Boarding Up Services in East London (E Postcodes)

When a window’s been smashed, a door has been forced, or a shopfront has been damaged, the priority is simple: make safe and secure the property so you can protect people, prevent further loss, and move forward with repairs.

Boarding Up East London provides boarding up services across the E postcode area (E1–E77) for homes, shops, offices, and vacant buildings. We’ve been trading for 10+ years, we’re fully insured, and our technicians are DBS-checked. If you need urgent help, you can reach us 24/7—we’ll give you a realistic ETA over the phone based on current workload and access.

If it’s an emergency right now, go straight to our emergency boarding up in East London page or call us on 020 4634 6384.

What we mean by “boarding up” (and why it matters)

Boarding up is a temporary security and safety measure used after damage, break-ins, vandalism, or severe weather. The aim is to:

  • Stop unauthorised access (and reduce the chance of repeat entry)
  • Protect the interior from wind and rain
  • Remove sharp edges and unstable glass risks
  • Keep a property compliant with basic safety expectations (especially for commercial sites)

Depending on the opening and the risks, we may use:

  • 18mm exterior-grade plywood for robust window and shopfront boarding
  • 12mm OSB for smaller or lower-risk openings where appropriate
  • Anti-tamper fixings (important when a property may be unattended)
  • Temporary steel doors or steel security screens for medium-term securing

If the surrounding frame or brickwork is too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain the safest options before proceeding—because sometimes “boarding up” is as much about the condition of the structure as it is the board itself.

For a plain-English explainer of the basics, see what boarding up is and when it’s used.

How our boarding up service works (what to expect)

When you contact us, we keep things practical. Most customers are calling in a stressful moment—after a break-in, impact damage, or discovering an insecure building—so we’ll guide you through what happens next.

  1. Quick triage on the phone

    • What’s been damaged (window, door, shopfront, roof/skylight)
    • Whether there’s any immediate danger (loose glass, unsafe entry points)
    • Access details (keys, site contact, shutters, concierge, rear access)

  2. Arrival and safety check

    • We confirm the risk areas, remove immediate hazards where possible, and plan the fixing method.

  3. Measure, cut, and fix

    • We size boards correctly and fix them using methods suited to the substrate (timber frame, masonry reveal, or existing structure).
    • We prioritise secure, weather-resilient fitting rather than “quick cover-ups” that can be prised off.

  4. Documentation for your records/insurer

    • We can provide time-stamped photos, a work statement, and an itemised invoice—the kind of paperwork insurers typically ask for.
    • For guidance on what to keep and how claims usually work, see insurance claims support.

  5. Next steps

    • If you’re arranging glazing, door replacement, or follow-on building repairs, we’ll leave the site stable and secure so those trades can work safely when booked.

Choosing the right service: windows, doors, shopfronts, and roofs

“Boarding up” isn’t one-size-fits-all. A ground-floor sash window needs a different approach from a commercial glazed frontage or a damaged rooflight. Below is a straightforward overview of what we do and when it’s typically used.

Window boarding (domestic and commercial)

Window boarding is most commonly needed after a smashed window, attempted break-in, or accidental impact. In East London, we often see a mix of older frames (which can be more fragile) and modern glazing systems (which may fail in large panels).

We’ll secure the opening in a way that suits the window type and surrounding condition—aiming to reduce drafts and water ingress while preventing outside removal.

Learn more about window boarding in East London.

Door boarding up and temporary security

If your front door has been forced, locks are damaged, or the frame has split, the priority is to board up the door area or install a more secure temporary solution so the building can be locked and controlled again.

Where appropriate, we may recommend a temporary steel door rather than timber boarding—particularly for:

  • Repeated break-in risk
  • Vacant properties between tenants
  • Sites where access control is essential (keys, contractors, management access)

See door boarding in East London.

Shopfront boarding (retail, restaurants, offices)

When a commercial frontage is damaged, you need more than just coverage—you need a reliable shopfront boarded up solution that stands up to footfall, late-night risk, and the reality that repairs can take time to schedule.

We commonly secure:

  • Large glazed panels
  • Corner units and return windows
  • Damaged entrance doors and adjacent panes

If you’re dealing with an incident and need to secure property quickly, we’ll prioritise making the premises safe and minimising further exposure.

Read about shopfront boarding in East London.

Roof and skylight boarding (weather protection and safety)

Rooflights, skylights, and damaged roof sections can allow water in fast—especially with wind-driven rain. Roof boarding focuses on safe access, stable fixing, and weather-minded coverage.

Important note: we secure the opening and make it safe; full roofing repair and long-term waterproofing works are usually handled by a roofer. If your site is currently exposed, start with roof boarding in East London.

Temporary fencing (site perimeter security)

Sometimes the biggest risk isn’t just an opening—it’s the perimeter. If a site has been compromised (impact damage, partial collapse risk, or an unsafe frontage), temporary fencing can help control access until repairs are organised.

See temporary fencing.

Materials and fixing methods (a clear, honest overview)

We choose materials based on security, safety, and how long the building needs to stay secure.

  • 18mm exterior-grade plywood: strong, reliable, and suited to most ground-floor window and shopfront openings.
  • 12mm OSB: can be suitable for smaller openings or lower-risk situations where heavy-duty ply isn’t necessary.
  • Anti-tamper fixings: reduce the risk of boards being removed from outside—particularly important for unattended properties.
  • Fixing approach: we’ll use a method appropriate to the structure. In some cases, we can fix into the reveal or existing timbers; in others, the damage dictates a different solution.

If you’re unsure what’s needed, you don’t have to diagnose it yourself—describe what’s happened and we’ll talk you through options before we attend.

Who we work with (and what we can provide)

We support a wide mix of customers across East London, including:

  • Homeowners and tenants needing temporary boarding after break-ins or accidents
  • Landlords and letting agents securing properties between tenancies
  • Shop owners and managers needing out-of-hours “make safe”
  • Facilities and property management teams requiring consistent documentation

If you want a breakdown by building type, you can also see:

Common situations we’re called out for

Boarding up is usually triggered by an event. If you’re currently dealing with one of these, you may find the situation pages helpful for step-by-step next actions:

Pricing and insurance: what affects the cost?

We don’t publish a fixed price list because boarding up varies widely by:

  • Size and number of openings
  • Height/access requirements (e.g., upper floors, rear access, restricted entry)
  • Material choice (ply/OSB vs steel options)
  • Complexity of the damage (sound frame vs broken masonry/timbers)
  • Out-of-hours attendance and urgency

For a transparent overview of how costs are usually calculated, see boarding up pricing.

If you’re claiming through insurance, keep your reference numbers, take photos if safe, and contact your insurer early. We’ll provide documentation insurers typically request, but we’re not loss adjusters. Start here: insurance claims for boarding up.

Areas we cover across East London (E1–E77)

We cover the full E postcode area, including busy residential streets, mixed-use high roads, and commercial sites. If you’re not sure whether you’re in range, check areas we cover or call and we’ll confirm.

For local pages, you may want to start with:

FAQs about our boarding up services

Do you offer emergency boarding up in East London?

Yes—our team provides emergency boarding up across East London and the E postcodes. We prioritise urgent calls and will give you a realistic ETA over the phone based on demand and access.

If you need help tonight or out of hours, go to 24/7 emergency boarding up or call 020 4634 6384.

Can you board up a broken window the same day?

Often, yes. Many call-outs are for a board up broken window situation after an incident. Same-day attendance depends on workload, the time you call, and access arrangements—but we’ll be clear about what we can do when you contact us.

Will the boards keep the rain out?

Boarding is primarily about security and making safe, but we fit boards to reduce weather exposure as much as practical. The outcome depends on the shape of the opening and surrounding damage—if the frame or wall is compromised, we’ll explain the limitations and the best interim approach.

What if the door frame is too damaged to board neatly?

It happens, especially after forced entry. If the frame is too unstable for standard fixing, we’ll talk you through options—this may include a different fixing method or a more robust temporary security solution. We won’t proceed with anything that risks making the structure worse without your agreement.

Do you provide photos and paperwork for insurers or landlords?

Yes. We can provide time-stamped photos, a clear description of what we did, and an itemised invoice. For guidance on what insurers typically ask for, see insurance claims support.

Are you insured and are your technicians vetted?

Yes—Boarding Up East London is fully insured, and our technicians are DBS-checked. If you need documentation for site compliance (e.g., property management processes), tell us when you call.

How long does boarding up take?

Simple window boarding can often be completed quickly once we’re on site, while larger shopfronts, multiple openings, or difficult access will take longer. We’ll give you an estimate after we understand the opening size, materials, and any access constraints.

Do you replace the window/door afterwards?

We specialise in securing and making safe. Replacement glazing, joinery, or full repairs are usually carried out by the relevant trades. We’ll leave the property secure so those works can be booked without the building being left exposed.

Ready to secure your property?

Whether you need temporary boarding, a shopfront boarded up, or help after a smashed window, we’re here to make the situation safer and more secure.

Ready to get started? Call 020 4634 6384 or email us for a free, no-obligation quote.