Boarding Up After Accident Damage in Hemel Hempstead (HP Area)

Accident damage is one of those situations that escalates fast. A vehicle clips a wall, a delivery goes wrong, a ladder goes through a window, or a pane shatters during a job—suddenly you’ve got an exposed opening, sharp glass, and a property that’s no longer secure or weather-tight.

If you need to board up a broken window, board up a door, or have a shopfront boarded up after an impact, we can help across Hemel Hempstead and the wider HP postcode area. We provide emergency boarding up to make safe damaged windows, doors, shopfronts and roof openings—daytime, evenings and out of hours when needed.

Need help now? Call 01442 502 589 to secure your property, or email info@boarding-up-hemel-hempstead.co.uk.

When accident damage usually happens (and why boarding up can’t wait)

Accident damage isn’t always dramatic—but it often creates the same risks as a break-in: a vulnerable opening that attracts attention, lets in rain, and can quickly lead to further damage.

Typical causes we attend in Hemel Hempstead and surrounding HP areas include:

• Vehicle impact into a wall, garage door, shopfront, or front elevation (including low-speed bumps that still smash glazing or frames)
• Accidental breakage during building works (dropped tools, knocked ladders, mishandled glass units)
• Damage to doors after forced entry tools are used incorrectly by occupants/contractors, or hinges/locks fail
• Fallen objects (tiles, branches, signage) breaking windows, rooflights or conservatory panels
• Internal accidents such as a door slamming and shattering decorative glazing or safety glass panels

Even if you plan to replace the glass or repair the frame tomorrow, leaving the opening exposed overnight can mean:

• Increased chance of theft or trespass
• Rain and wind-driven water causing swelling, staining and electrical risks
• Heat loss and discomfort (especially in winter)
• Extra liability if members of the public can access broken glass or sharp edges

That’s where temporary boarding comes in: it allows you to secure property and stabilise the situation while you arrange permanent repairs.

What “make safe” means after an accident

After an accident, people often ask us to “make it safe” first, then worry about everything else. In practice, a proper make-safe visit usually includes some combination of:

• Securing the opening so it can’t be accessed from outside
• Reducing the chance of further collapse or damage (where boarding can be safely installed)
• Improving weather protection until glazing/doors/frames can be repaired
• Providing photos and documentation for insurance or landlords/facilities teams

We’re not structural engineers, and we won’t pretend a board is a structural repair. But we’re experienced in stabilising damaged openings and explaining the safest options when frames or surrounding materials are compromised.

If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive fixing, we’ll talk you through choices before proceeding, so there are no surprises.

How we secure properties after accident damage (our step-by-step approach)

Every impact is different. A cracked pane in a ground-floor window is not the same as a shopfront with shattered glazing and twisted framing. Our process is designed to be calm, practical and safe.

1) Triage on the phone (so we bring the right materials)

When you call, we’ll ask a few quick questions:

• What’s been damaged: window, door, shopfront, rooflight/skylight?
• Is anyone injured or is glass still falling?
• Is the opening accessible from the street (public safety)?
• Is the property occupied tonight, or is it vacant?
• Do you need out of hours attendance?

We’ll then give you a realistic ETA based on workload and conditions. We don’t promise fixed arrival times—but we do prioritise urgent incidents where the building is exposed.

Need urgent help? Call 01442 502 589.

2) On-site safety check

On arrival we’ll assess:

• Remaining glass hazards and loose shards
• Condition of the frame/substrate (uPVC, timber, aluminium, masonry)
• Whether boarding can be fixed without worsening damage
• Best fixing method to prevent removal from outside

If emergency services are involved or the area needs isolating, we’ll work around that and follow any instructions on scene.

3) Choosing the right boarding method and materials

We typically use:

• 18mm exterior-grade plywood for robust security and better impact resistance
• 12mm OSB where appropriate for smaller openings or short-term coverage

The method depends on what’s still intact:

• Through-bolting / brace boarding where we can use internal timber bracing and threaded fixings to clamp boards securely (often the best option when frames are weak)
• Anti-tamper fixings to reduce the chance boards can be removed from outside—especially important if the property will be unattended
• Cut-to-fit panels for irregular openings (common after impacts where the frame is distorted)

If it’s a commercial frontage, we’ll also consider safe pedestrian access, visibility requirements, and the need to secure larger spans.

4) Securing doors when the lock area is damaged

Accidents often destroy the part of the door that makes it secure: the lock, keep, hinges, or surrounding frame. In these cases we may recommend either:

• Boarding and bracing the doorway, or
• Installing a temporary steel door for safer medium-term access and lockable security (often preferred for vacant properties, fire-damaged entrances, or repeated access needs)

For dedicated door solutions, see door boarding in Hemel Hempstead.

5) Documentation for insurers, landlords and facilities managers

After we’ve secured the site, we can provide what insurers and property managers typically need:

• Time-stamped photos of the damage and completed boarding
• An itemised invoice and work statement describing materials and fixing method
• Notes on any access limitations or safety concerns observed on arrival

We’re not loss adjusters and can’t approve claims—but we can support your claim with clear evidence. For guidance, see insurance claims help.

Common accident-damage scenarios we handle in the HP area

Smashed window after an impact

A single smashed window can be enough to make a home vulnerable—especially ground-floor windows, side windows, and any glazing near a back gate or alley access.

Most customers in this situation want two things immediately: to board up broken window openings securely, and to stop the weather getting in. Our window boarding in Hemel Hempstead service is designed exactly for this.

Damaged shopfront glazing

With shops and commercial units, the risks stack up quickly: visibility from the street, valuable stock, and the need to reopen. We can arrange shopfront boarded up solutions that prioritise security and stability while you organise glazing contractors.

Learn more about shopfront boarding in Hemel Hempstead.

Door damage after a collision or misalignment

After impacts, doors can stick, twist, or stop locking—sometimes even when the door itself looks “fine”. If the entrance can’t be locked, we treat it as urgent and aim to secure property access.

See door boarding in Hemel Hempstead.

Rooflights and skylights cracked by fallen debris

Accident damage isn’t always at ground level. Roof openings are a fast route to water ingress, and they’re often overlooked until ceilings stain and insulation gets soaked. If it’s safe to access, we can board roof openings as a temporary weather and security measure.

See roof boarding in Hemel Hempstead.

What to do immediately after an accident (before we arrive)

If you’re reading this in a panic, focus on safety first.

1. Check for injuries and call 999 if needed. Don’t try to clear glass if anyone is hurt.
2. If there’s a risk to the public, keep people away from the opening and any fallen glass.
3. Don’t touch unstable frames or dangling glass. Impact damage can leave panels under tension.
4. Take a few photos if it’s safe, showing the wider scene and close-ups of the damage.
5. Call your insurer early if you believe you’ll be claiming—ask what evidence they need.
6. Call us to make safe and secure the property. We’ll talk through the options and what’s realistic.

Need emergency boarding up now (including out of hours)? Call 01442 502 589.

Our accident-damage boarding up service in Hemel Hempstead: what you can expect

People typically call us because they want the situation handled without more stress. Here’s what we focus on:

• Clear communication and a realistic ETA
• A safe, secure boarding method—appropriate to the damage
• Consideration for occupancy (family home vs vacant unit vs trading premises)
• Anti-tamper approach where the property may be left unattended
• Clean documentation for insurers and stakeholders

We’ve been trading for 10+ years, we’re fully insured, and our technicians are DBS-checked. That matters when you’re giving someone access to your home, your business, or a sensitive site—especially at night or out of hours.

If you’re dealing with a different incident type (break-in, vandalism, storm), you may also find these helpful:

• emergency boarding up
• burglary repairs and boarding up
• storm damage boarding

How long can accident-damage boarding stay in place?

Boarding is intended as a temporary security and weather measure. In many cases it stays in place until:

• A glazier replaces the unit
• A door/frame is repaired or replaced
• A shopfront contractor reinstalls glazing and confirms the structure is sound

If a property will be empty for a while, we may discuss longer-term options such as a temporary steel door or more robust screening—depending on access needs and the condition of the opening. We’ll be honest about what’s appropriate, and what isn’t.

For background, see what boarding up is and how it works.

FAQs: Boarding up after accident damage (Hemel Hempstead & HP)

Do you cover accident damage across the HP postcodes?

Yes—our coverage includes Hemel Hempstead and the surrounding HP postcode districts (HP1–HP27). If you’re not sure whether we can attend your exact location, call and we’ll confirm and give you a realistic ETA.

Can you board up tonight if the accident happened out of hours?

Yes. We offer 24/7 boarding up for urgent cases, including out of hours call-outs. We don’t guarantee fixed response times, but we prioritise exposed properties and will give you an ETA on the phone.

I need to board up a broken window—what do you need from me?

A quick description and (if safe) a photo helps. Tell us approximate size, floor level, and whether the frame is intact. If you have it, keep any incident reference numbers (police, building manager, insurer) for your records.

What if the window frame is too damaged to screw into?

That’s common after impacts. Where direct fixing isn’t safe, we can often use brace/through-bolt methods with internal timbers to secure the board without relying on a shattered frame. If we believe boarding could worsen the damage, we’ll explain alternatives before proceeding.

Can you secure a damaged door that won’t lock?

Yes. If you need to board up a door because the lock area or frame has failed, we can secure the entrance. Where appropriate, we may recommend a temporary steel door for safer access and stronger security. See door boarding in Hemel Hempstead.

Do you board up shopfronts after vehicle impact?

Yes—this is a common reason for emergency boarding up on commercial premises. We can provide a shopfront boarded up solution to secure stock and reduce risk until proper glazing repairs are completed. See shopfront boarding in Hemel Hempstead.

Is boarding up covered by insurance after an accident?

Often it can be, but it depends on your policy and the circumstances. We’re not insurers or loss adjusters, but we can provide the photos and invoices insurers typically request. See insurance claims help.

Can you help if there’s roof damage from falling debris?

If there’s a rooflight, skylight, or other roof opening that needs securing (and it’s safe to access), we can help with temporary boarding to reduce water ingress risk. See roof boarding in Hemel Hempstead.

Next step: secure the property, then plan repairs

Accident damage is stressful—but the first priority is simple: make safe, secure property, and prevent the situation getting worse.

Need help now? Call 01442 502 589 for emergency boarding up in Hemel Hempstead and across the HP area, or email info@boarding-up-hemel-hempstead.co.uk.

Looking for a quote for planned work? You can also contact us via our contact page and we’ll advise the best approach.