Accident Damage Boarding Up in Chelmsford (CM0–CM77)

Accidents happen fast — a vehicle clips a wall, a delivery trolley goes through glazing, or a contractor misjudges a manoeuvre and a door is left hanging off its hinges. If you’re dealing with accident damage and an opening has been left exposed, boarding up in Chelmsford is often the quickest way to make safe and secure property until repairs can be completed.

If you need urgent help (including out of hours), call 01245 945 217. We cover Chelmsford and the wider CM postcode area (CM0–CM77), and we’ll give you a realistic ETA on the phone based on workload and access.

When accident damage typically happens

“Accident damage” covers any unplanned incident that leaves your property insecure or weather-exposed. In the Chelmsford and CM area, common call-outs include:

• Vehicle impact into a wall, garage door, shopfront, or boundary (private cars, vans, or lorries)
• Smashed window caused by ladders, tools, or site materials on building works
• Commercial delivery accidents, where a bay door, entrance door, or glazed panel is damaged
• Public-facing premises incidents, where a member of the public accidentally breaks glazing (or a door closer fails and the door shatters glass)
• Internal accidents where a door is forced or broken and no longer secures properly (especially in shared buildings)

The immediate problem isn’t just the broken glass or bent frame — it’s the fact the building is now vulnerable to:

• opportunistic theft (especially if the property will be unattended overnight)
• wind and rain getting inside and worsening damage
• injury risk from loose glass, sharp edges, or unstable frames
• liability issues for businesses if the entrance isn’t controlled

If you’re staring at a board up broken window situation, or you need to board up door damage after an impact, temporary boarding can stabilise the site while you arrange glazing, joinery, or structural repairs.

What we do first: make safe, then secure

Accident damage is rarely tidy. Frames can be twisted, brickwork can be cracked, and glass can be missing entirely. Our approach is practical and transparent:

1. Initial assessment & safety check
   We assess the opening, the condition of the surrounding frame, and whether anything is loose or likely to fall. If the area is dangerous, we’ll advise on creating a safe perimeter before work starts.

2. Choose the right method for the opening
   We’ll match the solution to the risk and the location: window, door, shopfront, or overhead. That might be plywood boarding, sheet material, or a more robust temporary option.

3. Fit temporary boarding with security in mind
   We use fixings and methods designed to resist removal from outside. Where appropriate, we use anti-tamper fixings to reduce the risk of someone simply taking the board off.

4. Document what’s been done
   If you’re dealing with an insurer or a property manager, clear paperwork matters. We can provide:

   • itemised invoices
   • a statement of work (what was secured and how)
   • time-stamped photos on request (helpful for claims and landlord records)

We’re fully insured, have been trading for 10+ years, and our technicians are DBS-checked — important when we’re securing homes, vacant properties, or sensitive commercial sites.

How we secure different types of accident damage

Every incident is different, but most accident-damage call-outs fall into a few categories.

Boarding up a smashed or missing window (domestic and commercial)

If you’ve got a smashed window, the priority is preventing access and stopping the weather getting in. We commonly use:

• 18mm exterior-grade plywood for larger openings or higher-risk elevations
• 12mm OSB for smaller windows or lower-risk areas (depending on exposure and the frame condition)

We’ll check the reveal and frame integrity before fixing. If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain the options before proceeding so you can make an informed decision.

Relevant service: window boarding in Chelmsford

Boarding up a damaged door or forced entrance

A door strike can split the frame, shear hinges, or pull fixings out of masonry. If the door can’t lock reliably, boarding may be the safest short-term option — especially if you can’t get a joiner immediately.

Depending on the doorway and how long you need it secured, we may recommend a temporary steel door rather than timber boarding, particularly for:

• rear/side access doors
• properties left unoccupied
• repeated risk areas (e.g., easy access from a lane or car park)

Relevant service: door boarding up in Chelmsford

Shopfront boarded up after impact or glazing failure

For retail and commercial premises, a damaged shopfront isn’t just a security issue — it can stop trading. If your glazing has been hit by a vehicle or cracked badly, we can make safe and get the front secured so you can plan the next steps with your glazier.

Shopfronts often need:

• larger, stronger sheets
• careful fixing to avoid further damage to frames
• a practical approach to keeping signage and access in mind

Relevant service: shopfront boarding in Chelmsford

Rooflights, skylights and overhead openings

Accidents on roofs happen — a dropped tool, foot through a fragile panel, storm debris after an impact nearby. If you’ve got an overhead opening, the risk is rapid water ingress and further structural damage.

We can secure roof and skylight openings where access is safe and appropriate, using materials and fixing methods suited to overhead exposure.

Relevant service: roof boarding in Chelmsford

What to expect when you call us

When you phone 01245 945 217, we’ll ask a few quick questions so we can turn up prepared:

• Is it a window, door, shopfront or roof opening?
• Is the property occupied right now?
• Is there any remaining glass in place or is it completely open?
• Are emergency services on scene, or has the area been cordoned?
• Do you need temporary boarding only, or something more robust (like a temporary steel door)?

We don’t quote fixed arrival times — conditions vary — but we prioritise urgent calls and will give you a realistic ETA on the phone. If access is restricted (for example, managed sites, flats, or commercial premises with shuttered entrances), tell us early so we can plan accordingly.

Practical steps to take after accident damage (before we arrive)

If it’s safe to do so, these steps help protect people and support any insurance claim:

1. Make the area safe
   • Keep people away from broken glass and unstable frames.
   • If you can, close internal doors to limit draughts and weather ingress.
2. Call the right people
   • If anyone is injured or the structure is unsafe, call emergency services first.
   • If it’s a road traffic collision, you may need a police incident number depending on circumstances.
3. Take photos
   • Photograph the damage from a safe distance.
   • Capture the wider context (where impact occurred) as well as close-ups.
4. Contact your insurer early
   • We’re not loss adjusters, but we can provide documentation insurers typically need.

If you’re unsure, call us and we’ll talk you through what to do next.

For claims-related guidance, see: insurance claims support

Typical accident damage call-out (what it often looks like)

A typical call-out might involve a small commercial unit or residential property in the CM1–CM2 area where an impact has cracked the glazing and distorted the frame, leaving a low-level opening that’s easy to access from outside.

In situations like this, we would usually:

• attend and assess whether the remaining glass is stable
• measure the opening and select an appropriate sheet (often 18mm exterior-grade plywood for security)
• fit boards using internal baton methods or anti-tamper fixings where suitable
• check there are no additional vulnerable points created by the impact (adjacent panes, weak frames)
• provide a clear work record and invoice for follow-on contractors and insurance

If the frame is too compromised to take fixings safely, we’ll explain alternatives (including temporary steel door options for entrances) before any irreversible work is done.

Accident damage for different property types

Accident damage affects properties differently, and the “right” boarding solution depends on how the building is used.

• Homes and flats: prioritise safety, privacy, and keeping weather out — especially overnight.
• Shops and offices: focus on security and business continuity (a properly secured frontage reduces the risk of a second incident).
• Vacant buildings: often need stronger, longer-term options if the property will be unattended.

If your situation relates to a specific type of building, these pages may help:

• residential boarding up
• commercial boarding up
• vacant property security

FAQs about accident damage boarding up in Chelmsford

How soon can someone secure my property after accident damage in Chelmsford?

We prioritise urgent call-outs and aim to attend as quickly as possible. We can’t guarantee exact arrival times because traffic, job complexity, and access vary — but if you call 01245 945 217 we’ll give you a realistic ETA there and then.

Can you board up tonight if my window was damaged by an accident?

Yes — we offer 24/7 boarding up for urgent situations, including out of hours. If you need to board up broken window damage tonight, call and we’ll advise on the best immediate option.

Is boarding up covered by insurance after accident damage?

Often, insurers will consider emergency securing as a necessary mitigation step, but policies vary. We’re not insurers or loss adjusters — we can provide an itemised invoice and supporting information that insurers typically request. See: insurance claims support

What if the door frame is split and I can’t lock it?

If the door can’t be secured, we can board up door openings as a temporary measure. In some cases — especially if the property will be empty — a temporary steel door can be a safer medium-term option. Speak to us and we’ll explain what’s suitable for your doorway.

Do you board up shopfronts after vehicle impact?

Yes. If you need a shopfront boarded up after an impact or glazing failure, we can attend to make safe and secure the frontage so you can arrange permanent repairs.

Will boarding up damage my frames further?

We aim to minimise additional damage and use appropriate fixing methods for the substrate. If the surrounding frame or brickwork is already compromised, we’ll explain the risks and options before proceeding.

How long does temporary boarding last?

Temporary boarding is intended to secure the opening until glazing/joinery repairs are completed. Duration depends on exposure and the type of boarding used. If you expect delays, tell us — we can discuss more robust solutions for longer periods.

Need emergency help after an accident?

If your property has been left exposed by impact damage, don’t wait for things to get worse overnight.

Need help now? Call 01245 945 217 for immediate assistance with emergency boarding up in Chelmsford and across CM0–CM77.
Prefer email for non-urgent enquiries? Contact us at [email protected].