Storm Damage Boarding and Make-Safe in Medway

When storms hit Medway, damage can happen fast—shattered panes from flying debris, doors forced out of alignment, roofs lifted, and rain driving into a property. If you’re dealing with storm damage in ME1, ME2, ME3, ME4, ME5, ME7 or ME8, you need the property secured quickly and safely so further loss is prevented and insurers can assess the damage. We specialise in emergency boarding up Medway-wide, making unsafe openings weather-tight and secure, day or night.

We’re local, fully insured, and our DBS-checked technicians have been doing this work in Medway for 10+ years. If it’s urgent, please call now. We prioritise emergencies and will give you a realistic ETA on the phone.

Need help now? Call 01634 980 080 or see our emergency boarding up.

When Storm Damage Requires Boarding Up

Not all bad weather needs boarding, but the following scenarios often do:

• Smashed or cracked windows from flying debris: Even a small breach lets in water and wind pressure. We can board up broken windows to stop ingress and make safe.
• Doors blown open or frames twisted: Severe gusts can bend hinges and splinter timber. We can board up doors or fit a temporary steel door where the lock area has failed.
• Shopfront glazing failure: Large panes are vulnerable to windborne objects. Our shopfront boarding handles wider spans and roller shutter interactions.
• Roof, skylight or soffit damage: Missing tiles or fractured rooflights allow water entry. Our team carries materials for roof and skylight boarding to provide immediate weatherproofing until a roofer can attend.
• Secondary risks after flooding: Swollen frames can’t close or lock. We can temporarily secure openings while ventilation and drying are arranged.

If you’re unsure whether boarding is the right step, call for advice. We’ll talk through what’s happened, the property type, and what needs to be made safe first.

Our Make-Safe Process After a Storm

We focus on two things: stopping further damage and securing the property. Here’s how a typical call proceeds:

1. Phone triage and safety check

   • We ask about power lines, falling debris, and live leaks. If there’s ongoing danger, we may advise calling 999 or your utility provider before we attend.
   • We confirm the opening sizes, access considerations (upper floors, internal/external access), and any special requirements (lone worker policies, alarm codes).

2. On-site assessment

   • We identify all compromised openings, not just the obvious break. Storms often cause multiple points of failure (e.g., a cracked pane opposite the one that shattered).
   • We photograph damage (time-stamped) before starting work—useful for insurers.

3. Materials selection

   • 18mm exterior-grade plywood is our standard for most doors and larger window apertures.
   • 12mm OSB may be used for smaller panes/internal partitions where appropriate.
   • Anti-tamper fixings prevent removal from the outside—important if the property will be unattended.
   • For roof or skylight issues, we use exterior screws with suitable bearers and edge protection, aiming to create a weather-shedding overlap.

4. Fixing methods

   • Non-destructive clamping is preferred on intact frames: timber battens inside with bolts through, so we don’t rely solely on the damaged substrate.
   • If the frame is too compromised for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain options (face-fixing into sound structure, or spanning to surrounding masonry) before proceeding.
   • For doors that won’t lock, we can board over the leaf and frame, or install a temporary steel door for medium-term access control.

5. Weatherproofing

   • We seal where practical to divert water and wind. On roofs, we aim for drainage paths that avoid pooling. We do not offer permanent roofing repairs—we provide a robust temporary solution.

6. Handover and documentation

   • You’ll receive time-stamped photos, an itemised invoice, and a work statement that outlines what was secured and how—documents insurers typically request.

If an area cannot be safely accessed due to structural movement or continuing high winds, we’ll secure what’s reachable, mark the hazard, and return when conditions allow. We’ll be honest if a specialist (roofer/structural engineer) is required.

What We Bring to Storm-Damage Callouts

• A range of board sizes to cut on site, from small panes to wide shopfronts
• Exterior-grade plywood/OSB, anti-tamper fixings, steel brackets and battens
• Temporary steel doors for compromised entrances
• Ladders, tower access (where feasible), harness points for compliant roof-edge work
• Tarps, flashings and weather tape for short-term water diversion

Our aim is to secure property and make safe, not to rebuild. Permanent repairs are best handled by glaziers, roofers or builders once the site is secure.

Common Storm-Damage Scenarios in Medway

Across ME1, ME2, ME3, ME4, ME5, ME7 and ME8 we regularly see:

• Sash and casement windows fractured by flying garden furniture or tiles
• UPVC doors sprung so the multipoint lock won’t engage
• Shopfronts with spidered laminate after impact—requiring immediate boarding to keep premises trading safely next day
• Broken rooflights and lifted felt on extensions letting rain into kitchens or shop stock areas
• Garage doors buckled, leaving rear access vulnerable

We work across residential, commercial and vacant properties. If you manage multiple sites, we can coordinate priority lists and provide consolidated invoices.

Explore service options:

• Secure smashed panes: window boarding in Medway
• Doors won’t lock: door boarding and temporary steel doors
• Large commercial glazing: shopfront boarding
• Overhead leaks or skylights: roof and skylight boarding
• Need urgent attendance: 24/7 emergency boarding up

How We Keep You and the Property Safe

• We isolate the area under a damaged pane or roof opening to prevent injury from falling shards or tiles.
• We wear cut-resistant gloves and eye protection; we’ll ask occupants to stand clear during removal of loose glass.
• We avoid loading already-weakened frames. Where necessary, boards are spanned onto surrounding sound structure.
• On upper floors, we prefer internal access where possible to minimise wind exposure; if external access is needed, we use appropriate equipment and won’t proceed if conditions are unsafe.

If we judge the opening to be part of a structural movement issue rather than just a broken fixture, we’ll explain the risks and recommend a structural inspection. We don’t undertake structural repairs.

Insurance and Storm Damage: What to Prepare

We’re not loss adjusters, but we work with insurers every day. To help your claim:

• Keep your policy number and take clear photos before we attend if it’s safe to do so.
• Note the date and time of the storm event and any reference numbers from emergency services or your insurer’s helpline.
• Don’t dispose of damaged items until your insurer confirms.
• We’ll provide time-stamped before/after photos, an itemised invoice, and a work statement.

For more detail, see our guidance on insurance claims documentation.

What to Do Right Now After Storm Damage

1. Stay safe first
   • If glass is still cracking, a roof is lifting, or electrics are wet, move people away from the area. Call 999 for immediate danger.
2. Stop water if you can do so safely
   • Place buckets, move valuables, isolate power to affected circuits if you’re confident to do so.
3. Call us to secure the property
   • We’ll advise on temporary measures until we arrive and give an ETA: Call 01634 980 080.
4. Inform your insurer
   • Start the claim process early. Ask if they require a specific contractor note—our paperwork usually meets requirements.
5. Gather evidence
   • Photos and a short note of what happened help later. We’ll add time-stamped images to your pack.

If you’re managing a shop or office, consider shutting the affected area and posting a brief safety notice until boarding is in place.

Materials, Methods and Why They Matter

• Exterior-grade plywood (typically 18mm) provides impact resistance and holds fixings securely in high winds.
• OSB (12mm) can be appropriate for small internal openings where weight and quick handling matter.
• Anti-tamper fixings stop outside removal, important when the site will be unattended overnight.
• Temporary steel doors allow controlled access and robust security when a door leaf or frame has failed.
• On roofs, correctly placed bearers and overlaps create a shedding surface; sealing edges helps but the key is mechanical fixing into sound structure.

These choices reduce the risk of boards loosening under gusts and limit water ingress, which can significantly lower secondary damage and claim costs.

What You’ll Receive From Us

• A clear explanation of work before we start
• Time-stamped photos (before and after)
• Itemised invoice with materials and labour separated
• Work statement describing openings secured and methods used
• Guidance on next steps (glazier, roofer, builder) where relevant

You can also check typical cost factors here: our pricing approach. We don’t quote fixed prices online because access, size, and risk vary—call for an estimate based on your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Storm Damage Boarding in Medway

Do you cover all Medway postcodes for storm damage callouts?

Yes—ME1, ME2, ME3, ME4, ME5, ME7 and ME8. Call and we’ll confirm a realistic ETA based on weather and workload.

My ME7 shopfront has cracked but hasn’t fallen out—should I still board it?

Often yes. Laminated panes can hold together but are unsafe and can fail suddenly. We can shopfront boarded up the area to keep the premises safe and open.

The door in my ME3 property won’t latch after high winds—can you secure it tonight?

We can board up door and, if needed, fit a temporary steel door. Call for urgent attendance: 01634 980 080.

Can you make a damaged skylight watertight until a roofer comes?

Yes. Our roof boarding includes temporary covers and boarding to shed water and resist wind uplift.

Will boarding up affect my insurance claim?

Insurers typically expect you to mitigate further loss. Prompt emergency boarding up and our documentation usually support that. Check your policy and call your insurer early.

How quickly can you secure a smashed window in a storm?

We prioritise emergencies and aim to attend as quickly as possible. Times vary with conditions; we’ll give a realistic ETA when you call.

Can you remove boards once repairs are ready?

Yes. We can return to de-board and, if non-destructive clamping was used, removal leaves minimal trace.

I manage multiple ME4 and ME5 sites—can you coordinate during a storm?

We regularly work with facilities and property managers. Call to set priorities; we can provide consolidated invoicing and photo logs for each site.

Related Services for Storm Damage

• Smashed or cracked glazing: window boarding
• Compromised doors and entrances: door boarding
• Retail and commercial units: shopfront boarding
• Weatherproofing overhead openings: roof boarding
• Urgent, out-of-hours jobs: 24-hour emergency boarding up in Medway

Our Coverage and Response

We cover Medway across ME1, ME2, ME3, ME4, ME5, ME7 and ME8. We know the local property mix—from period terraces and semis to modern retail frontages and industrial units—and carry materials to handle a range of openings. We don’t promise fixed arrival times during severe weather, but we prioritise urgent calls and will update you with a realistic ETA.

Call Now to Secure Your Property

Need help now? Call 01634 980 080 for immediate assistance.

Prefer email? Send details and photos to info@boarding-up-medway.co.uk and we’ll respond promptly.