Storm Damage Boarding Up in Bracknell

If a storm has broken a window, cracked a skylight or opened up part of a roof, the first job is to keep everyone clear of the glass and the weather, then get the opening covered. Storm damage boarding up does that. It closes the gap with exterior-grade board, stops more rain getting in and makes the property secure again until the permanent repair can be booked. A person answers our phone 24 hours a day, so you can call 01344 951 955 now and talk through what’s happened.

What to do first

Wind and debris can leave damage that isn’t obvious at first glance. Keep clear of damaged openings and unstable areas while you arrange help.

• Keep people and pets out of the room where glass has broken. Shards travel further than you’d expect, and loose pieces can still drop from the frame.
• Don’t go up a ladder or onto a roof to look at the damage, especially while it’s still windy or wet. Look from the ground or from inside, and only where it’s safe to stand.
• Keep clear of water near electrics. If rain is coming in close to sockets, lights or a consumer unit, don’t touch them. If a fallen tree or cable is involved, stay well back and contact the emergency services or your electricity network operator.
• Don’t go under a damaged ceiling. A sagging or wet ceiling below a broken roof light or roof opening can come down.
• Move what you safely can away from the water, and put down towels or a bucket where it’s dripping.
• Take photographs if it’s safe to do so. Wide shots of the room and close-ups of the damage are useful for your insurer.

Once that’s done, contact your insurer to let them know there’s been damage, then call us to get the openings made safe.

How we can help after a storm

Storm damage usually affects one of two kinds of opening, and each is handled differently.

Broken or blown-in windows

This is the most common call after high winds: a pane cracked by flying debris, or a window forced in by a gust or a falling branch. We cut boards to fit the opening, usually 18mm exterior-grade plywood, with OSB sometimes suitable for smaller openings. Where the frame is sound, we use non-destructive fixings so there’s less work for the glazier later. Our window boarding service covers ground-floor windows, upper-floor windows and patio doors.

Roof openings and broken skylights

A broken skylight or a hole where tiles or a roof light have gone needs covering quickly, because it lets in more water than a broken window. This is work at height, so access matters. We’ll ask how high the opening is, whether it can be reached from inside, and what the ground and surroundings are like. Making a broken skylight safe after a storm normally means covering it with a fitted board, secured firmly enough to stay put in the next gust. There’s more detail on our roof and skylight boarding page.

When the frame itself is damaged

Sometimes the wind doesn’t just break the glass. It twists the frame, splits the timber or pulls fixings out of the brickwork. If the frame can’t hold a board properly, we’ll explain the options before we start so you know what’s involved. It may mean fixing through to sound surrounding structure rather than into the frame itself, and that changes the scope of the job and the quote.

What to tell us on the call

The more we know, the more accurately we can plan the visit and quote. When you ring, it helps to have:

• Your postcode. We work out the arrival time from this on the call.
• Which openings are damaged. A window, a door, a skylight or part of the roof, and roughly how big each one is.
• The height and access. Ground floor, first floor or roof level, and whether it can be reached from inside.
• Whether the frame looks damaged as well as the glass.
• Whether there’s debris or glass that needs making safe.
• Photographs, if you can take them safely. You can send them by email.

We’ll give you a free, clear quote on the call before any work starts. The price depends on the number and size of the openings, height and access, the materials and board thickness, the fixing method, and whether there’s damaged framing or glass to deal with first.

What happens when we arrive

Our van carries boarding stock and fixings, so most storm-damaged openings can be measured, cut and fitted on the same visit. We clear away loose glass from the opening and the immediate area, fit the boards to the agreed specification and check everything is secure. Before we leave, we’ll walk you through what’s been done.

Boarding is a make-safe. It keeps the weather and intruders out while you arrange the glazier, roofer or joiner who carries out the permanent repair, and the boards come off cleanly when they’re ready to start.

Paperwork for your insurer

Most people claim on their buildings or contents insurance after a storm. To help with that, you’ll receive:

• An itemised invoice showing the work carried out.
• Time-stamped photographs from before and after the boarding.
• A written statement describing the work done.

Your insurer decides what’s covered, and we’re not loss adjusters, but clear records make the conversation easier. Our insurance claims guide explains what to keep and why.

Homes, shops and offices across Bracknell

Bracknell has a real mix of buildings: pockets of Victorian housing, New Town estates of varying age, and office developments around the town centre, along with the mix of flats, offices and shops along Market Street. Older sash windows, flat-roof skylights and large commercial glazing all need slightly different handling, which is why we ask about the opening in detail before we arrive. We also cover Crowthorne, Ascot, Winkfield and Sandhurst, subject to confirming the address on the call.

If the storm is still blowing and water is coming in now, our 24-hour emergency boarding page explains how out-of-hours call-outs work.

Get your storm damage made safe

We’ve been boarding up properties for over 10 years. We’re fully insured, with the certificate available on request, and DBS-checked. We attend at any hour, including nights, weekends and bank holidays.

Call 01344 951 955 with your postcode and a description of the damaged opening, or email us with photographs taken from a safe spot. We’ll talk through access, give you a free quote and arrange the visit.