Situations We Help With Across Chelmsford (CM) — Emergency Boarding Up & Making Safe

When something goes wrong at a property, it rarely happens at a convenient time. A smashed window, a forced door, storm debris through glazing, or fire service entry can leave your home or business exposed within minutes.

At Boarding Up Chelmsford, we provide emergency boarding up in Chelmsford and across the CM postcode area (CM0–CM77) to help you secure property and reduce further loss. If you need urgent help, call 01245 945 217. We’ll talk through what’s happened, give you a realistic ETA, and advise what to do while you wait.

We’re fully insured, have 10+ years trading, and our technicians are DBS-checked. We don’t promise fixed arrival times—conditions vary—but we prioritise urgent calls and aim to attend as quickly as possible.

The situations that commonly need boarding up (and what happens next)

“Boarding up” is often called in as part of a make safe response—closing off an opening so the building can be locked, weathered, and left in a safe state until repairs can be arranged.

Below are the most common scenarios we attend in Chelmsford and the surrounding CM districts. Each one links to a dedicated guide with practical next steps.

Burglary / break-in damage

Forced entry often leaves more than a broken lock. Doors can be split, frames cracked, hinges ripped out, and side windows smashed. If the door won’t close and lock reliably, the priority is to board up door and/or openings so the property is secure overnight.

We can help you stabilise the entry point, fit temporary boarding, and advise on options if the frame is too damaged for non-destructive methods.

Vandalism (smashed windows, repeated targeting, damage to shopfronts)

Vandalism frequently involves a smashed window or deliberate damage to glazing at street level—sometimes repeatedly over multiple nights. In these cases, boarding isn’t just about weatherproofing; it’s about preventing easy access and discouraging a return visit.

If you need to board up broken window quickly—especially out of hours—we can arrange temporary boarding and discuss stronger temporary options for vulnerable sites.

Storm damage (wind-blown debris, fallen branches, roof or skylight openings)

High winds can turn loose objects into impact hazards. Even a small break can become a large opening when rain and gusts get in. If you’ve got missing panes, cracked glazing, or a compromised rooflight, we can help you make safe and protect the building from further water ingress.

Depending on access and the opening, we may recommend boarding at height or weather-focused solutions.

Fire damage (post-fire securing, emergency access points, smoke-stained openings)

After a fire, the building may be left with damaged windows, compromised doors, or fire service entry points that can’t be secured. Our role is to secure property and reduce the risk of opportunistic entry and weather damage.

We’re not a fire restoration company and we don’t provide smoke/odour remediation—but we can secure the structure so specialist contractors and insurers can take over safely.

Flood damage (swollen doors, frames that won’t close, unsafe glazing)

Floodwater can swell timber doors and frames, meaning locks don’t engage and doors won’t close correctly. Glazing may also be stressed or cracked after rapid temperature changes and movement. We can secure openings as a temporary measure while drying and repair plans are put in place.

Accident / impact damage (vehicle strikes, building works, accidental breakage)

Accidents can happen fast: a reversing vehicle into a wall, a trolley through a shop window, or impact damage during works. Even when the building is structurally sound, you may be left with a dangerous opening that needs immediate control.

We can shopfront boarded up solutions for commercial sites and boarding for residential windows and doors depending on the damage.

What we do on a “make safe” call-out in Chelmsford

Every job is different, but the goal is consistent: close off vulnerable access points and leave the site safe, secure, and clearly documented.

A typical emergency boarding up visit may include:

Assessment on arrival: what’s damaged, what’s unsafe, and what can be secured immediately
Choosing the right material: commonly 18mm exterior-grade plywood for stronger protection; 12mm OSB can be suitable for smaller/less exposed openings (we’ll advise)
Fixing method selection: using appropriate fixings and techniques to resist removal from outside where possible
Temporary boarding installed: windows, doors, shopfront panels, or roof/skylight openings as required
Safety checks: sharp glass, loose frame elements, and any immediate hazards around the opening
Documentation for your records: itemised invoice and a clear statement of work; we can provide photos (useful for insurers and landlords)

If the surrounding frame is too damaged to take fixings safely, we’ll explain options before proceeding. In some cases, a temporary steel door or a different securing method is more suitable than timber boarding.

You can also explore what boarding involves in plain language here: what is boarding up?

Which type of boarding is best for your situation?

Different incidents create different risks. The service below is chosen based on opening size, location, exposure to weather, and how long the property may be unattended.

For broken glazing at ground level: window boarding in Chelmsford
For forced doors and insecure entrances: door boarding up
For commercial frontage damage: shopfront boarding
For rooflights and overhead openings: roof and skylight boarding

If you’re not sure what you need, that’s normal—call 01245 945 217 and describe what’s happened. We’ll help you choose the safest, most practical option.

What to do straight away (before we arrive)

If you’re dealing with a break-in, damage, or anything that feels unsafe, these steps will help protect you and your claim:

Put personal safety first
Don’t touch damaged glass or force doors that are jammed. Keep people away from the area.
If a crime may be in progress, call 999
If it’s after the fact, report it via 101 and keep your crime reference number.
Take photos if it’s safe
Capture the opening, the surrounding frame, and any damage to locks/hinges. This helps with insurance and landlords/facilities teams.
Limit access and prevent further loss
If you can do so safely, move valuables away from the affected area and keep the building occupied until it’s secured.
Call us and explain what’s happened
Call 01245 945 217. We’ll ask a few quick questions about the opening size, access, and any immediate hazards, then give a realistic ETA.
Notify your insurer as early as practical
We’re not loss adjusters, but we can provide the sort of documentation insurers typically ask for. See: insurance claims support

Residential, commercial, and vacant properties — we secure them all

Incidents don’t discriminate between property types. We regularly help:

Homeowners and tenants needing urgent emergency boarding up after a break-in or a smashed window
Shop owners and managers who need a shopfront boarded up to protect stock and keep the site safe
Landlords, agents, and facilities managers securing voids between tenancies

If you’re dealing with a specific property category, these pages may help:

Coverage: Chelmsford and all CM postcode districts (CM0–CM77)

We cover Chelmsford and the wider CM region, including CM1, CM2, CM3, CM4, CM5, CM6, CM7, CM8, CM9, CM11, CM12, CM13, CM15, CM16, CM17, CM19, CM21, CM22, CM24 and CM77.

If you want a local page for your area, start here: areas we cover — or visit boarding up Chelmsford CM1 and boarding up Writtle CM1.

FAQs — situations and emergencies

How soon can someone board up my house in Chelmsford?

Attendance depends on time of day, traffic, and existing workload. We don’t give guaranteed arrival times, but we prioritise urgent calls. If you call 01245 945 217, we’ll give you a realistic ETA based on what’s happening right now.

Can you board up a smashed window out of hours?

Yes—out of hours call-outs are a common reason people contact us. If you need to board up broken window tonight, call and we’ll advise the safest immediate steps while we arrange attendance.

What if the door frame is damaged and won’t hold boards?

If the frame is too compromised to fix into safely, we’ll explain alternatives before starting. Depending on the doorway and risk level, a temporary steel door or different fixing approach may be more appropriate than standard boarding.

Do you provide paperwork for insurance?

Yes. You’ll receive an itemised invoice and a clear statement of work. If requested, we can also provide photos of the completed boarding. For more guidance, read our insurance claims support page.

Will boarding up stop rain and draughts completely?

Boarding reduces weather entry significantly, but the outcome depends on how irregular the opening is and whether the surrounding frame is intact. We’ll aim to leave the property secure and as weather-tight as practical as a temporary measure.

Can you board up a shopfront so we can reopen quickly?

Often, yes. The goal is to secure the opening and keep the site safe. Whether you can reopen immediately depends on the damage location, access, and any safety concerns. For dedicated information, see shopfront boarding.

Is boarding up covered by insurance in Chelmsford?

Many policies include reasonable costs to prevent further loss after an incident, but cover varies. We recommend contacting your insurer early and keeping your reference numbers and photos. We can supply documentation insurers typically request, but we can’t confirm policy cover.

I’m not sure what service I need — can I just explain what happened?

Absolutely. Many callers don’t know whether they need window boarding, door boarding, or something else. Call 01245 945 217 and describe the situation (break-in, storm damage, impact, etc.). We’ll guide you to the safest option.

Next step: tell us what’s happened and we’ll help you secure the property

If you’re dealing with a break-in, a smashed window, or any damage that leaves your property exposed, we can help you make safe and secure it across Chelmsford and the CM area.

Need help now? Call 01245 945 217 for immediate assistance, or email us if it’s non-urgent.

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