FAQs – Boarding Up Enfield (EN Postcodes)
When your property has been damaged or left vulnerable, you’re rarely in the mood to wade through jargon. These FAQs cover the practical questions we’re asked every day across Enfield and the wider EN postcode area—after break-ins, vandalism, storm damage, or accidents.
If you need urgent help, use our emergency boarding up service or call us now on 020 4634 5688.
Quick answers for stressed-out situations
What should I do first if my window or door has been smashed?
If you’re on-site and it’s safe:
- Make sure everyone is safe and move away from broken glass or unstable frames.
- If it’s a crime, call the police and keep your crime reference number.
- Take a few photos of the damage (only if safe). This helps with insurance and records.
- Call us to secure the opening so the property isn’t left exposed.
If you’re dealing with a break-in, our burglary repairs and boarding page explains what usually happens next.
Do you cover all of Enfield and the EN postcode area?
Yes. We work throughout Enfield and across the EN postcodes (EN1–EN11 in practice, and surrounding areas covered by EN districts). That includes busy town-centre locations and residential streets—think Enfield Town around the Civic Centre and Palace Gardens, commuter areas near Gordon Hill and Oakwood, and industrial stretches closer to the A10 corridor.
For a full list of neighbourhood pages, see areas we cover.
Can you come out at night or at weekends?
Yes—property damage doesn’t wait for office hours. Our 24 hour emergency boarding up in Enfield service is available out of hours.
We don’t quote guaranteed arrival times because traffic, access and the nature of the job vary, but we prioritise genuinely urgent calls (open front elevations, insecure doors, street-facing shopfronts).
Do I need to be at the property?
Ideally, yes—especially for residential jobs—because we may need access to the inside to fit boards safely and use the most secure fixing method.
If you can’t be there, we can often work with:
- A landlord/agent holding keys
- A site manager or facilities contact
- A neighbour providing access (with confirmation)
For longer-term securing on empty buildings, see vacant property boarding solutions.
About boarding up (what it involves)
What’s the difference between plywood boarding and OSB?
Both are commonly used sheet materials, but they’re not identical:
- Plywood (typically 18mm exterior-grade): stronger, better edge integrity, and generally preferred for ground-floor windows/doors and higher-risk locations.
- OSB (often 12mm for smaller openings): can be suitable for short-term boarding or smaller panes where the frame is sound and the risk is lower.
We’ll choose what’s appropriate for the opening, location, and how long it needs to stay in place. If you want the “why” behind different methods, what boarding up is and how it works explains the basics.
How do you actually fix the boards in place?
It depends on the frame and whether we can secure it without causing unnecessary extra damage.
Common methods include:
- Reveals/returns fixing (where there’s enough structure to anchor into securely)
- Through-bolting with internal timber bracing (useful when you want strong hold while reducing the chance of boards being prised off from outside)
- Anti-tamper fixings where suitable (important for unattended properties or street-facing elevations)
If the surrounding frame is too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain the options before proceeding.
Can you board up doors as well as windows?
Yes. We provide door boarding in Enfield for forced doors, damaged frames, or unsafe entry points after a break-in or accident.
If a standard board-up isn’t secure enough (for example, repeated break-in risk or longer vacancy), we may recommend a temporary steel door instead.
Do you board up shopfronts and commercial glazing?
Yes—see shopfront boarding. Retail and commercial frontages often need:
- Larger sheets and more fixings due to wider spans
- A method that maintains safety for staff/public
- Documentation for landlords, insurers, or facilities teams
We’re used to working around busy areas—such as the A105 and A110 routes, near stations, and along local parades—where keeping the frontage safe and compliant matters.
Can you secure rooflights, skylights, or roof damage?
Yes. We carry out roof boarding and skylight boarding where safe access is possible.
Roof work can require extra precautions. If access is unsafe (for example, structural instability after a fire), we may need to coordinate with building management or wait until the area is declared safe to work.
Emergency scenarios we’re asked about
Do you help after a burglary?
Yes. We secure doors and windows after forced entry, then leave the property stable and protected so you can arrange permanent repairs.
For step-by-step guidance, see boarding up after a burglary.
Tip: keep your crime reference number and any notes about the point of entry—insurers often ask.
What if it’s vandalism (smashed glass or repeated damage)?
We can board up quickly and use fixings designed to resist removal from outside. If you’ve had repeated incidents, we can discuss more robust options such as security screens for longer-term protection.
Read more at vandalism repair and boarding.
Do you board up after storm damage?
Yes—especially when wind has broken panes, blown out doors, or damaged roof openings. The immediate goal is weatherproofing and security, then you can book permanent glazing/repairs.
See storm damage boarding and securing.
Can you help after a fire?
We can secure a property after fire damage once it’s safe to do so. Our scope is boarding and securing—we don’t provide smoke/odour remediation or full reinstatement.
More details are on fire damage property security.
What about flooding—can you still board up?
Often, yes, but flood damage changes what’s sensible. Swollen timber frames and damp walls can affect fixings. Sometimes the priority is controlled ventilation and preventing unauthorised access, not sealing everything airtight.
See flood damage securing and boarding.
If a car hits a wall or shopfront, can you secure it?
Yes. For vehicle impacts and accidental structural damage, we can board up exposed openings and make the site safer.
Where there’s obvious structural movement, we may advise you to speak to a structural professional before any non-essential work proceeds. More info: accident damage boarding.
Costs, quotes and documentation
How much does boarding up cost in Enfield?
It depends on the job. The main cost factors include:
- Size and number of openings (small window vs full shopfront)
- Materials required (plywood vs OSB; specialist fixings)
- Access (upper floors, rear access, roof work)
- Urgency and time of day
- Whether a temporary steel door or security screens are needed
We keep pricing transparent and provide an itemised invoice. For guidance on what affects quotes, see boarding up pricing.
Do you provide paperwork for landlords, insurers or managing agents?
Yes. We can provide:
- A clear description of what was secured and how
- An itemised invoice
- Time-stamped photos where possible
We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisers, but our records usually cover what insurers need for the “make safe” stage. For practical guidance, read insurance claims for boarding up.
Is boarding up covered by insurance?
Often, the emergency “make safe” element is covered, but policies vary and excesses apply. The safest approach is:
- Notify your insurer early
- Keep reference numbers and photos
- Keep receipts and invoices
Our insurance claims support page explains how we help with documentation.
Property types and permissions
Do you work on flats and maisonettes?
Yes. Flats can involve shared entrances, internal corridors, and sometimes restrictions on fixing methods—especially in managed blocks.
If there are building management rules, tell us when you call so we can plan accordingly. See residential boarding up for common scenarios.
Can landlords or letting agents arrange boarding up for tenants?
Yes—this is very common across Enfield, especially between tenancies or after an incident. We can liaise with the agent, provide documentation, and help you keep the property compliant and secure.
For voids and longer gaps, vacant property security may be a better fit than repeated call-outs.
Do you work with shops, offices, and facilities managers?
Yes. We support commercial clients with planned and emergency securing, including out-of-hours attendance when a premises is compromised.
See commercial boarding up and shopfront boarding for details.
Do I need permission to board up a property?
If you own the property, usually no (beyond any lease/building management conditions). If you’re a tenant, you typically need to notify the landlord/agent—especially if the boarding method affects frames or communal areas.
If the building is listed or subject to planning constraints, the emergency “make safe” step is usually still appropriate, but permanent changes should be handled through the correct channels.
Practicalities on the day
How long does boarding up take?
Most standard windows/doors can be secured relatively quickly once we’re on-site, but time varies by:
- Number of openings
- Access and safety considerations
- Condition of frames/brickwork
- Whether we’re fitting a temporary steel door or dealing with a shopfront
If you tell us what’s happened (and share photos if you can), we can give a realistic expectation.
Will boarding up cause more damage to my frames?
We aim to keep additional damage to a minimum. Where possible we use methods that avoid unnecessary harm, but if the surrounding frame is already split or unstable, any secure fixing may involve some compromise.
We’ll talk you through options before starting, particularly if the property is likely to need conservation-sensitive repairs later.
Can you remove the boards later?
Yes. Boarding up is usually a temporary measure until glazing/repairs are completed. If you need planned removal, get in touch via our contact page.
Do you also install temporary fencing?
Yes—where a site needs perimeter control (for example after impact damage or where a frontage has become dangerous). See temporary fencing.
Local Enfield questions
Do you work near Enfield Town, Southbury and Ponders End?
Yes. We regularly cover Enfield Town (around the station, Palace Gardens, and London Road), Southbury (including areas near Southbury Road and the retail/industrial mix by the A10), and Ponders End (close to the High Street and rail station). These areas have a mix of shopfronts, terraces, and light industrial units—each with different security challenges.
To explore location pages, start at areas we cover.
Does Enfield Council provide boarding up after damage?
Councils don’t typically provide a general emergency boarding service for private properties. If the damage affects public safety (for example, a dangerous structure), the council may take action to reduce risk, but property owners and managing agents are normally responsible for arranging “make safe” works.
If you’re unsure, we can still help secure the property and provide documentation for your own records and insurer.
Still got a question?
If you can tell us:
- What’s been damaged (window, door, shopfront, rooflight)
- The approximate size/number of openings
- Whether the property is occupied or vacant
- Any access issues (upper floors, rear access, shutters, concierge)
…we can advise the best next step.
Ready to get started? Call 020 4634 5688 or email us for a free, no-obligation quote.
