Window Boarding in Bracknell
Our window boarding service in Bracknell covers broken, smashed or cracked windows. We close the opening with cut-to-size exterior-grade board so the property is weatherproof and secure until the glazing can be replaced. It suits houses, flats, shops and offices, from a single cracked pane to a run of broken windows after a break-in or storm. A person answers the phone 24 hours a day, and we’ll give you a free, clear quote on the call before any work starts.
If the window broke in the last few hours and you need someone tonight, our 24-hour emergency boarding page covers what to do first. This page explains how window boarding works and what you’ll get.
When window boarding is the right call
Boarding is the right step when a window can’t keep weather or intruders out and the glass can’t be replaced straight away. Common reasons include:
- A pane smashed during a break-in or attempted entry. The opening needs closing as well as the glass making safe.
- A cracked sealed unit that could fail or fall in, especially on a ground-floor or street-facing window.
- Storm damage from flying debris, a falling branch or a failed frame.
- Accidental breakage, such as a ball through the lounge window or a door slammed against a glazed panel.
- Windows on an empty property that need covering while it sits vacant.
If the window is in a door, or the forced entry also damaged a door, frame or lock, our door boarding and securing service is usually the better fit. We can do both on the same visit.
How to secure a broken window before we arrive
You don’t need to do much, and the safest steps are simple:
- Keep people and pets away from the glass, inside and outside. Close the internal door to that room if you can.
- Leave loose shards in the frame. Pulling glass out by hand risks injury. We’ll make it safe when we board.
- Don’t climb up to an upper-floor window or lean out to inspect it.
- After a break-in, report it to the police and keep the crime reference number. Then contact your insurer.
- Take photographs of the damage if it’s safe to do so. Wide shots and close-ups both help.
A bin bag taped over the gap may keep rain out for a short while, but it won’t secure anything. Avoid touching a cracked pane at all.
Materials: plywood, OSB and fixings
For most windows we use exterior-grade plywood, typically 18mm. It’s strong, it stands up to rain and it’s hard to force. That’s why plywood window boarding is the standard choice for ground-floor and street-level openings in Bracknell. For smaller openings, such as a toilet window, a fanlight or a small side pane, OSB is often enough.
Fixings matter as much as the board. Where security is the concern, we use security or anti-tamper fixings, which can’t easily be undone from outside. Where the frame allows, we use a non-destructive fixing method, so the board comes off cleanly when the glazier arrives and the frame isn’t left damaged.
We don’t use every method on every job. A cracked pane in a sound uPVC frame needs far less than a ground-floor shop window smashed during a break-in. We’ll tell you what we’d recommend and why.
When the frame is badly damaged
Sometimes the problem isn’t only the glass. A frame may be split, prised or partly pulled from the wall. That’s common after forced entry, and it can happen with older timber sashes or storm-struck windows. In those cases there may be nothing solid to fix into.
When this happens, we explain the options before doing anything. We might fix to the surrounding structure, use a larger board, or secure the frame first. Each changes the time and materials involved, so we agree it with you rather than surprising you on the invoice. Send safe photographs when you call so we can talk it through before we arrive.
Different windows, different jobs
Bracknell has a real mix of buildings. There are pockets of Victorian housing, New Town estates of varying age and office developments. Around Market Street, homes sit alongside offices and retail. That variety affects how a window is boarded:
- Older timber windows may need a careful fixing approach to avoid splitting the frame further.
- Estate houses and flats often have standard uPVC frames, which usually make for a straightforward board and fix.
- Upper-floor windows, whether on a flat above a shop or a first-floor bedroom, need ladder access and sometimes a second person. That affects both the plan and the quote.
For larger glazed frontages on shops, restaurants or offices, see shopfront and commercial boarding, which deals with wider spans and business hours.
What happens on the visit
We’ll agree the job and the quote on the phone first. Once we’re on site:
- We take time-stamped photographs of the damage before starting.
- We make the glass safe, removing loose shards from the frame and clearing broken glass from the immediate area as agreed.
- We measure and cut the board to fit the opening. The van carries boarding stock and fixings.
- We fix the board using the method we agreed with you.
- We take after photographs of the secured window.
What you receive
When we leave, you’ll have:
- A made-safe, boarded window that keeps the weather out and the property secure.
- An itemised invoice for the work.
- Time-stamped before and after photographs.
- A written statement of the work done.
That paperwork is useful if you’re claiming. Your insurer decides what’s covered, so check your policy or speak to them directly. Our insurance claims guide explains what to keep and why.
Boarding is the make-safe stage. Once the opening is secure, you can arrange a glazier to measure up and fit replacement glass in their own time, without the property sitting open in the meantime.
What affects the quote
There are no prices on this page because no two windows are the same. The quote depends on:
- The number and size of the windows being boarded
- Height and access, such as upper floors or ladder work
- Materials and board thickness
- The fixing method, including security or anti-tamper fixings
- Whether a damaged frame needs securing first
- How much broken glass and debris needs making safe
We’ll go through these on the call and give you a free, clear quote before any work starts.
About us
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. We attend at any hour, including nights, weekends and bank holidays. We’ll work out the arrival time with you on the call based on your postcode.
Get a window boarded
Tell us your postcode, how many windows are affected, roughly how big they are and which floor they’re on. If it’s safe, send a couple of photographs of the window and frame. We’ll talk through access and give you a clear quote.