Door Boarding Up in South East London
Door boarding up in South East London is often needed after a break‑in, forced entry, or accidental damage when your door can no longer be locked safely. We provide fast, professional emergency door boarding up so you can secure your property quickly and meet insurer expectations.
Need urgent help? Call 020 4538 1506 for 24/7 emergency door boarding.
When You Need This
If your front, back or commercial door has been damaged, you may not be able to close or lock it. That’s when a temporary secure door or solid boarding is essential to protect people, belongings, and the building itself.
Common situations where our door boarding up in South East London is required include:
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Forced entry and kick‑ins
- Burglary or attempted break‑in
- Police or emergency services gaining access
- Door frame split, lock area smashed, hinges damaged
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Vandalism and criminal damage
- Panels kicked through or smashed
- Glass in door panels broken
- Shops and commercial units targeted out of hours
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Accidental damage
- Delivery trolleys or vehicles striking a door
- Heavy items knocking panels out
- Slamming doors causing glass to shatter
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Fire, flood or storm damage
- Fire service forcing doors open
- Swollen or warped doors after flooding
- Storm or impact damage leaving the door unsafe
You may notice:
- The door won’t close or latch properly
- The locking mechanism no longer lines up
- Hinges or frame timbers are cracked or loose
- Glass panels or sidelights around the door are smashed
In all these cases, same day boarding up and emergency property securing helps reduce further loss and keeps your insurer satisfied that you’ve acted promptly to secure the property.
If you also have broken windows, our dedicated window boarding in South East London service can be carried out at the same visit.
How We Secure Your Property
We focus on non‑destructive securing wherever possible, using strong materials and professional fixings to make your home or business safe while permanent repairs or replacements are arranged.
Step 1 – Assessment and Safety Check
On arrival, our DBS‑checked technicians will:
- Check the door, frame and surrounding structure for damage
- Identify any glass hazards and clear loose shards safely
- Confirm which areas need door boarding up and where a temporary steel door would be more appropriate
- Discuss your priorities (security, access, child safety, pets, business reopening, etc.)
Where there is structural concern (e.g. severe impact to a shopfront or load‑bearing wall), we’ll explain clearly if more extensive temporary works are needed, or if a structural engineer/contractor should be involved.
Step 2 – Choosing Materials: Plywood & OSB Boarding
For most residential and light commercial jobs we use:
- 12–18mm structural plywood or
- OSB (Oriented Strand Board) of similar thickness
Both are:
- Strong and impact‑resistant
- Suitable for short to medium‑term security
- Easier to fit tightly than makeshift materials like old doors or thin sheet timber
The decision between plywood and OSB boarding is usually based on:
- Availability and site conditions
- Location (exposed external door vs internal lobby)
- Duration you expect the board to stay in place
We’ll explain what we’re using and why before fixing anything.
Step 3 – Non‑Destructive Fixing Methods
Our aim is to secure the opening firmly without causing unnecessary damage to surrounding frames or finishes.
Typical methods include:
- Anti‑tamper fixings
- Special screws/bolts designed so they cannot be easily removed from outside
- Helps prevent opportunistic intruders simply “unscrewing” the board
- Through‑bolting with internal plates (where suitable)
- Spreads the load inside the property
- Reduces stress on weak or damaged frames
- Fixing into existing solid timbers or masonry
- Avoids tearing out damaged door jambs
- Prioritises strength but keeps further drilling to a minimum
Where possible, we avoid fixing into:
- Delicate decorative trims
- Tiles or finishes that are likely to crack
- Very narrow sections of wood that might split
If, due to the extent of the damage, some extra drilling or cutting is unavoidable, we’ll explain this clearly beforehand and keep it to the minimum needed to secure the property properly.
Step 4 – Temporary Secure Doors for Regular Access
For many customers, especially:
- Shops and commercial premises
- Shared entrances to flats
- Busy family homes
a fully boarded‑over door is not practical long‑term. In these cases we can provide temporary secure doors, which may include:
- Steel security doors or frames fixed into the opening
- Robust timber doors with upgraded locks for shorter‑term use
- Provision for controlled access (for staff, carers, contractors, etc.)
These options are ideal where you need to secure empty property or keep a business operating while waiting for permanent doors or glazing.
If your property is likely to stand empty for longer, you may also benefit from vacant property boarding and security, including steel security screens and anti‑vandal measures.
Step 5 – Tidy, Insurance‑Ready Finish
Before leaving, we:
- Check that boards or temporary doors are solid, with minimal flex
- Ensure there are no sharp edges or protruding fixings
- Sweep or vacuum any accessible glass/debris from the work area
- Take time‑stamped photos for your records and insurer
- Provide an itemised invoice and a brief statement of work
This paperwork is designed to support any claim and can be combined with our dedicated insurance support for boarding up in South East London.
Why Choose Us for Door Boarding Up in South East London?
You are trusting us with the security of your home or business, often in stressful circumstances. Our service is built around being reliable, transparent, and insurer‑friendly.
Local, 24/7 Emergency Response
- Based in and focused on South East London, covering SE1–SE28
- Regularly working in areas like Greenwich, Lewisham, Peckham, Deptford, Bermondsey, Woolwich, Catford, Camberwell and surrounding SE postcodes
- Out‑of‑hours boarding up 24/7 with efficient dispatch, day or night
- No false promises on exact arrival times – we focus on realistic, honest updates
For multi‑site or portfolio clients (landlords, estate agents, facilities managers), we can coordinate visits and keep you updated with photos from each property.
10+ Years’ Experience & Fully Insured
- Over a decade securing front doors, rear doors, commercial doors, communal entrances and fire doors
- Public liability insurance in place for peace of mind
- DBS‑checked technicians for boarding up homes, schools, care properties and sensitive sites
We understand the expectations of insurers on emergency boarding up and can tailor our approach accordingly.
Non‑Destructive Securing Wherever Possible
We prioritise:
- Non‑destructive securing methods
- Reusing existing fixing points where safe
- Minimising additional drilling into frames and walls
Exceptions are clearly explained, such as:
- Heavily fractured frames that will not hold a fixing
- Safety‑critical situations requiring extra bracing
- Severely distorted openings after impact
Suitable for Homes, Shops and Managed Properties
We regularly provide emergency boarding up for:
- Residential front and back doors, including uPVC, timber and composite
- Shops, cafés, salons and small offices across SE high streets
- Managed blocks and communal entry doors
- Vacant or void properties awaiting refurbishment or sale
If you manage multiple sites, our commercial boarding up services can support your FM or property management operations.
What Happens Next
Whether you’re dealing with a fresh break‑in or long‑term security for an empty building, our process is simple and transparent.
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Contact Us 24/7
- Call us on 020 4538 1506 any time of day or night
- Or send brief details and photos via our contact our South East London team page (for non‑urgent work)
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Initial Guidance & Quote
- We’ll ask a few quick questions about the damage, access and property type
- Wherever possible we’ll give an estimated cost range based on your description
- For insurance claims, we can tailor the wording of our statement to suit
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Rapid Attendance & Make‑Safe Work
- Our technician attends, assesses, and explains the plan on site
- We carry out door boarding up, install any temporary secure door, and secure nearby glazing if needed
- For homes with children or vulnerable adults, we pay particular attention to safe edges and clear walkways
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Follow‑Up and Permanent Repairs
- You keep our invoice, photos and summary for your insurer
- You can use your own contractor, or if you wish we can recommend trusted traders for replacement doors or glazing
- If you also need window boarding or roof & skylight boarding, we can usually handle this in the same visit – see our full boarding up services in South East London
If your door has been damaged as part of a break‑in, our post‑burglary boarding up service explains the wider steps to secure your property after a crime.
FAQs
How long does it take to board up a damaged door?
Most standard door boarding up jobs in South East London take around 1–2 hours once we’re on site, depending on the size of the opening, the extent of damage and access. Heavily damaged shopfronts or structural issues can take longer, and we’ll explain timings when we assess the property.
Can I still use the doorway after it’s been boarded?
Yes, in many cases. We can:
- Board part of the opening while leaving a functional section
- Install a temporary secure door within the boarded area
For some high‑risk situations (for example, a badly damaged frame in a vacant property), we may recommend fully boarding the doorway with no access to maximise security.
Is emergency door boarding covered by insurance?
In many burglary, vandalism, storm or impact cases, insurers will consider emergency boarding up as part of the claim. Policies differ, so you should always check with your insurer, but we provide:
- Itemised invoices
- Time‑stamped photos
- A short statement of work
These are designed to support your claim, and you can read more about this on our insurance support for boarding up in South East London page. Remember to keep any police crime reference number if there has been a break‑in.
Will boarding up damage my door frame or brickwork?
Our priority is non‑destructive securing wherever possible. We:
- Use existing strong points where we can
- Choose fixings and methods to reduce additional damage
- Avoid delicate finishes and trims
However, if the frame is already split, rotten or loosely attached, we may need to fix into more solid surrounding areas to make it safe. We will always discuss this with you before proceeding.
Do you offer 24 hour door boarding up?
Yes. We provide 24 hour boarding up in South East London for doors, windows and shopfronts. If you need help now, please Call 020 4538 1506 and we’ll arrange out‑of‑hours boarding up as quickly and safely as possible. You can also see our dedicated 24/7 emergency boarding up service for more details.
Need help now? Call 020 4538 1506 for 24/7 emergency door boarding up in South East London, or Email us for a prompt, no‑obligation quote.
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