Door Boarding in Romford (Emergency & Planned Property Security)
When a door has been forced, split, or left hanging after a break-in, you need it secured quickly and properly. Our door boarding in Romford service is designed to make safe damaged entrances fast—whether it’s a front door at a house, a rear access door at a flat, or a staff entrance to a shop or office across the RM postcodes.
If you need urgent help tonight or out of hours, go straight to our emergency page or call now: Call 01708 973 306. We’ll talk you through the next steps and give a realistic ETA.
- For urgent attendance: emergency boarding up
- For other openings: window boarding in Romford and shopfront boarding
When do you need door boarding?
Door boarding is most commonly needed after an incident—because a damaged door isn’t just inconvenient, it’s a security risk and can invalidate parts of an insurance claim if the property is left exposed.
Typical call-outs include:
- Post-burglary security (splintered frames, snapped locks, doors kicked in)
- Vandalism (impact damage, attempts to force entry)
- Accident/impact (a vehicle strike or accidental damage affecting the entrance)
- Fire damage where the door or frame is compromised (we secure; we don’t do smoke/odour remediation)
- Vacant properties between tenancies where the entrance needs reliable temporary security
If you’re dealing with a break-in, see our situation guidance as well: burglary repairs and boarding.
Emergency door boarding in Romford (what “make safe” means)
When someone searches “board up door” after a break-in, what they usually need is:
- The entry point secured so nobody can re-enter easily
- The opening protected from weather
- Clear documentation they can pass to insurers, landlords, or managing agents
We treat emergency door boarding Romford calls as priority work. We can’t promise fixed arrival times (traffic and workload vary), but if you call we’ll tell you what we can realistically do and when.
Need help now? Call 01708 973 306
Emergency intent phrases we handle every day:
- board up door
- make safe
- secure property
- temporary boarding
- emergency boarding up
- out of hours
- 24/7 boarding up (urgent attendance, including evenings/weekends)
- board up broken window (often paired with forced entry)
- shopfront boarded up (where rear/service doors are also damaged)
How our door boarding works (step-by-step)
You don’t need to know the technical details when you’re stressed, but it helps to understand what will happen when we arrive.
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Assessment & safety check
- We check the condition of the door leaf, hinges, lock area, and—most importantly—the frame and surrounding masonry/timber.
- If the frame is too unstable for a non-destructive fix, we’ll explain your options before proceeding.
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Choose the right method
- For many domestic doors, a robust boarding method with anti-tamper fixings is suitable.
- For higher-risk sites (repeat targeting, vacant properties, commercial rear doors), we may recommend a temporary steel door for more secure medium-term protection.
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Fit, secure, and document
- We install the board/door so it cannot be removed easily from the outside.
- We take time-stamped photos and provide an itemised invoice and a clear work statement for your records.
If you’re managing a site and need a broader plan (multiple entrances, ongoing risks), see: vacant property boarding.
Materials we use (and why)
A door opening takes different stresses compared with a window—people try to force doors. We select materials based on the size of the opening, condition of the frame, and risk level.
Common materials include:
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18mm exterior-grade plywood
Strong, durable, and reliable for many door openings. Suitable where you need a sturdy panel that holds fixings well. -
OSB (often 12mm for smaller openings)
Useful in some circumstances, particularly for smaller or secondary door apertures, but we’ll always match thickness and method to the job. -
Anti-tamper fixings and secure fixing patterns
The goal is to prevent removal from outside—especially important if the property will be unattended. -
Temporary steel doors (where appropriate)
Ideal for medium-term security when the original door can’t be repaired quickly, or where repeated forced entry is a concern.
For longer-term protection on voids, we can also discuss security options beyond timber boarding. Explore: property types we cover.
Door boarding methods (what we actually do on site)
Every doorway is different, but our approach is consistent: secure the opening without creating avoidable damage, and keep the property protected until a permanent repair is arranged.
Method 1: Overboarding the door area
Used when the existing door is beyond immediate securing, or when the lock side/hinges have failed.
- Board is fitted to cover the vulnerable area fully
- Fixings are positioned to resist leverage and tampering
- We aim for a neat, strong finish that supports short-term weather protection
Method 2: Securing the door leaf (where possible)
If the door is still present and alignment allows, we may be able to secure it and board strategically to reinforce weak points. This can be useful when you need access later and want to avoid fully sealing the entrance.
Method 3: Temporary steel door installation
A practical upgrade where:
- The property is vacant
- There’s a history of repeat targeting
- The frame is damaged but can accept a temporary unit
- You need controlled access for contractors, landlords, or managing agents
Temporary steel doors are designed for stronger security than timber boarding, particularly for longer durations.
Related services you may need at the same time:
- window boarding in Romford (forced entry often includes a smashed window)
- roof boarding (if there’s storm or impact damage above)
Residential, commercial, and vacant property door boarding
Residential door boarding (houses, flats, maisonettes)
Across Romford and the RM districts, we frequently secure:
- Front and rear doors after forced entry
- Communal entrances (where authorised access is provided)
- Flats above shops where access can be awkward and timing matters
If you’re a tenant, landlord, or homeowner, the priority is simple: secure property first, then sort the longer-term repair with your insurer or contractor.
Commercial door boarding (shops, offices, facilities)
We often deal with:
- Rear access doors and staff entrances
- Service yard doors
- Mixed-use buildings where the business is at street level with residential above
If you have compliance requirements (e.g., access rules, site sign-in, method statements), tell us on the phone and we’ll work with your process where possible.
More on commercial scenarios: commercial property boarding.
Vacant/void properties
Void properties can be targeted repeatedly, especially if it’s obvious the building is empty. Door boarding can be appropriate as an immediate measure, but for ongoing security a temporary steel door can be a smarter option.
See: vacant property boarding in Romford.
What you’ll receive (useful for insurance and landlords)
We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisors, but we provide the documentation insurers and managing agents typically ask for:
- Time-stamped photos before and after boarding
- Itemised invoice (clear description of work and materials)
- Work statement noting what was secured and how
- Notes on any access limitations or pre-existing damage we observed
For claims guidance, visit: insurance claims help.
What to do before we arrive (if it’s safe)
If you’re dealing with a smashed entrance or forced door, it’s normal to feel shaken. These steps can make the process smoother:
- If there’s been a crime, call the police first and keep your crime reference number
- Take photos only if safe (don’t touch damaged locks or potential evidence)
- Keep children/pets away from broken timber, glass, or exposed fixings
- If the door won’t close and you can do so safely, keep people inside and avoid confrontation
- If you’re a tenant, inform the landlord/managing agent as early as possible
Door boarding in Romford & across RM postcodes
We cover Romford and surrounding RM areas for door boarding and emergency boarding up, including work across RM1–RM50 where access and urgency vary by time of day and workload.
If you’re not sure whether you’re in our service area, check: areas we cover or call 01708 973 306 and we’ll confirm.
Common questions about door boarding (FAQs)
Will you be able to board up my door tonight?
If you need out of hours help, call 01708 973 306 and we’ll advise what’s possible and provide a realistic ETA. We prioritise urgent emergency boarding up jobs, but we don’t guarantee fixed arrival times.
Can you board up a door if the frame is damaged?
Often, yes—but it depends on how compromised the frame is. We’ll assess on arrival. If the frame won’t safely hold fixings, we’ll explain options (including a temporary steel door where appropriate) before doing anything that could make the damage worse.
What’s the difference between door boarding and a temporary steel door?
Door boarding (usually timber board + secure fixings) is typically a quick, effective short-term solution. A temporary steel door is a more robust option for medium-term security—especially for vacant properties or repeat targeting—while still allowing controlled access.
Is door boarding covered by insurance?
It often can be, particularly after burglary, vandalism, storm damage, or impact—but policies vary. We provide photos, an itemised invoice, and a work statement to support your claim. More help here: insurance claims.
How long does door boarding take?
It depends on the size of the opening, access, and how damaged the door/frame is. A straightforward job can be relatively quick, while complex damage (multiple fix points, unstable frames) takes longer. We’ll talk you through expectations when you call.
Can you board up a back door or side entrance as well?
Yes. In many break-ins, rear access points are targeted. If multiple entrances are vulnerable, tell us on the phone so we can arrive prepared.
Do you also board up windows at the same time?
Yes—forced entry frequently involves a smashed window as well as door damage. We can secure both openings on the same visit where possible. See: window boarding in Romford.
I’m a landlord/agent—can you provide documentation for my records?
Yes. We can supply time-stamped photos, an itemised invoice, and a clear work statement suitable for landlords, managing agents, and facilities teams.
Related services and situations
Door damage rarely happens in isolation. These pages may help:
- After a break-in: burglary repairs and boarding
- After vandalism: vandalism repair and boarding
- After storms: storm damage boarding
- After impact: accident damage boarding
- For retail glazing: shopfront boarding
Helpful Links
Get door boarding help now
If your door has been forced or you need to secure property quickly, we’re ready to help across Romford and the RM area.
Need help now? Call 01708 973 306 for immediate assistance.
Prefer email for planned work? info@boarding-up-romford.co.uk
