Shopfront Boarding in Chelmsford (Emergency & Planned)

A smashed shop window is more than an inconvenience — it’s an immediate security risk, a safety issue for staff and the public, and a potential headache with insurers and landlords. If you need shopfront boarding in Chelmsford, we can help you make safe quickly, secure the opening properly, and leave you with clear documentation for your claim or building manager.

For urgent help, call 01245 945 217 — we prioritise emergency calls across Chelmsford and the wider CM postcode area (CM0–CM77). We don’t promise fixed arrival times (traffic, access and workload vary), but we’ll give you a realistic ETA when you call.

If you’re not in immediate danger but need a planned board-up for a vacant unit or repeat vandalism risk, we can book you in and advise on stronger, longer-term options like security screens or temporary steel doors where appropriate.

Need help now? Call 01245 945 217

When shopfront boarding up is the right call

Shopfront glazing is designed to attract attention — unfortunately that’s also why it becomes a target. We’re regularly asked to board up a broken window, secure a smashed window, or deal with doors and side panels after forced entry.

Common reasons businesses and property managers call us for emergency boarding up include:

• Break-ins and attempted break-ins where the glass has been shattered or the frame damaged
• Vandalism (including repeated attacks on the same frontage)
• Accidental impact (trolleys, vehicles, street furniture, contractor damage)
• Storm damage (blown-in debris, loose glazing, cracked panes)
• Fire attendance where glazing/doors have been compromised (we secure the premises; restoration is separate)

If you’re dealing with a burglary, the most relevant guidance is on our situation page for securing a property after a break-in. For vandalism-driven damage, see boarding up after vandalism.

What “make safe” means for a shopfront (and why it matters)

In a retail or commercial setting, “make safe” usually means three things, in this order:

1. Remove immediate hazards (loose shards, unstable glass, exposed fixings) where it’s safe to do so
2. Secure the opening to prevent entry and reduce further damage
3. Reduce weather exposure so stock, electrics and flooring aren’t left vulnerable overnight

A shopfront left open can quickly lead to secondary losses — theft, water ingress, or further vandalism. Boarding up is often the fastest way to stabilise the situation until a glazier can return and complete a proper repair.

If you need urgent help tonight or out of hours, use our emergency line: 01245 945 217 or see 24/7 emergency boarding up in Chelmsford.

How we board up shopfronts: materials and methods (what we use and why)

Shopfronts vary a lot: single pane windows, multiple bays, glazed doors, side lights, and full-width commercial fronts. Our approach is to choose a method that’s secure, proportionate, and suitable for the condition of the frame and the site.

Board materials we commonly use

We typically use sheet materials suited to security boarding, such as:

• 18mm exterior-grade plywood for robust, higher-risk openings
• 12mm OSB for smaller panels or lower-risk temporary boarding where appropriate

We’ll recommend what fits your situation — including the opening size, ground-floor exposure, and whether the property will be unattended.

Fixings and security approach

We aim to install boards so they’re difficult to remove from the outside. Depending on the frontage and what’s left of the frame, that may include:

• Anti-tamper fixings (important where the shop will be closed or vacant)
• Through-bolting with spreader plates/timber backing where the surrounding substrate allows
• Non-destructive methods where feasible, to avoid unnecessary additional damage

If the frame is too compromised for non-destructive installation, we’ll explain the options before proceeding. The goal is always the same: secure property properly, not just “cover the hole”.

Internal vs external boarding (and what we’ll advise)

• External boarding is often the fastest route to immediate security after a break-in or impact.
• Internal boarding can be useful where you need to maintain an external appearance, signage, or comply with site restrictions — but it must still be secure and safely fixed.

We’ll talk you through what’s realistic on arrival (or on the phone if you can send a photo). Safety and access come first.

Shopfronts, shutters, and doors: what we can secure

Shopfront damage isn’t always a single window. We regularly attend sites where the entry point is a door leaf, a lock area, or a side panel.

We can secure:

• Large shop windows and multi-panel frontages
• Glazed commercial doors and side lights
• Rear/side access doors where the main frontage isn’t the only vulnerability
• Internal access points (e.g., doors between a shop unit and communal areas)

If the primary issue is a damaged door rather than glazing, you may also want to read about door boarding in Chelmsford, including stronger options when a door can’t be reliably repaired the same day.

What to expect when you call us (especially in an emergency)

When you ring 01245 945 217, we’ll take a few practical details so we can turn up prepared:

• Address and postcode (we cover Chelmsford and CM0–CM77)
• What’s happened (break-in, smashed window, storm, accident)
• Whether the opening is at street level and if there are hazards (glass, alarms, crowds)
• Approximate size/shape of the opening (a quick photo helps if safe)
• Access arrangements (keys, shutters, security staff, facilities management contact)

We’ll then give you a realistic ETA based on current workload and travel. We can’t guarantee exact arrival times — especially out of hours — but we prioritise urgent, unsecured sites.

A realistic emergency scenario (typical call-out)

A typical emergency call might involve a small business unit in Chelmsford where the front glazing has been hit overnight and the opening is exposed to the street. The customer needs the premises secured before staff arrive, and the area made safe for passers-by.

On arrival, we’d usually:

1. Assess for loose glass and unsafe edges (and advise you to keep people clear)
2. Measure the opening and cut boards to fit on-site
3. Install temporary boarding using a fixing method suited to the remaining frame and substrate
4. Check for additional vulnerable points (for example, a side panel or weakened door area)
5. Provide time-stamped photos and an itemised invoice/work statement for insurance or landlord records

If the unit is likely to remain empty for a while, we’ll also discuss whether a more durable option would be appropriate — but we won’t push upgrades you don’t need.

Boarding up a shopfront after burglary or vandalism: practical advice

If you’ve had a break-in or vandalism, you’re probably juggling police, alarms, staff rota changes, and stock concerns. These steps help keep things under control:

1. If there’s an immediate threat or someone is inside, call 999.
2. If the offenders have gone and there’s damage, call 101 (or use your online reporting) and get a crime reference number.
3. Take photos of the damage for your insurer/landlord — only if it’s safe and you can do so without touching broken glass.
4. Keep staff and the public away from the frontage; don’t try to clear glass without the right PPE.
5. Call us to board up door or window openings and make safe: 01245 945 217.
6. Contact your insurer as early as possible. We’re not loss adjusters, but we can provide the documentation insurers typically ask for.

More detail is available on our insurance claims guidance page.

Planned shopfront boarding for vacant units and repeat-risk locations

Not every shopfront boarding job is a middle-of-the-night emergency. We also help:

• Landlords between tenancies
• Letting agents and managing agents securing newly vacant units
• Facilities managers coordinating works for multiple sites across CM postcodes
• Shops awaiting glass manufacture or specialist repairs

If the property will be vacant for weeks rather than days, it may be worth looking at vacant property security options and discussing more resilient measures than standard ply/OSB boarding.

What you’ll receive (useful for insurers, landlords and facilities teams)

We aim to leave you with clear, practical paperwork — not vague descriptions.

Typically you’ll receive:

• Time-stamped photos of the secured frontage (before/after where possible)
• An itemised invoice and work statement describing materials and fixing method
• Notes you can pass to your insurer, landlord, managing agent or facilities helpdesk

If you need anything specific for your insurer, tell us on the phone — we’ll do our best to accommodate.

Frequently asked questions about shopfront boarding in Chelmsford

Do you offer emergency shopfront boarding up out of hours?

Yes. We handle emergency boarding up across Chelmsford and the wider CM area, including evenings and weekends. We can’t promise fixed arrival times, but we’ll give you a realistic ETA when you call 01245 945 217.

Can you board up a broken shop window tonight?

If you call and we have a team available, we can often attend the same day/night to board up broken window openings and make safe. Availability depends on current demand, access and travel distance within the CM postcodes.

Will boarding damage my shopfront frame?

We aim for the most secure method with the least additional damage. Where non-destructive fixing is feasible, we’ll use it. If the frame or surrounding substrate is already compromised and a more invasive method is required to secure property, we’ll explain your options before we proceed.

What board thickness do you use for shopfronts?

It depends on the opening size and risk level. We commonly use 18mm exterior-grade plywood for stronger protection, and 12mm OSB for smaller openings or lower-risk temporary boarding where appropriate. We’ll choose the safest and most sensible option on site.

Can you board up a shop door as well as the window?

Yes. Many break-ins affect both glazing and doors. If the door is damaged or can’t be locked, we can board up door openings and discuss alternatives such as a temporary steel door where suitable. See door boarding in Chelmsford for more detail.

Do you work with landlords, managing agents, and facilities management?

Yes. We regularly coordinate access, keys, and documentation for third parties. If you need multiple sites secured, tell us your postcodes and priority order and we’ll advise what’s achievable.

Is shopfront boarding covered by insurance?

Often it can be, depending on your policy and the cause of the damage. We’re not insurers or loss adjusters, but we can provide invoices and photos that insurers typically request. See insurance claims help for practical guidance.

Can you secure more than just the front window (rear doors, side access, etc.)?

Yes. During attendance we can flag obvious additional vulnerabilities and, where requested, secure other openings. If you want a broader plan for a unit that will be empty, read about vacant property boarding and security.

Talk to us about shopfront boarding (Chelmsford & CM postcodes)

If your shopfront is smashed, you need to secure the property, or you want planned temporary boarding while repairs are arranged, we’re ready to help across CM0–CM77.

Need help now? Call 01245 945 217 for immediate assistance.
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