Emergency Board Up/Window Board Up/Storm Damage Board Up Services

Can I Just Nail Up Plywood Myself Instead of Calling an Emergency Board Up Crew?

You can, but a DIY job rarely holds up like a professional board-up. Our crews use exterior-grade plywood at least half an inch thick, secured with 2x4 strongbacks or carriage bolts through the frame, so the panel can't be pried off or peeled away by wind. A few drywall screws into the trim will give out in the first storm, and many insurers want documented, secure mitigation before they'll process the larger claim.

Is Emergency Board Up Just an Extra Expense on Top of the Real Repair?

No. It usually lowers the total cost of the loss. An open window or breached door lets in rain, raccoons, and looters, and a single night of water soaking the subfloor and insulation can turn a simple glass replacement into mold remediation and drywall tear-out. Most homeowner policies treat board-up as reasonable mitigation and often cover it, while damage caused by leaving an opening unsecured can be denied outright.

Does Boarding Up Mean Covering Only the Broken Glass?

No. A proper board-up covers the entire rough opening, not just the shattered pane. Cracked glass around the break keeps spreading with temperature swings and vibration, and a damaged frame or sash can't anchor a small patch, so we size panels to overlap the opening and fasten them into solid framing. On fire-damaged homes, we tarp and batten roof penetrations during the same visit, because heat-weakened sheathing starts leaking almost immediately.

Can Boarding Up Wait Until Morning or Until the Adjuster Arrives?

Waiting is the most common mistake we see after a break-in, fire, or vehicle strike. Adjusters can take days to schedule, and in the meantime an unsecured opening invites theft, squatters, and weather damage, all of which add to the original claim. Photograph the damage first, then have the opening secured that same night. Insurers expect you to prevent further loss, not leave the scene untouched.

How Do I Know If a Damaged Opening Actually Needs Boarding Up?

When the glass is still sitting in the frame, it's tempting to leave it alone, but compromised openings fail without warning. Tempered glass can shatter completely hours after an impact, and a door knocked off its strike plate may look closed while offering no security at all. If you see any of these signs, call for a board-up instead of waiting to see what happens.

• Cracks spreading across the pane from an impact point
• Door won't latch, or the deadbolt misses the strike
• Frame, jamb, or sash visibly bowed or splintered
• Glass loose or rattling in the glazing bead
• Scorched or warped framing around a window after a fire

Is Taping an X Across Windows Safer Than Boarding Them Before a Storm?

No, and taped glass can actually be more dangerous in high wind. Tape does nothing to stop debris from breaking the pane, and when the glass does fail, it tends to break into larger, heavier shards that stay stuck together and fly as one jagged sheet. Plywood fastened into the framing, or proper storm panels, keeps the glass intact and stops the house from pressurizing, which is what lifts roofs off during hurricanes.