Situations We Help With in Luton (LU1–LU7)

When something happens to your property — a smashed window, a forced door, storm damage, or a fire — the first priority is to secure the building and make it safe. That’s what we do.

Boarding Up Luton provides boarding up in Luton and across LU1–LU7, helping homeowners, landlords, shop owners and facilities teams protect property after damage or break-ins. If you need emergency boarding up, we can arrange 24/7 boarding up attendance where possible, including out of hours.

Need help now? Call 01582 377 256 for immediate assistance.

What “boarding up” means after an incident

After an incident, boarding up is about two things:

Safety – preventing injury from broken glass and unstable frames, and keeping people away from hazards.
Security & weather protection – reducing the risk of repeat entry, theft, or further damage from rain and wind.

Depending on what’s happened, we may use:

18mm exterior-grade plywood for strong, reliable security on larger openings
12mm OSB for smaller or less exposed openings where appropriate
Anti-tamper fixings to reduce the risk of boards being removed from outside
Temporary steel doors where a standard board-up would make access difficult (e.g., shared access needs, trades returning, or a longer wait for a replacement door)

If you’re not sure what you need, start with our emergency boarding up in Luton page, then call us and we’ll talk through the situation.

Common situations we attend across Luton and the LU postcodes

Incidents don’t come neatly labelled. A “smashed window” might be vandalism, an attempted break-in, or accidental impact. Below are the most common situations we help with — each page explains what to do next, what to expect, and how boarding up typically works.

Burglary / Break-ins

Forced entry often damages locks, frames, glazing and sometimes the surrounding masonry. The key aim is to secure the property after burglary so you’re not left vulnerable overnight or while waiting for repairs.

Typical needs: board up door, board up broken window, temporary access solutions
Documentation: time-stamped photos and an itemised invoice can help support insurance

Vandalism (including smashed windows)

Vandalism tends to happen quickly and leave sharp edges, exposed interiors, and a high risk of repeat damage — especially if the property looks unsecured.

Typical needs: board up broken window, make safe, temporary boarding for shopfronts and homes
Good to know: we can advise whether boarding can be fixed non-destructively to reduce further damage to frames

Storm damage

High winds and flying debris can break glazing, dislodge panels, or damage rooflines and skylights. The priority is to secure the opening and weatherproof as much as the conditions allow.

Typical needs: temporary boarding, safety isolation, roof and skylight protection
Limitation (honest): in severe weather, access may be unsafe; we’ll explain what’s possible before starting

Fire damage (post-fire security)

After a fire, even when the flames are out, properties are often left open due to broken doors/windows or damaged frames. We help secure the property after fire to reduce risks of theft, trespass and weather ingress.

Typical needs: boarding up windows and doors, temporary access control
Important: we’re not a fire restoration company — we secure the building, but smoke/odour remediation is outside our scope

Flood damage

Flooding can swell timber frames, weaken fixings, and make doors/windows hard to close securely. Sometimes the opening isn’t “broken” — it’s just no longer secure.

Typical needs: temporary boarding where frames won’t lock, security while drying out, ventilation considerations
Good to know: we’ll avoid sealing moisture in where it would clearly worsen the situation, and we’ll talk you through options

Accident / impact damage (vehicle strikes and accidental breakage)

Impacts can cause structural movement around frames and openings. Boarding up is often required immediately to keep the site safe and secure until the wider repair is assessed.

Typical needs: make safe, shopfront boarded up, large-format boarding, controlled access
If the frame is too damaged: we’ll explain whether a non-destructive fix is possible, or whether more robust fixing is needed

What happens when you call us (and what we’ll ask)

When you’re dealing with a break-in or damage, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. We’ll keep it straightforward. When you call 01582 377 256, we’ll usually ask:

Your postcode (LU1–LU7) and the type of property (house, flat, shop, office, void)
What’s been damaged: smashed window, forced door, shopfront glazing, rooflight, etc.
Whether it’s currently safe to approach (glass on the ground, instability, people inside)
Whether police or emergency services are involved (and if there’s a reference number)
Whether you need temporary access, for example for residents, staff, or follow-on trades

We don’t promise fixed arrival times because conditions vary, but we prioritise urgent calls and will give you a realistic ETA on the phone.

For emergency attendance, see 24 hour boarding up in Luton.

What you can do right now (practical steps)

If you’re reading this because something has just happened, these steps help protect you, your property, and any insurance claim.

Check for immediate danger first
If there’s anyone at risk, call emergency services. Avoid touching broken glass or damaged frames.
If it’s a break-in or criminal damage, call the police
Get a crime reference number. Insurers often ask for it.
Take photos (only if it’s safe)
A few clear photos of the damage and wider scene can help later. Don’t put yourself at risk to get them.
Reduce access if you can safely do so
Close internal doors, move valuables away from view, and keep people away from broken glazing.
Call us to secure the opening
We can make safe, board up broken windows, or board up a door depending on what’s needed.
Contact your insurer early
We’re not loss adjusters, but we can provide the paperwork insurers typically need: itemised invoice, work statement, and photos.

If you want more detail on documentation and claims support, visit insurance claims support.

How we choose the right method (so you don’t pay for the wrong fix)

Different situations need different solutions. A one-night board-up after vandalism isn’t the same as securing a vacant property waiting for major works. We’ll talk you through options such as:

Plywood boarding for strong, fast protection on broken windows and doors
(Often the best balance of speed, strength and cost.)
Temporary steel doors where you need a secure entrance you can still use
(Helpful for longer lead times on replacement doors or where access must be maintained.)
Shopfront boarding for larger commercial panes and higher-risk frontages
(Usually involves larger boards, careful fixing, and consideration for customer-facing sites.)

If you’re comparing options, you may find these useful:

Who we work with (and how we handle access)

We regularly help:

Homeowners and tenants needing emergency boarding up after a break-in
Landlords and letting agents securing between tenancies or after damage
Shop owners and commercial managers needing shopfront boarded up out of hours
Facilities teams coordinating multiple contractors and needing clear documentation

If you can’t be on site, tell us. In many cases we can coordinate access via a keyholder, managing agent, or appointed contact — as long as it’s safe and lawful to do so.

Questions people ask after property damage in Luton

Will boarding up stop someone getting in?

Boarding up is a strong deterrent and often the quickest way to secure an opening. Using appropriate board thickness and anti-tamper fixings makes it harder to remove from outside. That said, no temporary measure can guarantee prevention of forced entry — we aim to reduce risk substantially and make the property safe.

Can you board up tonight (out of hours)?

Yes, we provide out of hours attendance where possible across Luton and LU1–LU7. We prioritise urgent calls, but we don’t offer guaranteed arrival times. Call and we’ll give you a realistic ETA.

Do I need to call my insurer before you arrive?

Not always. If the property is exposed, securing it quickly is usually sensible. If you can, take photos first and keep any reference numbers. For guidance, see insurance claims support.

What if the window/door frame is too damaged to fix boards safely?

If the surrounding structure is unstable or too deteriorated for a standard fixing, we’ll explain the safe options before proceeding. Sometimes it requires a different fixing approach or a temporary door solution.

Can you help with vacant properties after repeated incidents?

Yes. If the building is likely to be unattended, we can discuss more robust temporary security options (and what access you may still need). See vacant property boarding in Luton.

Ready to secure your property?

If you need help after a break-in, vandalism, storm damage, fire or an accident, we’ll guide you through the next steps and arrange boarding up across Luton and LU1–LU7.

Need help now? Call 01582 377 256
Or email: info@boarding-up-luton.co.uk

Request a Call-Back Today