When a window or door is smashed — whether by a break-in, storm damage, or an accident — the priority is to secure the property as quickly as possible. Emergency boarding up is the fastest and most effective way to do this, and it is a service we provide 24 hours a day, 365 days a year across Essex, London, Surrey, and Kent.

If you have never needed this service before, you might not know what to expect. Here is a clear guide to the process.

Boarding up is appropriate when:

• A window or door has been smashed in a break-in
• Glass has been broken by storm debris or high winds
• A window has been accidentally broken and cannot be repaired immediately
• A door panel has been kicked in or forced
• Vandalism has left a property exposed

In all these situations, the broken opening represents a security risk and a weather risk. Boarding up addresses both immediately.

When you call us, we will ask you a few quick questions:

• What has been broken (window, door, shop front)?
• Approximate size of the opening
• Your address and any access information
• Whether it was a break-in (so we know whether to advise you to call the police first)

This helps us ensure we arrive with the right materials and equipment.

We aim to be with you within 60 minutes of your call anywhere in our coverage area. In practice, response times depend on your location and how busy we are, but we will always give you an honest estimate when you call.

When we arrive, the first thing we do is assess the situation and make the immediate area safe. This includes:

• Clearing any remaining broken glass from the frame and surrounding area
• Checking the structural integrity of the frame
• Assessing whether the opening can be boarded or whether a temporary repair is more appropriate

For most broken windows and doors, we use marine-grade plywood cut to size and secured firmly to the frame. The board is fitted from the inside where possible, making it much harder to remove from outside.

For shop fronts and larger commercial openings, we use heavier-gauge materials and additional fixings to ensure the boarding is robust enough to deter further attempts at entry.

The boarding is weatherproof and secure — it will keep out rain, wind, and opportunistic intruders.

Once the property is secured, we will discuss the options for permanent repair. In many cases, we can carry out the glass replacement on the same visit — we carry a range of glass sizes and types in our vans. If the job requires a specific size or type of glass that we do not have in stock, we will arrange a return visit, usually within 24–48 hours.

If the damage was caused by a break-in, you will need a crime reference number from the police before making an insurance claim. Call 101 (or 999 if the intruder may still be on the premises) and report the incident.

Most home and business insurance policies cover emergency boarding up and glass replacement. We can provide a detailed invoice for your insurer, and we are experienced in working with insurance companies to ensure claims are processed smoothly.

Keep all documentation — photographs of the damage, the crime reference number, and our invoice.

Boarding is a temporary measure. It is secure and weatherproof, but it is not a permanent solution. We recommend arranging permanent glass replacement as soon as possible — ideally within 24–48 hours.

Leaving boarding in place for extended periods can:

• Attract unwanted attention to the property
• Affect your insurance cover (some policies require permanent repairs within a specified timeframe)
• Allow moisture to accumulate behind the board if it is not perfectly sealed

Once the permanent repair is done, it is worth considering whether the replacement glass should be an upgrade. Security glass options — laminated or toughened — are significantly harder to break than standard glass and can deter future attempts.

We can advise on the most appropriate option for your property and budget.

We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If your property has been broken into or damaged, call our emergency glazier team immediately:

07596 081381 | 0800 634 3117 (free) | WhatsApp: 07596 081381

Related reading: What to Do When a Window Breaks · How to Improve Home Security with Better Glazing · The Benefits of Toughened Glass