Situations We Help With in Romford (RM) — Boarding Up After Damage, Break-Ins & Emergencies

When something happens to your property—whether it’s a smashed window, a forced door, or storm damage—the priority is simple: make safe, secure the opening, and reduce further loss. Our team provides boarding up in Romford and across the RM postcodes to help homeowners, landlords, shop owners and facilities teams protect buildings quickly and sensibly.

We’ve been trading for 10+ years, we’re fully insured, and our technicians are DBS-checked. We’ll talk you through the options, attend as quickly as possible, and leave you with the documentation insurers typically ask for.

Need urgent help now? Call 01708 973 306 (or email info@boarding-up-romford.co.uk).

What to do first (before we arrive)

If you’re searching “who can board up my window tonight in Romford” or “emergency boarding up Romford”, you’re likely dealing with a stressful moment. These steps help you stay safe and protect your claim:

  1. Make sure everyone is safe. If there’s a risk from glass, fire, wiring, or structural damage, keep people away from the area.
  2. Call emergency services if needed. If a crime is in progress or there’s danger, call 999. For non-urgent crime reports, follow police guidance and keep your reference number.
  3. Take photos if safe to do so. Wide shots and close-ups help with insurance (don’t put yourself at risk to do this).
  4. Avoid touching damaged frames or broken glass. It’s easy to worsen cracks or injuries.
  5. Call us and describe the opening. Approximate size, ground floor vs upper floor, and whether access is clear helps us bring the right materials first time.

If it’s an emergency or out of hours situation, go straight to our emergency boarding up page.

The situations we’re called out to most

Below are the most common events we deal with across Romford and the wider RM area. Each situation links to a dedicated guide with practical steps, what to expect, and how we secure the building.

Burglary / break-in damage

Forced doors, damaged locks, split frames, and shattered glazing are common after a break-in. We can board up doors, secure windows, and discuss temporary steel doors where appropriate for medium-term security—particularly for vacant properties or repeated risk.

Read more: boarding up after a burglary and door boarding in Romford.

Vandalism (smashed windows, shopfront attacks)

Vandalism often happens quickly but leaves you exposed—especially when you’ve got a smashed window or a compromised shopfront. We’ll focus on a clean, secure temporary boarding method using appropriate thickness boards and fixings, then provide the paperwork you may need for insurers or landlords.

Read more: vandalism repair and boarding and shopfront boarding.

Storm damage and wind-blown debris

High winds can crack glazing, dislodge panels, or expose roof openings. If there’s an opening, water ingress becomes the bigger problem fast. We’ll aim to make safe, secure the vulnerable area, and reduce further weather damage—especially important overnight or when a property will be unattended.

Read more: storm damage boarding and roof boarding.

Fire damage (post-fire securing)

After a fire, even if the flames are out, buildings are often left open—broken windows, missing doors, or unsafe entry points. We’re not fire restoration contractors, but we can secure the property and help you protect it from opportunistic entry or weather until remedial works begin.

Read more: fire damage securing.

Flood damage and swollen frames

Flooding can distort timber frames, weaken fixings, and make doors/windows difficult to close securely. The approach here can be more delicate—sometimes frames won’t take normal fixings without risk of further damage. We’ll explain what’s possible on site and prioritise safety and secure closure.

Read more: flood damage securing.

Accidental impact (vehicle strike, DIY damage, breakages)

Accidents happen: a fallen object through a pane, a vehicle impact near an entrance, or a cracked panel that suddenly gives way. If there’s any doubt about structural stability, we’ll advise cautious next steps and focus on temporary boarding that stabilises access and reduces risk.

Read more: accident damage boarding.

How we secure properties (and why methods differ)

There isn’t one “standard” board-up. The right method depends on the opening, the risk level, and how long the property needs to stay secured.

  • Windows: We typically use exterior-grade plywood (commonly 18mm for larger openings) or OSB (often 12mm for smaller/low-risk openings). Fixing method depends on the frame condition and whether we can fix internally for better security. See window boarding in Romford.
  • Doors & entries: For a damaged door, boarding can work as an emergency measure, but if the opening will remain vulnerable, a temporary steel door may be more practical for repeated access and stronger security. See door boarding in Romford.
  • Shopfronts: Larger panes and high-footfall locations often need stronger panels, tidy edges, and anti-tamper consideration. We can also discuss options that help keep the frontage as safe and presentable as possible while you arrange glazing replacement. See shopfront boarding.
  • Roofs & skylights: Overhead openings need careful access planning and weatherproofing intent—especially after storms. See roof boarding.

If the frame is too damaged for a non-destructive method, we’ll explain the options before proceeding. Our goal is always to secure first, without causing avoidable extra damage.

If you’re new to this, our overview guide can help: what boarding up is and when you need it.

What happens when you call us

People often ask for a fixed arrival time. We don’t promise exact times because conditions vary, but we prioritise urgent calls and we’ll give you a realistic ETA on the phone.

  1. Quick questions on the phone
    We’ll confirm location (RM postcode), what’s happened, the type/size of opening, and any access notes (flat above a shop, rear access, shared entrance, etc.).
  2. Make-safe visit and securing the opening
    We arrive with suitable boards and fixings. Where possible, we use anti-tamper fixings and methods that reduce the chance of removal from outside—important if the property will be unattended.
  3. Documentation for your records/insurer
    We can provide:
    • time-stamped photos (before/after)
    • an itemised invoice
    • a brief work statement describing what was done and why

For urgent attendance, use emergency boarding up. For non-urgent enquiries or planned securing, you can contact us via the contact page.

Insurance & practical admin (what helps your claim)

We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisors, but we’ve worked alongside insurers for years and know what tends to be helpful. Consider the following:

  • Report the incident promptly and keep your reference numbers (police/crime, or incident logs for commercial sites).
  • Keep receipts and invoices related to making safe the property.
  • Ask what your policy covers: emergency boarding, temporary security, glazing, lock changes, and redecoration may be treated differently.
  • Don’t delay securing an opening. Insurers often expect “reasonable steps” to prevent further damage.

More detail here: insurance claims support for boarding up.

Areas we cover for situation call-outs (RM postcodes)

We cover Romford and the RM postcode area (RM1–RM50) across Havering and surrounding districts. If you’re nearby and not sure, call—if we can’t help, we’ll tell you honestly.

Popular local pages include:

For a broader list, see areas we cover.

Frequently asked questions about boarding up after an incident

Can you board up a broken window the same day in Romford?

Often, yes—especially for urgent openings like a smashed window or exposed shopfront. Attendance depends on workload and time of day, but we prioritise emergency jobs and will give you a realistic ETA when you call.

Who should I call first after a break-in—police, insurer, or boarding up?

If there’s any immediate threat, call police first. If the scene is safe, many people call us next to secure the property after burglary, then contact the insurer once the opening is protected. Keep any police reference number for your claim.

Do you offer out of hours and weekend boarding up?

Yes. If you need out of hours help, use our 24/7 boarding up service and call 01708 973 306.

What’s the difference between plywood boarding and OSB?

Plywood is typically stronger and more weather-resistant for external use (especially at larger spans), while OSB can be suitable for smaller openings or lower-risk situations. We choose based on the opening size, exposure, and security needs—then explain what we’re fitting and why.

Can you board up a door, or do I need a temporary steel door?

We can board up a door as an emergency measure, but if you need repeated access (or stronger medium-term protection), a temporary steel door can be a better option. We’ll talk through pros/cons on site. See door boarding in Romford.

Will boarding up damage my window frames or brickwork?

We aim to minimise additional damage and will choose fixings/methods suitable for the frame and substrate. If the surrounding structure is already compromised (common after impact or fire), we’ll explain the safest approach before we proceed.

Is boarding up covered by insurance?

Often it can be, depending on your policy and the cause (burglary, storm, etc.). We provide itemised invoices and work statements that insurers typically request. See insurance claims guidance.

How long can boarding stay in place?

Boarding is usually a temporary measure until glazing/repairs are completed. For longer periods—such as vacant properties—security screens or temporary steel doors can be more practical. See vacant property boarding up.

Next steps

If you’ve had a break-in, vandalism, storm damage or any incident that leaves your property exposed, we’ll help you make safe, secure property, and document the work clearly.

Need help now? Call 01708 973 306 for immediate assistance.