FAQs — Boarding Up Southampton (SO Postcodes)

When you’re dealing with a smashed window, a forced door, or storm damage, it’s hard to know what to do first—especially if it’s out of hours. This page answers the questions we hear most often from customers across Southampton and the wider SO postcode area, with straight, practical guidance.

If you need urgent help right now, go straight to our emergency boarding up page or call 023 9433 0625.

Quick help: the 3 things to do first

  1. Make sure everyone is safe. If there’s a risk from glass, fire damage, or structural issues, keep people away from the opening.
  2. If there’s a crime in progress or someone has forced entry, call 999. Otherwise, report to 101 and keep your police reference number for insurance.
  3. Call us to secure the property and stop further damage or unwanted access: 023 9433 0625.

If it’s safe to do so, take a few photos of the damage before anything is moved—these often help with insurance claims.

FAQs about emergency boarding up in Southampton

Do you offer 24/7 boarding up in Southampton?

Yes. We provide 24/7 boarding up for Southampton and SO postcodes. We don’t promise a fixed arrival time because traffic, weather, and current workload vary, but we prioritise urgent calls and will give you a realistic ETA when you ring.

If you need help tonight or out of hours, use our dedicated page: emergency boarding up.

How quickly can you attend?

Attendance depends on where you are in the SO area (for example SO14, SO15, SO16, SO17, SO18 and surrounding districts), the time of day, and how complex the job is (a single smashed window is typically faster to make safe than a heavily damaged shopfront).

When you call, we’ll ask a few quick questions and tell you what’s realistic.

What information do you need when I call?

To help us prepare the right materials for temporary boarding and arrive ready to work, it’s useful if you can share:

  • The postcode and type of property (house, flat, shop, office, vacant)
  • What’s been damaged: window, door, shopfront, rooflight/skylight
  • Approximate size/number of openings (a quick photo can help)
  • Any access issues (upper floors, rear access only, shutters, alarms)
  • Whether police or fire service are involved (and if the building is safe to enter)

If you’re unsure, don’t worry—call anyway and we’ll talk you through it.

Can you board up a broken window the same day?

Often, yes—especially for urgent jobs like a smashed window that’s exposed to the street or weather. We’ll aim to attend as quickly as possible and make safe the opening to secure the property.

For planned work (for example, securing a vacant building), we can also book a suitable time—see window boarding in Southampton.

Do you board up doors after a break-in?

Yes. If you need to board up a door following forced entry, we can secure it using the most appropriate method for the frame condition and risk level. In some cases, boarding is suitable; in others, a temporary steel door can be a better medium-term option (particularly for empty properties or repeated targeting).

More detail is on our door boarding page, and if you’re dealing with a burglary situation, see burglary repairs and boarding.

What’s the difference between boarding and a temporary steel door?

  • Boarding up (typically exterior-grade plywood or OSB) is commonly used to secure damaged windows/doors quickly and cost-effectively.
  • A temporary steel door is often used when a doorway is compromised and you need a stronger, lockable solution—useful for vacant properties, repeated break-ins, or where the existing frame/door is beyond a simple make-safe.

We’ll explain the options on site if the damage is worse than expected. If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll talk you through what’s possible before proceeding.

Do you board up shopfronts and commercial glazing?

Yes. We provide shopfront boarded up solutions for shops, cafés, takeaways, offices, and other commercial units across Southampton and the SO area. Shopfront work often needs larger sheets, careful fixing methods, and consideration for customer/public safety.

For more detail, see shopfront boarding.

Can you secure a rooflight or skylight after storm damage?

Yes. Roof openings and skylights can be vulnerable after high winds and debris impact. Where it’s safe and accessible, we can board and weatherproof exposed openings to reduce water ingress and secure the property.

This is covered in roof boarding and our storm damage guidance.

FAQs about materials, methods, and what you get

What materials do you use for boarding up?

We use materials suited to the opening size, exposure, and security risk. Commonly this includes:

  • 18mm exterior-grade plywood for robust, longer-lasting window/door boarding
  • OSB (often 12mm for smaller openings) where appropriate, depending on the situation and fixing method

We choose fixings to suit the surface and reduce the risk of removal from outside—especially important if the property will be unattended.

How do you fix boards—will it damage my frames?

We aim to secure openings safely and sensibly while considering the condition of the frame and surrounding fabric. Fixing methods vary depending on:

  • Timber vs uPVC vs masonry surrounds
  • The size of the opening
  • Whether there’s a safe internal fixing point
  • The level of risk (for example, street-facing ground-floor openings)

Sometimes, especially after impact damage or forced entry, the surrounding area is already compromised. If non-destructive methods aren’t viable due to the condition of the frame, we’ll explain the trade-offs before we proceed.

Will boarding up stop rain and draughts completely?

Boarding up is primarily about security and making safe, but it often helps reduce weather ingress too. That said, if the surrounding structure is damaged (cracked frames, missing sections, distorted openings), we may need to use additional measures to reduce water entry.

If your priority is short-term weatherproofing after a storm, tell us when you call so we can prepare accordingly.

What documentation do you provide for landlords and insurance?

We’re not loss adjusters, but we provide the kind of evidence insurers and property managers typically ask for, such as:

  • Time-stamped photos of the damage and the secured result
  • An itemised invoice
  • A clear description of the work completed (a work statement)

For more guidance, visit insurance claims.

Are your technicians insured and DBS-checked?

Yes. We’re fully insured, and our technicians are DBS-checked. We’ve been trading for 10+ years, and we focus on doing the job properly—securely, safely, and with clear communication.

You can also read feedback on our reviews page.

FAQs about pricing and payment

How much does boarding up cost in Southampton?

Costs vary because every job is different. The main factors are:

  • Size and number of openings
  • Type of opening (window vs door vs shopfront)
  • Materials required (plywood thickness, security level)
  • Access (upper floors, rear access, restricted parking/loading)
  • Whether it’s out of hours and the urgency

We don’t publish fixed prices because it can be misleading, but we’ll talk you through the likely cost drivers on the phone and confirm what we’re doing before work starts. See pricing for a clear explanation of how costs are worked out.

Is boarding up covered by insurance?

Often it can be, particularly after burglary, vandalism, storm damage, or accidental impact—depending on your policy terms and excess. It’s best to contact your insurer as early as possible and keep any reference numbers.

For practical steps and what insurers usually want, read insurance claims.

Do you work with landlords, letting agents, and facilities management?

Yes. We regularly support landlords, agents, and facilities teams who need a contractor that can:

  • Attend and secure property
  • Provide photos and paperwork
  • Coordinate access (tenants, keyholders, site contacts)
  • Help reduce further loss while permanent repairs are arranged

If you manage multiple properties, it can be helpful to share preferred contacts and any site notes when you first call.

FAQs about specific situations

What should I do after a burglary?

If you’ve had a break-in, your priorities are safety and securing the building:

  1. Don’t touch anything if police attendance is needed.
  2. Photograph damage if safe.
  3. Keep your crime reference number.
  4. Call us to make safe and secure the property—especially if windows or doors are compromised.

More guidance is on burglary repairs and boarding.

What if my shop window is smashed?

A smashed shopfront is high-risk because it’s visible and often easy to access. If the glass is broken:

  • Keep staff and public away from shards
  • Consider temporary closure until it’s safe
  • Call us to get the shopfront boarded up and reduce the risk of repeat entry

See shopfront boarding for what to expect on commercial call-outs.

Do you handle vandalism, including repeated attacks?

Yes. Vandalism often involves repeated targeting—especially if a property looks vacant or already damaged. We can board up, discuss stronger temporary options, and help you reduce vulnerability while permanent repairs are arranged.

For situation-specific advice, see vandalism repair and boarding.

Can you help after a fire?

We can secure a property after fire damage—boarding up windows/doors and restricting access where it’s safe to do so. Fire scenes can involve hazards (smoke residues, compromised materials), so we’ll work within safe limits and any instructions from the fire service.

We don’t provide smoke/odour remediation, but we can help you secure the property. See fire damage.

Can you board up after flooding?

Flooding can swell timber, distort frames, and make doors/windows difficult to close properly. We can help secure damaged openings and advise on practical next steps to reduce risk.

Read more on flood damage.

What if the damage was caused by an accident or vehicle impact?

If there’s been an impact (for example, a vehicle strike to a wall or shopfront), there may be structural concerns. If the area is unsafe, keep clear and contact the relevant emergency services.

Once it’s safe to proceed, we can board and secure openings to prevent further loss. More guidance is on accident damage.

FAQs about areas covered

Which areas do you cover in Southampton?

We cover Southampton and the wider SO postcode area (SO1–SO53). That includes central districts and surrounding towns and villages across Hampshire where SO postcodes apply.

For an overview, visit areas we cover.

Do you cover my SO postcode?

In most cases, yes—if your address is within the SO postcode range. When you call, tell us your postcode and we’ll confirm availability and give you an ETA.

If you’re outside SO postcodes, we may still be able to advise, but our core service area is SO.

Still got a question?

If you’re unsure what you need—whether it’s to board up broken window, board up door, or arrange temporary boarding to secure a vacant property—call and we’ll help you work it out.

For immediate help, see emergency boarding up or contact us directly via the contact page.

Contact us

Need help now? Call 023 9433 0625 for immediate assistance.
Or email: info@boarding-up-southampton.co.uk