Situations We Help With Across Stevenage (SG1–SG19)

When something happens to your property—burglary, vandalism, storm damage, a fire, or an accident—the priority is simple: make it safe and secure it so no one can get in and the weather can’t get in either.

At Boarding Up Stevenage, we handle call-outs across Stevenage and the wider SG postcode area (SG1–SG19). If you’re dealing with a smashed window, a door that won’t lock, or a damaged shopfront, we can arrange temporary boarding and other security measures to protect the building while you organise repairs and speak to insurers.

Need help now? Call 01438 594 023 for immediate assistance.

When you should consider emergency boarding up

You don’t always need “full” boarding on every opening. But you should consider emergency boarding up if any of the following are true:

There’s a broken or smashed window and the property will be unattended (even for a few hours)
A door has been forced, split, or the lock/handle is damaged and you can’t secure it properly
Your shopfront glazing has been damaged and you need it shopfront boarded up before the next trading day
The frame is cracked, loose, or unsafe and glass could fall
Storm damage has left an opening that will let in rain, wind or debris
Fire or flood has compromised an entry point and the building can’t be secured as normal

If you’re unsure, call us and explain what’s happened. We’ll talk through the risks and the best “make safe” option—whether that’s boarding, a temporary steel door, or another method.

For urgent, out of hours support, see: emergency boarding up.

What happens when you call us (what to expect)

When you ring 01438 594 023, we’ll ask a few practical questions so we bring the right materials and fixings:

What’s been damaged? (window, door, shopfront, rooflight/skylight)
How big is the opening? A rough size is fine—photos help if you can safely take them.
Is the property occupied? If it’s vacant, we may recommend higher-security options.
Is it safe on site? If there’s ongoing risk (intruder present, loose glass, structural damage), we’ll advise you to wait for police or emergency services first.

We don’t promise fixed arrival times—traffic, workload and safe access can all affect things—but we prioritise urgent jobs and we’ll give you a realistic ETA on the phone.

On arrival, our DBS-checked technicians will typically:

Assess what’s safe to touch and what needs extra care (loose glass, damaged frames)
Confirm the best method before starting, especially if the frame is too damaged for non-destructive fixing
Board the opening using the correct material and fixings for the situation
Take photos for your records/insurer and provide an itemised invoice and work statement

The situations we’re most often called out for

These pages are written for the moment you’re in right now—what to do next, how to secure the property, and what insurers tend to ask for.

Burglary / break-in (forced entry)

After a break-in, it’s common to see:

Doors forced at the lock area, split panels, broken frames
Glazing damage near handles/locks
Rear/side access points compromised

In many cases, the immediate need is to board up a door or secure a broken window so the property isn’t targeted again the same night. If a standard board-up won’t provide enough security (e.g., repeated targeting or severe door damage), we’ll discuss a temporary steel door option.

Vandalism (smashed glass and repeated attacks)

Vandalism can be opportunistic, but it can also repeat—especially for ground-floor windows and shopfronts. If you’ve had a smashed window, boarding can prevent:

Further damage overnight
Weather ingress (which can cause secondary damage to flooring and electrics)
Easy access for theft

We can fit boards with anti-tamper fixings where appropriate to reduce the chance of removal from outside.

Storm damage (wind, debris, roof and skylight openings)

High winds and flying debris can crack glazing, dislodge panels, or damage roof edges and rooflights. The key risks are rain ingress and escalating internal damage.

Depending on the location and access, we may recommend boarding to windows/doors, or securing an overhead opening where safe to do so. We’ll always prioritise safe working—some roof access requires additional controls.

Fire damage (post-incident securing)

After the fire service has finished and the scene is safe, many properties are left with broken windows, forced doors, or openings created for ventilation and access. Our role is to secure the property—not to provide smoke/odour remediation.

If the structure or frame is unstable, we’ll explain what can and can’t be secured safely, and what options are available.

Flood damage (swollen frames and compromised openings)

Flooding can warp timber doors, swell frames, and affect how windows close. Sometimes the issue isn’t broken glass—it’s that the property can’t be locked properly after water ingress.

We can provide temporary security while you arrange drying, repairs, and any specialist restoration.

Accident / impact damage (vehicle strike, accidental breakage)

Accidents can damage shopfront glazing, low-level windows, doors, and frames. Where impact is involved, we’ll pay close attention to:

Frame integrity (so boards don’t worsen the damage)
Safety risks from shattered glass
The most secure and weather-resistant temporary solution

If there are signs of structural movement or unsafe masonry, we’ll advise you before proceeding.

What we typically do to make a property safe

The right approach depends on the opening, the surrounding frame, and how long the property needs to stay secure. Common methods include:

Window boarding using 18mm exterior-grade plywood for robust protection, or 12mm OSB for smaller/low-risk openings where appropriate
Door boarding up when a door cannot be locked or is damaged around the latch/hinges
Shopfront boarding using larger, properly braced panels to protect commercial glazing areas
Roof/skylight boarding where safe access is possible and weatherproofing is the priority
Higher-security options for vacant properties or repeat incidents (discussed on a case-by-case basis)

If you want to understand the methods in more detail, see: what is boarding up?.

Insurance and documentation (what you’ll usually need)

If you’re dealing with a claim, good documentation helps. We’re not loss adjusters and we can’t tell you what will be covered, but we can provide what insurers typically ask for, such as:

Photos of the damage and the secured openings (time-stamped where available)
An itemised invoice and a clear work statement (what was done, where, and why)
Notes on any access constraints or pre-existing frame damage we observed

Practical tips that often help:

If police attended, keep your crime reference number
If safe, take your own photos before anything is moved or cleaned
Contact your insurer early—especially if the property will be unoccupied

More guidance here: insurance claims support.

Residential, commercial, and vacant properties (different needs)

The same incident can require different security depending on the building’s use:

Residential properties often prioritise quick securing to protect occupants and belongings
Commercial sites may need to secure a shopfront and consider trading impact, alarms, and shutters
Vacant properties usually require more robust measures, because the risk of repeat entry is higher

You can read more about how we approach each:

If you’re dealing with this right now: what to do next

If there’s immediate danger, call 999 (intruder still present, active fire, serious structural risk).
Don’t touch loose glass—keep people away from the area and block access if possible.
If safe, take a few photos for your records and insurer.
Call us to arrange a make-safe visit: Call 01438 594 023.
Let your insurer know the property has been secured and keep copies of invoices/photos.

If it’s late or you need out of hours support, use our emergency page: 24/7 emergency boarding up in Stevenage.

Why people across Stevenage trust us to secure properties

Choosing who to call after an incident is stressful—especially when it’s late, cold, or you’re trying to protect a business. Here’s what we can say honestly:

10+ years trading in and around Stevenage and the SG area
Fully insured for the work we carry out
DBS-checked technicians attending your property
Clear communication, including realistic ETAs and options explained before work starts
Practical paperwork for your records and insurance process

If you’d like a sense of how we operate day to day, our FAQs are here: boarding up FAQs.

Ready to secure your property?

If you need to board up a broken window, board up a door, or get a shopfront boarded up in Stevenage or anywhere across SG1–SG19, we can help.

Need help now? Call 01438 594 023 for immediate assistance.
Prefer email? [email protected]

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