Accident Damage Boarding Up in Romford (RM) — What to Do Next

Accident damage is one of those situations that can turn a normal day into a stressful one in minutes. If a vehicle hits a wall, a delivery goes through a shutter, or an internal impact breaks glazing, the priority is simple: make safe, secure the property, and reduce further loss.

At Boarding Up Romford, we provide emergency boarding up Romford and across the RM postcodes (RM1–RM50). If you’ve got a smashed window, a board up door situation, or an exposed shopfront, call us and we’ll talk you through the next steps and give you a realistic ETA.

Need help now? Call 01708 973 306 for immediate assistance.
If it’s not urgent, you can also email us.

When accident damage usually happens (and why boarding up matters)

“Accident damage” covers a wide range of incidents, including:

Vehicle impact into a wall, shopfront, garage door, or boundary structure
Accidental breakage of glazing (patio doors, bay windows, communal entrance panels)
Loading/unloading knocks to doors, frames, shutters, and storefront glass
Falling objects (tiles, branches, scaffolding poles) damaging windows or rooflights
Internal incidents where a door is forced off hinges or glass panels are broken

Even when the building looks “mostly fine”, the risk is often hidden in the details: a twisted frame, loose shards in a rebate, or cracked glazing that can fail later. If the property will be unattended—or if the opening is accessible from the street—temporary boarding is often the safest immediate option.

Common reasons people call us after an accident:

To secure property quickly and prevent opportunistic entry
To reduce weather exposure (wind/rain) while repairs are arranged
To meet insurer requirements for “reasonable steps” to protect the premises
To make the area safe for occupants, neighbours, or customers

For urgent help, start with: emergency boarding up.

First steps after accident damage (before we arrive)

If an accident has just happened, these steps can help—only if it’s safe to do so:

Check for injuries and call 999 if needed.
If there’s a vehicle involved, contact the police if required and keep any incident/reference number.
Do not touch damaged glass or unstable frames. Keep people away from the area.
If safe, take photos of the damage from a distance (inside and outside).
If you’re a tenant, notify the landlord/managing agent. If you’re a business, inform the duty manager/facilities contact.
If you can do so without risk, move valuables away from the damaged opening.

We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisors, but we can provide the documentation insurers typically ask for once the property is secured (more on that below).

How we secure properties after accident damage (our make-safe process)

The right solution depends on what’s been damaged—window, door, shopfront, or roof opening—and whether the surrounding frame is still sound.

1) We assess the opening and the structure (without guessing)

On arrival, we’ll look at:

Whether the frame is intact enough to fix boards securely
Whether there are loose shards or hazardous edges
Whether the damage affects access points (front door, rear doors, communal entrances)
Whether the opening needs a higher-security option (e.g., a temporary steel door)

If the surrounding material is too compromised for a safe, non-destructive fix, we’ll explain the options before proceeding.

2) We choose the appropriate material: plywood or OSB

For most accident-related boarding:

18mm exterior-grade plywood is commonly used for strength and durability
12mm OSB can be suitable for smaller or less exposed openings

We select the best option based on opening size, exposure, and risk. The goal is to make safe properly—secure, stable, and fitted in a way that can’t be easily pulled off from outside.

3) We fix using secure methods and anti-tamper approach where appropriate

Depending on the site, we may use:

Anti-tamper fixings to reduce the chance of external removal (particularly important for unattended properties)
Methods that minimise damage to frames where feasible
Robust fixing patterns for larger panels (e.g., shopfronts)

For commercial sites, we’re used to working around public areas, keeping walkways safe, and securing large glazed openings in a controlled way.

4) We leave the site safer, more secure, and documented

Once secured, you’ll have clear information to pass to insurers, landlords, managing agents, or building maintenance.

If you need a specific service, these pages explain the solution in more detail:

What “accident damage” boarding up can involve (by damage type)

Accidents aren’t neat—and the boarding-up plan shouldn’t be “one size fits all”. Below are typical scenarios and how we approach them.

Smashed or cracked windows (ground floor, bay, side access)

If you need to board up broken window openings, we’ll normally:

Remove immediate hazards where safe to do so (or advise if specialist clearance is needed)
Board externally to prevent access, with fixings selected for the frame type
Consider ventilation needs if the property is occupied (where safe and appropriate)

Related service: window boarding in Romford

Doors damaged by impact (splits, hinge damage, frame movement)

When it’s a board up door situation, the priority is access control. Options include:

Boarding the door opening if the door cannot be secured
Upgrading to a more secure temporary solution if the building will be vacant

If you’re dealing with a forced-open entrance after impact, a temporary steel door may be the best short-to-medium term solution (we’ll advise based on the opening and risk level).

Related service: door boarding in Romford
Property context: vacant property boarding

Shopfronts and commercial glazing (high-risk, public-facing)

For retail and commercial units, accident damage often means immediate exposure to:

Theft risk
Weather damage
Public safety concerns

We can arrange shopfront boarded up solutions that cover larger panes securely and help you reopen safely while permanent glazing is arranged.

Related service: shopfront boarding in Romford

Rooflights and skylights (impact from above or fallen debris)

If debris causes a hole or compromised rooflight, we can provide roof boarding to reduce water ingress and secure the opening. Access and safety are key here—we’ll always approach overhead work cautiously.

Related service: roof boarding in Romford

Insurance and reporting: what we provide (and what we don’t)

After accident damage, insurers usually want evidence that the property was protected from further loss. We help by providing:

Time-stamped photos of the secured opening(s)
An itemised invoice
A clear work statement describing the make-safe measures used

This is often useful for household claims, commercial property claims, and property-management reporting.

We’ll be upfront about limitations:

We’re not loss adjusters and can’t approve claims.
We don’t carry out full building reinstatement on this page—our role is to secure property and reduce risk.
If specialist clearance or structural works are needed, we’ll tell you and keep our work to what’s safe and appropriate.

More guidance is here: insurance claims support.

Typical scenario (what this might look like in practice)

If a car clips a low wall and catches a ground-floor window frame, the glass may shatter and the frame can twist slightly. Even if you can close curtains, the opening is often still reachable from outside.

In that situation, we’d typically:

Assess whether the frame can take secure fixings
Board the opening using appropriately sized plywood/OSB
Use fixings that help prevent external removal
Provide photos and paperwork for the insurer or managing agent
Explain next steps for glazing replacement (handled by a glazier/building contractor)

Covering Romford and the RM postcodes (RM1–RM50)

We cover Romford and the wider RM area, including a mix of residential streets, flats, and commercial premises. Accident damage call-outs often involve access challenges such as:

Flats above shops (restricted access or out-of-hours entry)
Rear access that requires coordination with occupants or building management
Busy frontages where we need to keep the area safe while we work

If you’re unsure whether you’re in our patch, start here: areas we cover.

FAQs — Accident damage boarding up in Romford

Can you board up my window tonight in Romford?

If it’s urgent, call us and we’ll prioritise emergency jobs and give you a realistic ETA based on current workload. For immediate help, use emergency boarding up.

What should I do if my shopfront glass is smashed after an accident?

Keep people away from the damaged area, take photos if safe, and contact us to make safe and arrange the shopfront boarded up solution. Shopfronts are high-risk because they’re street-facing and often attract attention.

Do you handle both residential and commercial accident damage?

Yes. We attend homes, flats, shops, offices, and mixed-use premises. See: residential boarding up and commercial boarding up.

Will boarding up stop rain getting in?

Boarding up helps reduce exposure and secures the opening, but weatherproofing depends on the shape of the damage and the surrounding structure. We’ll explain what’s achievable on site. For roof openings, see roof boarding in Romford.

How long does boarding up take?

It depends on the size and number of openings, access, and whether the frame is intact. A single board up broken window is usually quicker than a full shopfront boarded up job with large panels.

Is boarding up covered by insurance?

Often, insurers expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further loss, and emergency boarding may be covered depending on your policy. We can supply photos, an itemised invoice, and a work statement. More info: insurance claims support.

Can you secure a door that won’t close after impact?

Yes—this is a common accident outcome. We’ll assess whether the door can be temporarily secured, needs boarding, or whether a more robust option is required. See: door boarding in Romford.

Do you offer out of hours boarding up across RM postcodes?

Yes, we handle out of hours call-outs across the RM area. Availability varies, so call and we’ll confirm what we can do and when.

I’m in the Romford area — do you cover my postcode?

We cover RM1–RM50. If you’re near Romford and unsure, call and we’ll confirm coverage. You can also browse: areas we cover.

Next steps: get the property made safe

Accident damage is stressful, but the next step is straightforward: secure the opening, document the work, and then arrange permanent repairs.

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

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