Vacant Property Security in Bracknell
Vacant property security in Bracknell starts with closing off the ways in. We board the windows and doors of empty houses, flats and commercial units so the building stays shut while it’s between tenants, waiting for sale, going through probate or waiting for work to start. A person answers the phone 24 hours a day, so you can arrange it when the keys come back to you, including evenings and weekends.
We’re an independent local boarding-up service with over 10 years’ experience. We’re fully insured (certificate on request) and DBS-checked. The van carries boarding stock and fixings, so the agreed work can usually be done on the visit.
When boarding an empty property makes sense
Boarding suits a building that will stand empty long enough that open or easily reached glass becomes a weak point. Landlords, letting and estate agents, executors and commercial owners usually call us at one of these points:
- Between tenancies or during a long void, when the property is cleared and nobody is calling in regularly.
- After a previous break-in or damage, so the empty building isn’t left with a broken pane or a forced door.
- Before refurbishment or sale, when the property needs to stay shut until the trades or the new owners arrive.
- Empty flats above shops or vacant offices, such as the mixed residential, office and retail buildings along Market Street, where a rear door or stairwell window is the obvious way in.
You don’t always need every opening boarded. On the call we’ll talk through which windows and doors are reachable from the ground, from a flat roof or from an alley, and which are better left alone.
What we secure on an empty house or unit
Windows
Ground-floor windows and any that can be reached from a flat roof, wall or bin store are normally the priority. Bracknell’s housing ranges from pockets of Victorian development to New Town estates and newer builds, so window sizes and frame types vary a lot from street to street. We measure each opening on site and cut boards to fit. For more detail on how individual openings are handled, see our page on window boarding.
Doors
Doors take the most thought on an empty property, because someone will need to get back in. We’ll agree with you which doors are boarded fully and which access point you want to use for later visits, viewings or contractors. If a door, frame or lock has already been forced, it needs securing before it’s boarded. Our door boarding page explains how damaged doors and frames are dealt with.
Commercial and larger units
Vacant shops, offices and small warehouses follow the same principle, with larger openings and sometimes glazed frontages. We’ll ask about the number and size of openings when you call so the right stock is on the van.
Materials and fixings
For most empty properties we use exterior-grade plywood, typically 18mm, which stands up to weather over a longer void. OSB can suit smaller openings. Where a building is likely to attract attention, we use security or anti-tamper fixings so the boards can’t simply be unscrewed from outside.
Where the frames are in decent condition, we use non-destructive fixing where the frame allows. That matters on an empty house you plan to let or sell, because it keeps damage to frames and reveals to a minimum when the boards come off. If a frame is rotten, split or already forced, a neat fixing may not hold. In that case we’ll explain the options before starting, so you can decide how you want it handled.
What happens on the visit
- The call. Give us the postcode, the type of property, roughly how many windows and doors need boarding and how they’re reached. Safe photographs taken from the ground help us plan materials and access. We’ll work out arrival from the postcode and give you a free, clear quote before any work starts.
- Access. Tell us how we get in or around the property: whether someone will meet us, whether there’s side or rear access, and anything about parking or neighbouring buildings. We don’t hold keys, so we’ll agree the arrangement with you.
- Photographs before work. We take time-stamped photographs of each opening before boarding.
- Boarding. We fit the agreed boards and fixings and make safe any broken glass or debris at the openings we’re securing.
- Photographs after work. We photograph the finished boarding, then confirm with you which access point remains usable.
What you receive
- The agreed openings boarded and made safe
- An itemised invoice
- Time-stamped before and after photographs
- A written statement of the work done
These records are useful for landlords and agents reporting to owners, and for executors keeping a record of a property’s condition. If the property is insured, your insurer decides what is covered, and terms for unoccupied buildings vary, so it’s worth checking with them directly. Our guide to insurance claims explains how the paperwork is usually used.
What affects the quote
Every empty property is different, so the quote is agreed on the call rather than listed here. The main factors are:
- The number and size of openings
- Height and access, including upper floors, roofs and anything that needs ladders
- Materials and board thickness
- The fixing method, including security or anti-tamper fixings
- Whether a damaged door or frame needs securing first
- Any debris or glass to make safe
Our pricing page explains these in more detail.
When the property is back in use
Boarding is a make-safe that keeps the building shut while it’s empty. When it’s ready to be lived in, let or sold, the boards come off and any glazing or door repairs can be done properly, with the frames in the best condition we could leave them.
Areas we cover
We secure vacant properties across Bracknell, from the town centre out to estates like Easthampstead and the neighbourhoods around Martins Heron. We also cover Crowthorne, Ascot, Winkfield and Sandhurst, subject to confirming on the call.
Arrange vacant property security in Bracknell
Send us the postcode, the type of property, how many windows and doors you want boarded and a few safe photographs taken from the ground. We’ll talk through access, which way in you need to keep, and give you a clear quote before anything starts.