Window Boarding in South East London
Window boarding in South East London is often needed suddenly – after a break-in, vandalism, storm damage or accidental breakage. We provide fast, 24/7 emergency window boarding to board up broken windows, make your property safe and secure, and give you clear paperwork for insurers.
Need urgent help now? Call 020 4538 1506 for immediate emergency window boarding.
We’re local boarding up specialists covering all SE postcodes – from Greenwich, Lewisham and Deptford to Peckham, Camberwell, Woolwich and Thamesmead. With over 10 years’ experience, DBS‑checked technicians and full public liability insurance, we focus on non-destructive securing wherever possible so your permanent repairs stay straightforward.
When You Need Window Boarding
You typically need emergency window boarding when a pane or frame is damaged and the opening is no longer safe or secure. Common situations include:
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Burglary or attempted break-in
- Window smashed or forced
- Locks or frames damaged
- You need to secure your home or business overnight
- Often part of post-burglary boarding up in South East London
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Vandalism and smashed glass
- Bricks, bottles or stones thrown at windows
- Shopfront glazing smashed during the night
- Flats or houses targeted in antisocial behaviour
- Often paired with vandalism repair and boarding
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Storm or weather damage
- High winds blowing a window open or out of its frame
- Falling branches or debris cracking or smashing glass
- Leaks or drafts you can’t safely leave until morning
- Linked to our wider storm damage boarding service
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Accidental breakage
- Window broken by a ball or ladder
- Glass cracked during DIY or renovation work
- Damage from delivery vehicles or on-site accidents
- Often part of accidental breakage boarding in South East London
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Vacant or vulnerable properties
- Empty homes, void properties or repossessions
- Windows repeatedly targeted by vandals
- Insurance conditions requiring boarding
- Can be combined with vacant property boarding in South East London
If you’re unsure whether a window should be boarded up, a good rule is:
- If the glass is broken, loose or missing, or
- If someone could easily get in or be hurt by the damage,
…you should treat it as an emergency and have the window boarded up.
How We Secure Your Windows
We use proven methods, quality materials and a non-destructive approach wherever possible to get your window boarded up quickly and safely.
1. Fast Assessment and Safety Check
On arrival we:
- Check for loose or hanging glass
- Make a quick risk assessment (inside and outside)
- Decide the safest way to remove or stabilise broken glass
- Agree the window boarding approach with you before we start
Where possible we work from inside the property to reduce disturbance and prevent drawing attention to the damage.
2. Careful Glass Removal and Clean-Up
To prepare for boarding up a broken window we:
- Remove loose, dangerous glass from the frame
- Place larger shards safely aside for your insurer if requested
- Sweep/hoover accessible glass fragments from:
- Window sills and reveals
- Immediate floor area
- External access paths where it’s safe to do so
We’re not a full specialist cleaning company, but we always leave the area safe to walk through and explain if any hidden debris may remain (e.g. in thick carpets or soft furnishings).
3. Plywood or OSB Boarding – Thickness & Materials
We primarily use exterior-grade plywood or OSB (oriented strand board):
- Typical thicknesses:
- 11–12mm for smaller windows and internal openings
- 18mm+ for larger or more exposed windows, doors or shopfronts
- Boards are cut to size on site to minimise gaps
- We can double-board or brace from behind for very large or vulnerable openings
Where insurers have specific requirements (for example, minimum board thickness), we’ll follow these wherever practical and note it on your paperwork.
4. Anti-Tamper Fixings and Non-Destructive Securing
We always aim for non-destructive securing first – meaning we avoid damaging the window frame, surrounding masonry or internal finishes unless there is no safer alternative.
Typical methods include:
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Anti-tamper fixings
- Screws or bolts designed so they can’t be easily removed from the outside
- Used with security washers and plates where needed
- Positioned to minimise visible marks once your window is repaired
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Through-frame bracing (where suitable)
- Using internal timber braces and spreader plates
- This allows us to clamp the board over the outside of the frame
- Reduces the need to screw into delicate frames or decorative surrounds
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Structural exceptions
- If the frame or wall is badly damaged (e.g. after impact), a truly non-destructive method might not be possible
- In these rare cases we’ll clearly explain:
- Why stronger fixing points are needed
- Where we propose to fix into brickwork or solid timber
- How that will affect later repairs
You’ll always know what we plan to fix into before we start boarding the window.
5. Security and Weatherproofing
Our aim is to board up and secure the opening properly, not just cover it.
We:
- Check boards are tight and cannot easily be prised off from outside
- Overlap edges to reduce draughts and water ingress where possible
- Leave necessary ventilation in flood or damp-related cases where your insurer or loss assessor requests it
- Consider child safety – no sharp edges or exposed screws where children might reach
For high-risk or repeatedly targeted properties, we can discuss steel security screens or temporary steel doors as part of wider vacant property security in South East London.
6. Coordination with Glaziers – Board & Glaze
We’re not full-time glaziers, but we frequently:
- Provide “board up and make safe” so the property is secure immediately
- Work alongside your chosen glazier or contractor
- Leave boards in place until replacement windows are ready
If you don’t have a glazier yet, we can explain the typical board & glaze sequence and what details they might need from our boarding up.
Why Choose Us for Window Boarding in South East London
Choosing a local, experienced team matters when your property feels exposed. Here’s what you can expect from us:
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24/7 emergency window boarding
- Out-of-hours and same day boarding up across SE postcodes
- Ideal when you need an emergency board up 24/7 and can’t wait for normal business hours
- Reachable at any time on 020 4538 1506
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Local coverage across South East London
- Fast dispatch across areas such as Greenwich, Blackheath, Eltham, Lewisham, Catford, Peckham, Dulwich, Bermondsey, Rotherhithe, Woolwich and beyond
- We cover the full SE postcode region and nearby bordering neighbourhoods
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10+ years’ experience in boarding up services
- Specialists in broken window boarding and emergency securing
- Familiar with typical insurance expectations and landlord requirements
- Experienced with houses, flats, HMOs, shops, offices and light industrial units
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DBS-checked technicians & public liability insured
- All operatives are background checked
- We carry public liability insurance for your peace of mind
- Respectful, tidy and clear communicators on site
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Non-destructive securing wherever possible
- We design every board-up to minimise extra damage
- Transparent if we need to fix into masonry or structural elements
- We always prioritise safety first, especially with structural or fire damage
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Insurer-friendly paperwork
- Time-stamped before/after photos of damage and completed boarding
- Itemised invoice (labour, materials, access equipment where relevant)
- Simple work statement describing what was done and why
- Works smoothly with our dedicated insurance support for boarding up in South East London
Many of our jobs come from repeat clients (landlords, managing agents, shop owners) who rely on us as their local boarding up contractors whenever there’s an emergency.
What Happens Next
If you need a broken window boarded up, the process is straightforward:
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Contact our team
- Call us on 020 4538 1506 for urgent emergencies
- Or use the contact form/email for non-urgent or planned works
- We’ll ask a few quick questions:
- Address and access details
- Type of property (house, flat, shop, etc.)
- Size and location of the broken window
- How the damage happened (burglary, storm, accident, etc.)
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We give you a clear, no-obligation estimate
- No fixed list pricing – each job depends on size, access and materials
- We’ll explain the main cost factors (board thickness, height, number of openings) – you can also read more on our boarding up prices in South East London page.
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Attendance and make-safe boarding up
- We attend as agreed, carry out a safety check and clear loose glass
- We then board up the window using appropriate plywood/OSB and anti-tamper fixings
- We tidy the immediate area and walk you through the work
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Paperwork and aftercare
- We issue a receipt/invoice, plus photos and a short statement if needed for your insurer
- If the damage followed a break-in or vandalism, we can coordinate with:
- For ongoing or larger security concerns, we may suggest our wider boarding up services in South East London
If you’re comparing options or just want to understand the process, you might also find our Boarding Up FAQs and What is boarding up pages helpful.
Window Boarding FAQs
How long does it take to board up a window?
Most standard single windows can be boarded up within 30–90 minutes of arrival, depending on:
- How much broken glass needs to be safely removed
- The height and access (ground floor vs. ladders/towers)
- The size and type of window (small sash vs. large bay or shopfront)
Larger or high-level openings naturally take longer, but we always prioritise making the property safe and secure as quickly as possible.
Is window boarding covered by insurance?
Many home and commercial insurance policies will cover emergency boarding up after events such as burglary, vandalism, storm or accidental damage, but it varies by policy.
We can’t provide legal or insurance advice, but we do provide:
- Detailed, itemised invoices
- Time-stamped photos of the damage and the completed boarding
- A simple statement of works to support your claim
For more detail, see our page on insurance support for boarding up in South East London.
Will boarding up damage my window frames?
We practise non-destructive securing wherever possible. That means:
- Fixing into sturdy parts of the frame or existing fixing points
- Using anti-tamper fixings positioned to be as discreet as possible
- Using internal bracing where it’s a suitable option
In some cases (e.g. rotten frames, structural damage) we may have to fix into surrounding masonry for safety. We’ll always explain this first so there are no surprises for your glazier or carpenter later.
Can you board up my window tonight?
Yes. We provide 24/7 emergency boarding up in South East London. If you’re searching for “emergency window boarding near me” and you’re in or near an SE postcode, we can help.
Call 020 4538 1506 any time and we’ll arrange the fastest practical attendance, taking into account your location, access and safety.
What if I have a shopfront or very large window?
We regularly board up large shopfront windows and commercial glazing as part of our shopfront boarding in South East London service. For oversized panes we:
- Use thicker boards and additional bracing
- Plan safe manual handling and access (e.g. podiums or towers where needed)
- Consider RAMS (risk assessments and method statements) for commercial sites
We’ll discuss the options with you based on the size, location and risk.
Need emergency window boarding in South East London?
Need help now? Call 020 4538 1506 or Email us for fast, 24/7 window boarding and emergency securing.
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