Boarding Up Questions: Bracknell FAQs
These are the boarding up questions Bracknell householders, shop owners, landlords and agents ask us most. If you’re dealing with a broken window or a forced door right now, skip the reading and call 01344 951 955. A person answers 24 hours a day.
Safety first
What should I do before you arrive?
Keep everyone, including pets, away from broken glass and anything that looks unstable. Don’t try to pull loose glass out of a frame or prop up a damaged door yourself. If it’s safe, take a few photographs from a distance. If there’s been a break-in, report it to the police and keep the crime reference number.
Should I go up a ladder to check the roof or skylight?
No. Stay off roofs and ladders, especially in wind or rain. Tell us what you can see safely from the ground or from inside, and we’ll assess access when we arrive.
Can you board up after a fire?
Yes, once the fire service has handed the site back. Until then, nobody should go in or near the building. After hand-back we secure the openings. Smoke and odour cleaning is a separate specialist job and isn’t something we do.
Boarding versus permanent repairs
Is boarding up a permanent repair?
No. Boarding is a make-safe. It closes the opening, keeps out weather and intruders, and gives you time to arrange the permanent repair properly. New glazing, a replacement door or a frame repair comes afterwards, from whichever glazier or joiner you choose.
How long can boards stay up?
Exterior-grade boards fixed properly will hold for as long as you reasonably need them while repairs are arranged. Empty properties are often boarded for longer periods. If you expect a long gap, tell us on the call so we can talk about board thickness and fixings.
Windows, doors and materials
What do you board windows with?
Usually exterior-grade plywood, typically 18mm. For smaller openings, OSB can be suitable. We size the board to the opening and fix it so it can’t be easily levered off. That’s the short answer to most window boarding FAQs we hear in Bracknell: the right board for the opening, fixed securely.
Will the fixings damage my window frame?
Where the frame is sound enough, we use non-destructive fixing so the frame can be reused when the glass is replaced. If the frame is already badly damaged, we explain the options before fixing anything, so you know what’s involved and why.
Can a damaged door frame be secured?
Often, yes. After forced entry, the frame, lock area or hinges may be split or loose. We look at what’s left and explain how we’d secure it. Sometimes that means boarding over the doorway entirely; sometimes the door and frame need securing first so the opening can be closed properly. If the frame is too far gone, we talk you through it before we start. There’s more detail on our door boarding and securing damaged doors page.
Do you use security fixings?
Yes, where the job needs them. Security or anti-tamper fixings are harder to remove from outside, which matters on ground-floor openings, shopfronts and empty buildings. Not every job needs them, and we’ll say which apply to yours.
Do you supply steel doors, steel screens or fencing?
No, we board openings with timber sheet materials; we don’t supply steel doors, steel security screens or temporary fencing.
Getting a quote and arranging a visit
How do you price a job?
The quote is given on the call, free and clear, before any work starts. We don’t publish prices because every job is different. What affects the quote:
- the number and size of openings
- height and access, such as upper floors, roofs, skylights and ladder work
- materials and board thickness
- fixing method, including security fixings
- whether a damaged door or frame needs securing first
- any debris or broken glass to make safe
Our pricing page explains each factor in more detail.
What information do you need on the call?
Your postcode, the type and rough size of each opening, which floor it’s on, and how we’d reach it. Safe photographs help a lot, and you can email them to us. For flats above shops or offices, such as on Market Street, tell us how the upper floors are reached.
When can you get here?
We attend at any hour, including nights, weekends and bank holidays. The arrival time is worked out on the call once we have your postcode, so you’ll know what to expect before we set off.
Do you carry materials with you?
Yes. The van carries boarding stock and fixings, so the work can usually go ahead on the first visit once the quote is agreed.
Which areas do you cover?
Bracknell and the surrounding area, including Binfield and Warfield. We also cover Crowthorne, Ascot, Winkfield and Sandhurst, subject to confirming your address on the call.
Insurance and paperwork
What paperwork do I get for my insurer?
You receive an itemised invoice, time-stamped before and after photographs, and a written statement of the work done. Our insurance claims guide explains how to use them.
Will my insurer pay for the boarding?
That’s for your insurer to decide, so check your policy or ask them. We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisers, but the documents we provide give your insurer a clear record of what was done and why.
What should I do after a break-in?
Report it to the police and keep the crime reference number. Contact your insurer. Photograph the damage if it’s safe to do so. Then get the openings secured.
Empty and commercial properties
Do you secure empty properties?
Yes. We board the windows and doors of vacant and void properties for landlords, agents and owners. Tell us how many openings there are and whether any are already damaged. See securing vacant properties for how we approach it.
Do you board shopfronts and offices?
Yes, including shops, offices, restaurants and warehouses. Large glazed shopfronts need careful sizing and fixing, so photographs on the call are especially useful.
About us
Who will turn up?
Boarding Up Bracknell is an independent local boarding-up service with over 10 years’ experience. We’re fully insured, with the certificate available on request, and DBS-checked.
Still have a question?
If your question isn’t here, ask us directly. Have your postcode ready, tell us what’s damaged and roughly how big it is, and send safe photographs if you can. We’ll talk through access and give you a clear quote before any work starts.