Fire Damage Boarding Up in Romford (RM) — Secure Your Property After a Fire

Fire damage is stressful enough without worrying about who might get in, what the weather will do overnight, or whether your insurer will accept the paperwork. If you’ve had a fire at a home, flat, shop or commercial unit in Romford, our role is simple: make the property safe and secure as quickly as practicable, using appropriate boarding and temporary security measures across RM postcodes.

We provide fire damage boarding up in Romford after incidents big and small — from a kitchen fire that’s blown out a window to a more serious event where doors, glazing and roof openings are compromised.

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

When fire damage boarding up is needed (and why it matters)

After a fire, it’s common for parts of the building envelope to be left vulnerable even if the fire is fully out:

Windows cracked or missing due to heat shock or breakage during firefighting
Doors forced or warped (especially timber doors and frames)
Shopfront glazing shattered or unsafe to leave exposed
Roof tiles, skylights or soffits damaged, leaving openings for rain and pests
Internal smoke damage that makes a building unsafe to occupy, meaning it may be left unattended

Even if the fire itself was contained, an unsecured property can lead to secondary losses: theft, vandalism, water ingress from rain, and further damage to interiors.

If you’re looking for post-fire boarding in Romford or you need to secure property after fire, the priority is usually the same: close off access points and reduce risk, without making the building harder to properly repair later.

For urgent situations, visit our dedicated page: emergency boarding up.

First steps after a fire (practical guidance)

If you’re on site and it’s safe, these steps help protect your claim and speed up the make-safe process:

Wait for the all-clear from the fire service before entering or arranging works.
Take photos of damage (only if safe and permitted). Wide shots help, then close-ups.
Find your policy details and contact your insurer early. Keep any reference numbers.
Avoid moving damaged items unnecessarily until the insurer has advised (where practical).
Call us to discuss what’s open and exposed (front door, windows, roof openings, shopfront, side access).

We’re not loss adjusters and we can’t advise on policy wording, but we can provide the documentation insurers typically ask for after emergency works.

How we secure fire-damaged properties in Romford

Fire damage is rarely “just a broken window”. Heat, water, and structural movement can affect how we fix boards and what materials are appropriate. Our approach is to secure the property without creating additional damage wherever possible, and to explain options clearly if non-destructive methods aren’t feasible.

1) Assess access and immediate risks

On arrival we’ll check:

Which openings are accessible from the street or rear
Whether frames are stable enough to fix into
Whether any glazing is still loose and dangerous
Whether there’s evidence of forced entry risk (common when a property is temporarily empty)
Whether internal access is safe/allowed for boarding positions

If the frame is too damaged for clean, non-destructive fixing, we’ll talk you through alternatives before proceeding.

2) Choose the right boarding method and materials

We typically use:

18mm exterior-grade plywood for robust window and door openings
12mm OSB for smaller or lower-risk openings where appropriate

We don’t use “one size fits all” boards. Board thickness, fixing pattern, and method depend on the opening size, height, and the condition of the surrounding structure.

For higher-risk or longer unoccupied periods, we may recommend upgraded security options such as a temporary steel door or security screens, rather than repeated timber boarding.

Relevant services:

3) Fixings that prioritise security

Where suitable, we use anti-tamper fixings to make removal from the outside far more difficult — important if the property will be unattended or is in a more exposed position.

We aim to keep the site tidy and safe, removing obvious hazards we create during boarding and leaving the property closed up as agreed.

What we can (and can’t) do after a fire

Honesty matters when you’re dealing with a fire-damaged building.

What we do

Emergency boarding up of broken windows and doors
Shopfront boarded up for retail and commercial units
Make safe measures to reduce unauthorised access and weather ingress
Temporary boarding for short-term security
Temporary steel doors and longer-term security options for vacant or high-risk properties (where appropriate)
Provide insurer-friendly documentation (see below)

What’s outside our scope

Smoke/odour remediation and deep cleaning
Full building reinstatement (plastering, electrics, redecoration)
Structural certification

We secure the property so that the next trades (and your insurer’s process) can proceed safely.

If your building will be empty for a while, our vacant-property options may be relevant: boarding up for vacant property.

Insurance-friendly documentation (what you receive)

After fire damage boarding, paperwork can be as important as the boards themselves. We can provide:

Time-stamped photos of the secured openings
An itemised invoice
A clear work statement describing what was done and why (make-safe, security, weather protection)

This helps when you’re submitting an emergency works cost to your insurer. If you’re dealing with an insurer or managing agent, our documentation can be shared directly.

More guidance here: insurance claims support.

Typical fire-damage scenarios we attend in RM postcodes

Every incident is different, but common call-outs include:

Smashed window after rapid cooling from hoses or heat stress cracking
Board up broken window following a contained kitchen or electrical fire
Board up door where the door was forced, swollen, or no longer locks
Shopfront boarded up after glazing fails due to heat or impact
Rooflight or skylight openings that are letting in rain after fire service access
Out-of-hours attendance when the property must be secured before the next working day

If you need emergency boarding up or out of hours help tonight, call and we’ll give you a realistic ETA based on current workload and location.

Need urgent help? Call 01708 973 306

Residential vs commercial fire damage boarding (what changes)

Homes, flats and maisonettes

With residential properties, we often focus on:

Ground-floor and accessible window openings
Rear access points that aren’t visible from the street
Keeping the property secure while you arrange next steps with your insurer or landlord

If you’re a homeowner or tenant, this page may help too: residential boarding up.

Shops, offices and mixed-use buildings

Commercial sites often need:

Larger panel boarding for shopfront glazing
Coordination with a facilities manager, managing agent or landlord
Clear documentation and access notes for follow-on contractors

If you manage premises or retail units, see: commercial boarding up.

Romford and RM coverage (where we work)

We cover Romford and the wider RM postcode area (RM1–RM50), supporting property owners, landlords, and businesses across Havering and surrounding districts.

If you’re not sure whether you’re in range, call — we’ll confirm quickly and advise.

You can also browse: areas we cover
Or see our main local page: boarding up in Romford RM1

Questions we’re often asked after a fire

Do I need boarding up even if the fire is out?

Often, yes. Fire may be extinguished but open windows, damaged doors, and broken glazing can leave the property vulnerable. Boarding up is about preventing theft, vandalism, and weather damage.

Can you attend out of hours after a fire?

We do provide out of hours support depending on availability. We don’t guarantee fixed arrival times, but we prioritise urgent calls and will give you a realistic ETA on the phone. For urgent help: emergency boarding up.

Will boarding up stop rain getting in?

It will significantly reduce exposure where the opening can be properly covered. Roof damage and irregular openings can be more complex; we’ll explain what is (and isn’t) possible on site. For overhead openings, see roof boarding in Romford.

Is fire damage boarding up covered by insurance?

Many policies allow emergency make-safe works, but coverage depends on your policy terms and excess. We’re not insurers, but we provide photos, itemised invoices, and a work statement to support your claim. More guidance: insurance claims support.

Can you board up a shopfront after fire damage?

Yes. We provide shopfront boarding Romford for commercial glazing, including larger panels and secure fixings suitable for retail environments. See shopfront boarding.

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

If the surrounding structure can’t take secure fixings, we’ll explain options before proceeding. In some cases a temporary steel door or alternative method is more appropriate than timber boarding.

How long does boarding up take?

It depends on the number and size of openings, access, and the condition of frames. A single window can be straightforward; multiple openings or shopfront panels take longer. When you call, we’ll ask a few questions and give a practical expectation.

Can you secure a property while it’s vacant after a fire?

Yes. If the building will be empty during drying, investigation or reinstatement, we can discuss medium-term security options. Start here: boarding up for vacant property.

Next steps: get your property secured

If you’ve experienced a fire, you don’t have to solve everything tonight — but you should secure the property as soon as it’s safe and permitted.

For urgent help: emergency boarding up
For specific solutions: window boarding in Romford and door boarding in Romford
For commercial glazing: shopfront boarding
For roof openings: roof boarding

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

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