • Properties between tenants or under refurbishment

Screens are generally a longer-term solution than plywood boarding and can be part of a broader property security plan.

If you’d like guidance for your specific property type (residential vs commercial), see residential boarding and commercial boarding.

How long does boarding up last?

Boarding is intended to be temporary, but “temporary” can mean anything from a night to several weeks depending on:

  • Glazing lead times and specialist glass requirements
  • Structural/frame damage that needs carpentry before glazing
  • Insurance approval processes
  • Whether the property is occupied or vacant

If you tell us what’s happening on site, we’ll recommend the most sensible option—especially if the property might be unattended.

Is boarding up covered by insurance?

Often, emergency boarding up can be claimed as part of a wider claim (for example after burglary, vandalism, or storm damage). Policies vary, and we’re not loss adjusters or legal advisers, but we can help by providing the documentation insurers typically request.

We can supply:

  • Time-stamped photos of the damage and the completed boarding
  • An itemised invoice
  • A clear work statement describing what was done and why (e.g., “make safe after smashed window”)

For more guidance, read insurance claims support. If you’ve already reported the incident, keep your crime reference or incident number handy.

What happens when you call us?

If you need boarding up in Ilford or anywhere across IG1–IG11, we keep the process straightforward:

  1. Quick questions to understand the risk
    We’ll ask what’s damaged (window/door/shopfront/roof), whether anyone is inside, and whether the opening is exposed.

  2. A realistic ETA and clear plan
    We don’t promise fixed arrival times—traffic, job overruns, and the time of day can affect attendance—but we’ll prioritise urgent calls and tell you what’s realistic on the phone.

  3. Make safe, secure, and document the work
    We board up using appropriate materials and fixings, then provide photos and paperwork for your records/insurer.

For urgent situations, go to 24/7 emergency boarding up in Ilford or call 020 4634 8292.

What you can do right now (before we arrive)

If it’s safe and you’re not putting yourself at risk:

  • Keep people away from broken glass and unstable frames
  • Don’t touch shattered glazing—especially if it’s still partially in the frame
  • Take photos for your insurer (only if safe)
  • If a crime is involved, call the police first and keep the reference number
  • If weather is coming in, move valuables away from the opening if you can do so safely

If there’s immediate danger (loose glass, exposed wiring, structural instability), keep a safe distance and call for help.

FAQs about boarding up in Ilford

Is boarding up the same as replacing the window or door?

No. Boarding up is a temporary security and make-safe measure. Permanent repairs usually involve glazing replacement and/or frame repair by the relevant trades.

Can you board up a smashed window at night?

Yes—this is a common out of hours call-out. If you need emergency help tonight, use our emergency boarding up page and call 020 4634 8292.

Will boarding up damage my window frame?

It depends on the condition of the frame and the safest fixing method available. We aim to use methods that are secure while avoiding unnecessary damage. If the frame is already heavily damaged, we’ll explain what’s feasible before we proceed.

Can you board up a shopfront so we can close safely?

Yes. A shopfront boarded up properly helps protect stock and reduce risk to the public. Commercial sites often need larger panels and more robust fixings—see shopfront boarding.

How quickly should I get a broken window boarded up?

If the opening is accessible from outside or there’s exposed glass, it should be made safe as soon as possible to help secure the property and reduce further loss or injury risk.

Do you cover my area in the IG postcodes?

We cover Ilford and surrounding IG districts (IG1–IG11). You can also check areas we cover for local pages.

What paperwork will I get for my insurer?

Typically: time-stamped photos, an itemised invoice, and a work statement describing the make-safe measures. See insurance claims support for more detail.

Can you board up a rooflight or skylight?

Yes. Roof openings need careful access planning and weather considerations. Learn more on our roof boarding service page.

If you know what you need, these pages go deeper without the general overview:

Need help now? Call 020 4634 8292 for immediate assistance.
Or email: info@boarding-up-ilford.co.uk