Boarding Up Services in Medway

Professional, fast, and careful property securing across Medway’s ME1, ME2, ME3, ME4, ME5, ME7 and ME8 postcode districts. If you need to make safe after a smashed window, forced door, storm damage or an impact incident, our team is here 24/7 to help you secure your property and prevent further loss.

We’ve been trading locally for over 10 years. Our technicians are DBS-checked, fully insured, and equipped for domestic, commercial and vacant properties. For urgent help, please use our dedicated page: emergency boarding up. For planned works or quotes, call 01634 980 080 or email info@boarding-up-medway.co.uk.

What Our Boarding Up Services Cover

We secure broken or vulnerable openings with the right materials and fixings for the job. Typical scenarios include:

  • Break-ins and attempted burglaries
  • Vandalism and smashed shopfronts
  • Storm and fire damage making openings unsafe
  • Accidental damage (e.g., ball through a sash, vehicle strike to a door)
  • Void property protection between tenancies or during refurb

If you’re unsure which service you need, call us. We’ll talk it through and advise on the safest, most cost-effective option.

Window Boarding

When glass is smashed or cracked, we make the opening safe and weather-tight.

  • Materials: 18mm exterior-grade plywood as standard for ground-floor or high-risk areas; 12mm OSB may be suitable for small, low-risk panes.
  • Fixing methods: Through-frame fixings with anti-tamper screws are preferred for security; brace-and-pack methods used where frames are delicate or listed features must be protected.
  • Edge cases: If the frame is rotten, twisted, or fire-damaged and won’t take fixings safely, we’ll explain options, including internal bracing or temporary screens.

Learn more: window boarding in Medway

Door Boarding Up

Damaged doors are a common point of re-entry risk. We can board over or fit a temporary door.

  • Short-term: External boarding with anti-tamper fixings to stop re-entry overnight.
  • Medium-term: Temporary steel doors with locking hardware for properties that will be unattended for days or weeks.
  • Considerations: If the door frame is split, we’ll assess whether boarding alone is sufficient or if a steel door is safer.

Read about options: door boarding and temporary steel doors for perimeter protection needs.

Note: If the structure is unsafe (e.g., severe impact), we may advise further assessment before boarding.

Shopfront Boarding

Retail glass is big, heavy, and vulnerable after hours. We carry large sheets and extended fixings for deep frames and mullions.

  • Coverage: High streets, parades, corner units and shuttered premises across ME1–ME8.
  • Approach: Fast make-safe to deter opportunists, clean edge protection to avoid further cracking, and access considerations for roller shutters.
  • Documentation: Time-stamped photos and an itemised invoice for insurers.

Details: shopfront boarding

Roof and Skylight Boarding

Weatherproofing damaged skylights, roof lights, or small openings following storm or fire.

  • Access: We use safe ladder work where feasible; for larger spans or unsafe roofs we’ll advise on scaffold or MEWP requirements.
  • Materials: Exterior-grade ply with weatherproof sealing; tarpaulin coverings where boarding is not structurally viable.
  • Limitations: We secure and make safe; smoke or odour remediation is outside our scope.

More info: roof & skylight boarding

Temporary Steel Doors and Security Screens

For vacant or repeatedly targeted properties, stronger measures reduce risk.

  • Temporary steel doors: Lockable, anti-jemmy frames; ideal for forced entries or voids awaiting repair.
  • Steel security screens: Sitex-style perforated screens for windows and doors in long-term voids to allow airflow while preventing access.
  • Why use them: Anti-tamper fixings prevent removal from outside—important if the property will be unattended.

Discuss options: vacant property boarding

How Our Process Works

  1. Call us on 01634 980 080. Tell us what happened and what you need to secure. If it’s urgent or out of hours, go to emergency boarding up.
  2. We’ll ask for details: address (ME1–ME8), access considerations, opening sizes if known, and any hazards on site.
  3. We give a realistic ETA based on workload and distance. We don’t promise fixed times, but we prioritise urgent calls.
  4. On arrival we assess damage, explain options, and agree the method and scope before starting.
  5. We make safe: cut boards to size, use anti-tamper fixings, and weather-seal where needed. We tidy debris if practical and safe.
  6. You receive documentation: time-stamped photos (on request), an itemised invoice, and a work statement—useful for insurance claims.

Tip: Keep your police reference number (if applicable) and take your own photos before we attend—only if it’s safe to do so.

Materials & Methods We Use

  • Boards: 18mm exterior-grade plywood (standard); 12mm OSB for smaller, lower-risk apertures.
  • Fixings: Anti-tamper screws with penny washers; through-frame methods to resist prying; non-destructive wedge systems for delicate frames.
  • Weathering: Perimeter seals, membrane or tarpaulin as needed to keep water out.
  • Safety: RAMS provided for commercial sites when required. We’re fully insured and our technicians are DBS-checked.

Why it matters: Correct board thickness and anti-tamper fixings reduce the chance of removal from outside—critical for unattended properties overnight or longer.

What You Get With Every Job

  • Clear advice on the safest, most sensible approach for your property
  • A make-safe solution sized to your openings—no sloppy overlaps that invite tampering
  • Anti-tamper fixings as standard for external security
  • Photos and an itemised invoice for insurers, on request
  • Honest guidance on limitations and next steps for permanent repair

If a frame is too damaged for non-destructive boarding, we’ll explain the risks and alternatives before proceeding.

Who We Help

For specific incident guidance, visit our situation pages:

Coverage Across Medway

We operate across ME1, ME2, ME3, ME4, ME5, ME7 and ME8, including Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Rainham, Strood, Lordswood, Walderslade, and nearby areas. Check local pages such as:

You can also explore all areas we cover. Typical attendance varies by time of day and workload; when you call, we’ll provide a realistic ETA.

Pricing & Insurance

Every job differs—size of opening, access, risk level, and materials all affect the cost. We don’t publish fixed prices because conditions vary, but we’re transparent about how we price. See our guide: pricing.

If you’re claiming on insurance, we can provide:

  • Itemised invoices with dates, times, and site address
  • Time-stamped photos (on request)
  • A brief work statement describing the make-safe actions

We are not loss adjusters, but we work with the documentation insurers typically request. Learn more: insurance claims.

FAQs About Our Services

Do you offer genuine out-of-hours emergency boarding up in Medway?

Yes. We provide 24/7 boarding up in Medway. We prioritise urgent calls and give a realistic ETA based on location and workload.

What board thickness do you use on ground-floor windows?

18mm exterior-grade plywood is our standard for ground-floor and high-risk openings. Smaller or upper-floor openings may be secured with 12mm OSB where appropriate.

Can you board up a shopfront tonight if the shutter is stuck?

Often, yes. We can usually work around a failed shutter. If access is impossible, we’ll explain temporary alternatives and next steps for safe access.

I’m in ME3 and the frame is badly split after a forced entry. Can you still board it?

Usually. If the frame won’t take fixings, we may use internal bracing or recommend a temporary steel door. We’ll explain options on site before proceeding.

Will your boarding meet insurer requirements?

Insurers mainly want the property made safe promptly and adequate evidence. We supply itemised invoices and photos on request. If your policy has specific requirements, tell us when you call.

How long does a typical boarding job take?

Simple window or door boarding can be completed quickly once on site; larger shopfronts or access-limited roofs take longer. We’ll set expectations on arrival.

Do you clean up broken glass?

We remove immediate hazards in the work area where it’s safe and practical. Heavy or specialist cleanup may be outside scope; we’ll advise if more extensive remediation is needed.

Can landlords or agents arrange boarding for tenants in ME1–ME8?

Yes. We regularly work with landlords, letting and estate agents, and facilities teams. See property types for more.

Next Steps

Ready to secure your property? Call 01634 980 080 or email us for a free, no-obligation quote. For urgent or out-of-hours incidents, use our dedicated page: emergency boarding up.