Storm Damage Boarding Up in Enfield (EN) – What to Do Next
Storm damage has a nasty habit of happening at the worst possible time: late evening, overnight, or just as you’re trying to keep a property watertight. If wind or flying debris has cracked glazing, blown in a door panel, or damaged a rooflight, the priority is simple—make the building secure and protect it from further weather exposure.
We provide storm damage boarding and emergency securing across Enfield and the EN postcode area. That includes everything from a broken sash window in Bush Hill Park to a damaged shopfront near Enfield Town, and rooflight issues around industrial and warehouse units by the A10 corridor.
If the situation is urgent and the property is exposed, use our emergency service: emergency boarding up.
Need help now? Call 020 4634 5688 for immediate assistance.
When storm damage usually happens (and what we’re called out for)
In Enfield and surrounding EN districts, storm-related call-outs tend to fall into a few predictable categories—especially after high winds, heavy rain, and falling branches from mature trees around places like Trent Park and Forty Hall.
Common storm damage issues we secure:
- Smashed or cracked windows (often from airborne debris, dislodged tiles, or fallen branches)
- Blown-in doors or damaged frames—front doors, rear doors, communal entrances and side access doors
- Shopfront glazing damage—particularly exposed corners and parade units on busy roads
- Roof openings—damaged rooflights, skylights, missing panels, or holes created by wind uplift
- Secondary risks such as loose frames, rattling panes, and openings that invite opportunist entry
Even if the damage looks “small”, a compromised window or door can quickly turn into water ingress, further internal damage, or a security incident—especially if the property will be unattended overnight.
First steps after storm damage (practical and safe)
If you’ve got storm damage at a home, shop, or managed property, these steps help reduce risk and keep your insurance claim straightforward.
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Make the area safe
- Keep people away from broken glass and unstable frames.
- If the damage is overhead (rooflight/skylight), don’t attempt access without proper equipment.
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Take photos if it’s safe
- Wide shots showing the building and close-ups of the damage help.
- Don’t climb ladders or enter unsafe areas for the sake of a photo.
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Prevent further water ingress if you can do so safely
- A towel or temporary catch for drips is fine.
- Avoid taping up broken panes—tape often fails in wind and rain and can make later clean-up harder.
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Contact your insurer early
- We’re not loss adjusters, but we can provide the documentation insurers typically ask for (see below).
If you need the building secured quickly, call us and we’ll guide you through what we need to know.
Need help now? Call 020 4634 5688
How we secure a property after storm damage (what we actually do)
Storm damage is rarely “one size fits all”. Some jobs are straightforward window boarding; others involve multiple openings, awkward access, or frames too compromised to take fixings. Our aim is to leave the property:
- Secure against unauthorised entry
- Protected against weather as far as reasonably possible
- Ready for follow-on repairs by glaziers, roofers, or builders
1) We assess the opening and the condition of the frame
Before fixing anything, we check:
- Whether the remaining glass is stable or likely to drop
- Whether the frame is sound enough to take fixings
- Whether there are nearby hazards (loose render, signage, guttering, overhead damage)
- For commercial sites: access, shutters, alarms and any site rules
If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain the options before proceeding.
2) We choose the right boarding method and materials
We typically use:
- 18mm exterior-grade plywood for robust security on larger openings or higher-risk locations
- 12mm OSB for smaller openings where appropriate, often as a short-term solution
Fixings and method depend on the surface and risk level:
- Anti-tamper fixings where the property is likely to be unattended (important in storm aftermath when opportunist entry can increase)
- Internal baton fixing where we can avoid drilling into uPVC or delicate frames
- Careful sealing/overlap to reduce wind-driven rain penetration (boarding up is not a substitute for a full repair, but we do aim to improve weather resistance)
If you specifically need a stronger medium-term solution because a door has failed or the property is vacant, we can discuss temporary steel doors as part of the plan.
3) We secure each vulnerable point—windows, doors, shopfronts, roof openings
Storm events often create more than one weak point. We can board:
- Windows: window boarding in Enfield for broken panes, shattered units, or cracked glazing
- Doors: door boarding in Enfield for damaged entry doors, rear access, and communal entrances
- Shopfronts: shopfront boarding for commercial glazing, parade units, and larger panes
- Rooflights and skylights: roof boarding where an overhead opening is letting in water or creating a safety risk
Where a property needs to remain in use (shops, offices, community buildings), we aim for a solution that’s secure while keeping disruption sensible—without making promises we can’t keep about aesthetics in an emergency.
What to expect when you call us
We keep it straightforward, especially when you’re already dealing with storm damage.
When you call 020 4634 5688, we’ll ask:
- Address and postcode (EN1–EN8 within Enfield, plus wider EN areas)
- Type of property (home, flat, shop, office, industrial unit, vacant property)
- What’s been damaged (window/door/shopfront/rooflight) and how many openings
- Whether the building is currently occupied and any access notes
- Any immediate hazards (loose glass, water ingress, overhead damage)
We don’t quote fixed arrival times—conditions vary in bad weather, and we prioritise urgent calls based on exposure and security risk.
Documentation for landlords, businesses, and insurance
After a storm, paperwork matters—especially for landlords, managing agents, or commercial sites.
Typically, we can provide:
- Itemised invoice and a clear description of works
- Time-stamped photos (before/after where possible)
- Notes on materials used (e.g., plywood/OSB thickness, fixing method)
- A basic work statement suitable for property management records
For more guidance on how insurers normally handle emergency securing, see our insurance claims support page. We’re not insurers or loss adjusters, but we help you document what was done and why.
Enfield-specific considerations after storms
Enfield has a real mix of property types, and storm damage affects them differently:
- Victorian and Edwardian terraces (often around Enfield Town, Bush Hill Park and parts of Edmonton): bay windows and older frames can be vulnerable when debris hits at speed.
- 1930s semis across wider Enfield: side windows, porch doors and garage side entries are common weak points.
- Flats and estates: communal door damage and upper-floor glazing can create access challenges and require careful fixing choices.
- Retail parades and mixed-use buildings: shopfront glass and signage are frequently exposed, especially on busier roads and corners.
If you’re a facilities manager or landlord managing multiple units, we can help prioritise the most exposed openings first.
Micro case study: Storm-damaged window near Enfield Town
A typical call-out we see after high winds: a ground-floor flat near Enfield Town had a large front window cracked by debris. The tenant was understandably worried about both security and rain getting in overnight.
We attended to assess the frame, removed loose fragments where safe, and fitted an exterior-grade plywood board using a method that prioritised security while avoiding unnecessary damage to the surrounding structure. We provided photos and an itemised invoice for the landlord’s records so follow-on glazing could be arranged without delay.
If you’ve got a similar situation—especially with an exposed opening—use our urgent help page: emergency boarding up.
Storm damage FAQs (Enfield & EN)
Can you board up tonight after storm damage in Enfield?
Yes—if the property is exposed or insecure, use our emergency boarding up service. We prioritise urgent jobs, but we don’t guarantee exact arrival times because conditions and access can change quickly in severe weather.
Is boarding up covered by insurance after a storm?
Often, emergency securing is covered as a reasonable “make safe” measure, but policies vary. Keep photos of the damage and any receipts. Our insurance claims guidance explains what insurers typically ask for.
What if the window frame is too damaged to fix boards to?
We’ll talk you through the safest option. Sometimes we can use internal baton methods; in other cases, additional stabilisation or a different securing approach is needed. If we can’t achieve a safe, secure fix, we’ll explain why before doing anything.
Can you secure a shopfront that’s been damaged by wind-blown debris?
Yes. Commercial glazing often needs larger panels and stronger fixings. See shopfront boarding for how we secure retail units and commercial premises in Enfield.
Do you repair the window/door as well?
We specialise in securing and making safe. Permanent repairs (replacement glazing, new frames, roofing repairs) are usually handled by the relevant trades, but our work buys you time and reduces risk until those repairs are completed.
Next steps: get the property secure
Storm damage can escalate fast—especially if more rain or wind is forecast. If a window, door, shopfront, or roof opening is compromised, getting it properly boarded and secured is the best way to protect the building and reduce further loss.
Need help now? Call 020 4634 5688 for immediate assistance.
Or email: info@boarding-up-enfield.co.uk
