Commercial Boarding Up in Bromley (BR) – Shops, Offices & Sites Secured

When a shopfront is smashed, an office door is forced, or a site is left exposed after damage, you need commercial boarding up in Bromley that’s fast, tidy, and robust enough to deter repeat attempts. We work across the BR postcodes (BR1–BR8) securing retail units, offices, cafés, warehouses, schools, and managed buildings—often out of hours, and often while you’re coordinating police, insurers, landlords, and alarm companies.

If you’re dealing with an urgent incident, go straight to our emergency boarding up page. If it’s planned security for a void unit or refurbishment, this page explains what we do, the methods we use, and what to expect on commercial jobs.

Need urgent help now? Call 020 4634 7872 or email info@boarding-up-bromley.co.uk.

The kinds of commercial properties we secure in Bromley

Bromley’s commercial stock is varied. We regularly work on:

High-street and parade shops (glazed shopfronts, aluminium frames, roller shutters)
Restaurants and takeaways with large front panes and rear service doors
Office buildings and mixed-use blocks (often with communal entrances and glass side panels)
Industrial units and yards where access points are wide and exposed
Schools, community buildings and places of worship, where safeguarding and tidy finishing matters
Vacant retail and void commercial units awaiting sale, letting or fit-out

Local context matters because it affects access and approach. A busy frontage near Bromley town centre can mean tight working space and footfall management, while a trading estate nearer the A21 or A20 corridors may involve larger openings, loading bay doors, and different fixing requirements.

Typical scenarios: when commercial boarding up is needed

Most calls come after an event—sometimes in the middle of a trading day, often at night.

Shopfront damage (impact, vandalism, attempted theft)

A single smashed pane can compromise the entire frontage—especially if the glazing beads or frame are bent. For commercial units, the priority is usually:

Preventing easy re-entry
Protecting stock and equipment
Keeping the premises weather-tight
Reducing liability risk from broken glass or accessible openings

For this, shopfront boarding is typically the most appropriate option.

Forced doors and broken locks after burglary

Commercial burglars often target rear doors, service entries, and side gates. After the police have attended, you may be left with a door that won’t close, a broken lock case, or splintered timber that can’t take a new cylinder.

We can provide door boarding and, where it’s the best fit, a temporary steel door solution for medium-term security (particularly useful for vacant units or sites awaiting repairs).

Related guidance: burglary repairs and boarding.

Storm damage and wind-blown debris

Commercial buildings with higher elevations, rooflights, or wide glazing can be vulnerable during high winds. If panels are cracked, missing, or the frame is compromised, securing the opening quickly stops further internal damage and helps keep the building compliant and safe.

See: storm damage boarding and roof boarding.

Fire damage (post-incident securing)

After a fire, even if the blaze is contained, you can be left with broken windows from heat, forced entry points used by crews, or a compromised door line. Our role is property security and weather protection—not smoke/odour remediation.

See: fire damage securing.

Vehicle impact (shopfronts, gates, perimeter areas)

A vehicle strike can distort frames and leave large, uneven openings. If the structure is unsafe, we’ll be clear about it: we can secure what’s safe to secure, but structural issues may require a building professional before full enclosure.

See: accident/impact damage boarding.

Our methods: how we board up commercial premises (and why)

Commercial boarding up isn’t “one size fits all”. The method depends on the opening size, frame condition, location (street-facing vs rear), and how long the security needs to last.

Plywood vs OSB – choosing the right board

We commonly use:

18mm exterior-grade plywood for larger openings, shopfronts, and where greater strength is required
12mm OSB for smaller openings or lower-risk areas where a solid temporary cover is still needed

Plywood generally offers better durability and resistance to splitting under load, which matters on exposed commercial frontages.

Fixing methods (including anti-tamper options)

On commercial work—especially if the unit will be unattended—we often recommend anti-tamper fixings. The reason is simple: standard external fixings can be removed quickly by someone with basic tools.

Where appropriate, we use through-fixing methods that clamp boards to the opening with internal timbers or spreader plates. If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain the options before proceeding.

Temporary steel doors for medium-term security

If your door is beyond a quick fix, or the unit is void and at higher risk, a temporary steel door can be a more practical solution than repeatedly re-boarding timber. It provides:

A lockable access point for trades, agents, and facilities teams
Stronger resistance to forced entry than a boarded doorway
Better day-to-day usability during refit or insurance works

This is often relevant for property managers and landlords with multiple sites.

Rooflights and high-level glazing: access and weathering

Commercial roof boarding and rooflight securing often requires careful planning:

Safe access arrangements (internal access, ladders, scaffold/tower where required)
Weathering considerations (preventing water ingress while maintaining ventilation where needed)
Coordinating with site rules, permits, and working hours

What to expect when you call us (commercial jobs)

When you’re managing an incident, clarity matters. Here’s how we typically handle commercial call-outs:

Initial details: location, what’s damaged (shopfront, door, window, rooflight), and whether the site is safe to approach
Access planning: keys/entry arrangements, alarms, shutters, security staff, or police presence
On-site assessment: we check the opening size, frame condition, and best fixing method
Secure and make safe: boarding, removing immediate hazards where safe to do so, and ensuring the premises can be left protected
Documentation: we can provide an itemised invoice and work summary, and—where helpful—time-stamped photos for your records

We don’t promise fixed arrival times because traffic, access constraints and job complexity vary, but we do prioritise urgent commercial incidents—especially where the frontage is open to the street.

Working with facilities managers, landlords and insurers

Commercial boarding up often involves multiple stakeholders. We’re used to liaising with:

Facilities management teams and helpdesks
Landlords and managing agents
Site security and alarm companies
Shop managers and franchise operators
Loss-prevention contractors and glaziers (for follow-on repairs)

We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisers, but we can provide documentation insurers typically ask for. If you’re claiming, see insurance claims support for practical guidance on what to keep and what to ask for.

Commercial security options for vacant or void premises

Empty premises attract attention—especially if they look newly vacant or have visible damage. If you’re securing a void unit between tenancies, you may want a more durable, longer-term approach than basic boarding.

Depending on the risk and duration, options can include:

Timber boarding with anti-tamper fixings for short-to-medium term
Temporary steel doors for secure access control
Security screening solutions where appropriate for longer-term void security

If you’re specifically dealing with an empty unit or unmanaged building, our vacant property boarding page explains the additional considerations.

Where we work: Bromley and the BR postcodes (BR1–BR8)

We cover the London Borough of Bromley and surrounding BR areas. Commercial call-outs are common around busy retail and commuter hubs, as well as quieter village parades and industrial pockets.

Explore local coverage here:

If you’re unsure which page fits your postcode, call and we’ll confirm.

Micro case study: securing a damaged shopfront after-hours in BR1

A small retail unit near Bromley town centre called after an attempted break-in left the main pane shattered and the lower frame twisted. The police had attended and the unit needed to be secured overnight to protect stock and reduce risk of repeat entry.

We attended, measured the opening, and installed 18mm exterior-grade plywood across the frontage using a fixing approach designed to resist external removal. We also covered a smaller side panel where the glazing beads had loosened. Before leaving, we provided time-stamped photos and a clear work statement for the tenant’s insurer and landlord, so a glazier could follow on with the correct specs.

FAQs – Commercial boarding up in Bromley

Do you board up shopfronts as well as offices?

Yes. We secure a wide range of commercial premises including retail shopfronts, offices, restaurants and industrial units. For large glazed frontages, shopfront boarding is usually the best route.

Can you secure a commercial unit if the door frame is damaged?

Often, yes. If the frame is stable enough, we can board the doorway or fit a temporary solution. If the frame is too compromised for a safe, non-destructive fixing, we’ll explain what’s possible before proceeding.

Will you provide paperwork for our insurer or facilities records?

We can provide an itemised invoice, a work summary, and (where useful) time-stamped photos. For more on the process, see insurance claims.

We manage multiple sites—can you work with our helpdesk or facilities team?

Yes. We regularly work with landlords, managing agents and facilities teams. If you have site rules, access procedures, or out-of-hours contacts, share them when you call so we can plan the visit smoothly.

Are you available out of hours for commercial call-outs?

Yes—commercial incidents don’t wait for business hours. If you need urgent help tonight, use our 24-hour emergency boarding up in Bromley service.

Next steps

If your premises has been broken into, vandalised, or damaged by weather or impact, the priority is to secure the opening quickly and properly—so you can protect your building, your staff, and your trading position.

Ready to get started? Call 020 4634 7872 or email us for a free, no-obligation quote.

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