Boarding Up Services in Romford (RM) – Emergency & Planned Property Securing

When a window is smashed, a door has been forced, or a shopfront has been damaged, you need a practical way to secure the property quickly and safely. We provide boarding up services in Romford and across the RM postcodes, helping homeowners, landlords, shop owners and facilities teams make safe an opening and reduce the risk of further loss.

We’ve been trading for 10+ years, we’re fully insured, and our technicians are DBS-checked. If you need urgent help, head straight to our emergency boarding up page or call 01708 973 306.

When you might need boarding up (and what it achieves)

Boarding up is usually required after an unexpected incident, but it’s also used for planned security on void or at-risk properties. The aim is to:

Prevent opportunistic entry after damage
Make the opening weather-resistant (where possible) to reduce water ingress
Reduce hazards from broken glass or insecure frames
Provide documentation that insurers and property managers typically ask for

Common triggers include burglary attempts, vandalism, storms, vehicle impacts, and fire damage. If you’re dealing with an incident right now, these situation guides may help:

Our core boarding up services in Romford

Below is an overview of what we do day to day across Romford and the wider RM area. Each service links to a dedicated page with more detail.

Window boarding

If you need to board up a broken window (from a cracked pane to a fully smashed window), we can secure the opening using appropriate sheet material and fixings.

Typical approach (varies by site and damage):

Measuring and cutting boards to suit the reveal/opening
Using 18mm exterior-grade plywood for many ground-floor openings and higher-risk locations
Using 12mm OSB in some smaller or lower-risk situations (when suitable)
Selecting fixings to match the substrate and minimise further damage where possible
Using anti-tamper fixings when the board must resist removal from outside (especially if the property will be unattended)

Door boarding up & temporary security

A damaged or forced door is high risk—if the frame is compromised, simply “closing it” often doesn’t restore security. We’ll assess whether boarding is appropriate, or whether a more robust temporary solution is needed.

Depending on the scenario, we can:

Board up a door opening to prevent access
Stabilise around damaged frames (where safe and feasible)
Install temporary steel doors for medium-term security on vacant or high-risk properties

If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain the options before proceeding.

Shopfront boarding (commercial glazing & retail units)

A damaged shopfront is stressful—especially if it’s happened out of hours and you need to protect stock and premises quickly. Shopfront boarding usually involves larger panels, higher footfall locations, and practical site considerations like shutters, signage, and safe access.

We commonly help with:

Shopfront glazing damage and forced entry attempts
Temporary boarding to reduce risk until replacement glazing is fitted
Make-safe work to remove immediate hazards (where safe to do so)

Roof, skylight & overhead opening boarding

Storms, slipped materials, or impact can leave openings overhead that allow water ingress and present safety hazards. Roof-level work needs careful judgement around access and conditions.

We can assist with:

Boarding/covering roof lights and skylight openings (where appropriate)
Temporary measures to reduce weather exposure
Coordinating access requirements with you (or a responsible person on site)

Important: if it’s not safe to access due to height, weather, or structural concerns, we’ll tell you plainly and discuss alternatives.

Temporary fencing (site security & perimeter control)

When a boundary is compromised—after impact damage, works, or repeated trespass—temporary fencing can reduce access while you arrange permanent repairs.

Materials & methods (what we use and why)

Boarding up isn’t “one board fits all”. The right method depends on opening size, substrate, height, and the risk of further attack.

We typically consider:

Sheet material: exterior-grade plywood or OSB, selected by opening size and risk
Fixings: chosen to suit brick, timber, masonry or frames; we avoid unnecessary damage where possible
Anti-tamper approach: important for empty properties and exposed locations
Ventilation & safety: in some situations (especially after water ingress), you may need controlled ventilation—boarding can be configured accordingly where feasible

If you’re unsure what you need, our what is boarding up guide explains the basics in plain English.

What to expect when you call (emergency or planned)

Whether it’s an urgent request or planned securing, the process is straightforward.

We take details on the phone
We’ll ask what’s happened, what’s damaged (window, door, shopfront, roof), whether the property is occupied, and any access constraints.
We give you a realistic ETA and approach
We don’t promise fixed arrival times—conditions vary—but we prioritise urgent calls and will be honest about what we can do today.
We secure the opening and document the work
Once on site, we’ll confirm the method before starting and talk you through any limitations (for example, if the frame is too unstable to fix into safely).

If you need help right now, use our 24/7 boarding up page for the fastest route to assistance.

Insurance documentation & practical admin (what you’ll receive)

We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisors, but we know what insurers and property managers usually ask for after emergency make-safe work. Where applicable, we can provide:

Time-stamped photos of the damaged area and completed boarding
Itemised invoice for the work carried out
A brief work statement describing materials used and how the opening was secured

Tip: If it’s safe, take your own photos before we arrive and keep any police reference number to hand (for burglary/vandalism incidents).

More guidance: insurance claims support

Residential, commercial & vacant property boarding up

Different properties need different thinking—especially around access, occupancy and risk.

Residential homes and flats: we focus on safe make-safe and clear communication, especially if you’re dealing with a break-in or accidental damage.
See: residential boarding up
Commercial premises: we’re used to shopfronts, rear service doors and multi-tenant buildings where access and responsibility can be unclear—documentation matters.
See: commercial boarding up
Vacant/void properties: higher risk of repeat entry. Depending on timescales, you may want more robust options than short-term boarding.
See: vacant property boarding up

Areas we cover (Romford & RM postcodes)

We cover Romford and the wider RM area (RM1–RM20 and surrounding districts depending on the job). If you’re searching for “boarding up near me” in the RM postcodes, start here:

areas we cover
Local pages include: boarding up Romford RM1, boarding up Gidea Park RM2, boarding up Harold Hill RM3, boarding up Collier Row RM5, boarding up Hornchurch RM11, and more.

FAQs about boarding up services in Romford

Do you offer emergency boarding up in Romford?

Yes—urgent calls are a core part of what we do. For the fastest help, use our emergency boarding up page and call 01708 973 306.

Can you board up a broken window the same day?

Often, yes—especially for urgent make-safe. Availability depends on time of day and workload. If you call, we’ll give you a realistic ETA.

Will boarding up stop rain and draughts completely?

Boarding helps reduce exposure, but it’s not a perfect substitute for proper glazing or joinery repair. We’ll aim for a secure, weather-resistant fit where the opening and surrounding frame allow it.

What if the frame is too damaged to fix boards safely?

We’ll tell you on site and explain the options before proceeding. In some cases a different fixing method or a temporary steel door (for door openings) is more appropriate.

Do you work with landlords and managing agents?

Yes. We regularly help landlords, property managers and facilities teams with both emergency and planned securing, including documentation for audit and insurance.

Is boarding up covered by insurance?

Often it is, particularly as an emergency “make safe” measure after burglary, vandalism, storm or impact damage—but policies vary. We can provide photos and an itemised invoice to support your claim. See: insurance claims support

Ready to book a boarding up service?

If you need immediate assistance, call now. If it’s planned work, we can still help—tell us what you’re securing and the timeframe.

Need help now? Call 01708 973 306 for immediate assistance.
Or email: [email protected]

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