Residential Boarding Up in Bromley (BR1–BR8)

When your home has been damaged—whether it’s a smashed window, a kicked-in door, or tiles torn away in a storm—your priority is simple: make the property safe and secure again, quickly. Our residential boarding up service in Bromley covers homes across the BR postcodes, helping owners, tenants and landlords protect the building from further damage and reduce the risk of opportunistic entry.

We handle boarding up for residential properties across Bromley and nearby areas—everything from Victorian terraces near Bromley South, to 1930s semis around Hayes and West Wickham, to flats above shops in Beckenham and short-term voids in Orpington. If you’re in immediate need, use our emergency boarding up service and speak to a real person.

Need help now? Call 020 4634 7872 for immediate assistance.

What “residential boarding up” actually means

Boarding up is a practical way to secure an opening in the building—typically a window, door, rooflight or vulnerable glazed panel—using sheet material and secure fixings until proper repairs can be completed.

In homes, boarding up is most often required after:

Break-ins and attempted break-ins
Accidental damage (a ball through a window, DIY mishaps, vehicle impacts)
Storm damage (debris strikes, dislodged panels, exposed rooflights)
Vandalism (especially on ground-floor windows or empty properties)
Fire or flood incidents (once the emergency services have made the scene safe)

If you want a simple explainer before you book anything, see what boarding up is and when it’s used.

Typical residential scenarios we see across Bromley

Every property is different, but certain call-outs are common in the BR area.

1) Burglary or attempted burglary

A forced entry can leave you with a splintered door frame, broken glazing, or a lock that won’t secure. In many cases, we can board the opening in a way that restores security without causing unnecessary extra damage, then leave it ready for your locksmith, glazier or joiner to make permanent repairs.

If this is what’s happened, read help after a burglary—it includes practical steps (police reference numbers, photos, and what insurers usually ask for).

2) Smashed windows and cracked panes

Ground-floor windows, side windows and rear doors are common targets. Even if the glass hasn’t fully fallen out, a cracked pane can fail suddenly—especially in cold weather.

Our window boarding in Bromley service focuses on securing the opening safely, with sensible fixings that are hard to remove from the outside.

3) Door damage (including uPVC and timber frames)

A door that no longer closes properly can’t be relied on overnight. If the door leaf or frame is badly compromised, boarding may be the safest immediate option until you can arrange replacement joinery.

Where appropriate, we may recommend door boarding or a more robust solution if the property will be unoccupied.

4) Storm damage to roofs, skylights and upper-floor openings

High winds can shift tiles and ridge caps, or blow debris into rooflights. This is common in more exposed spots around Keston and the higher ground towards Biggin Hill, and can also affect properties near open spaces such as Norman Park or Jubilee Country Park.

We can secure vulnerable overhead openings through roof boarding, focusing on weather protection and safe access.

5) Vacant homes between tenancies or during probate

A quiet street doesn’t always stay quiet. If a property is empty for any period, even a small broken pane can become a repeated problem. If you’re managing a void home, you may want to consider longer-term protection via vacant property boarding solutions rather than a very short-term board.

How we board up residential properties (step by step)

When you call, we’ll ask a few practical questions to make sure we arrive prepared—type of opening, approximate size, whether it’s accessible from inside, and whether there are any immediate hazards (loose glass, alarms, police attendance).

A typical residential job looks like this:

Make safe on arrival
We check for loose glass, sharp edges, and unstable frames. If there’s active risk, we’ll talk you through a safe distance to keep while we work.
Assess the opening and fixing options
The method depends on the frame condition. If the frame is sound, we can often use fixings that reduce additional damage. If the frame is already split or unstable, we’ll explain options before proceeding.
Measure and cut boards on site
Many residential openings are non-standard (bay windows, leaded-light panes, older timber frames). We cut to fit rather than “forcing” a standard sheet.
Install boards with security-focused fixings
We use appropriate anti-tamper approaches where needed, especially if the property will be unattended.
Final check: security, weatherproofing and access
You should be able to lock up what remains lockable, and the boarded area should be stable and resistant to removal from outside.
Documentation for your records/insurer
We can provide itemised invoices and a clear statement of works. If you need photos for your insurer, ask—we can provide them as part of the job record.

We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisers, but we know what insurers typically request and can help you gather the basics for insurance claims support.

Materials we use in homes (and why)

Residential boarding is usually a balance between strength, speed, and minimising extra damage.

Common materials include:

18mm exterior-grade plywood for strong, secure coverage on larger windows/doors
12mm OSB for smaller openings or where a lighter solution is appropriate
Anti-tamper fixings where the board edge is accessible from outside (important for ground-floor windows and side access)

If the property is likely to remain empty, you may benefit from a more durable option than timber boards alone—see vacant property solutions for guidance.

Residential property types we regularly secure in Bromley

Bromley has a wide mix of housing stock, which affects how boarding up is done:

Victorian and Edwardian terraces (often with bay windows and older timber frames) around areas like Bromley North and parts of Beckenham
1930s semis common around Hayes, West Wickham and Shortlands—often with larger front windows and side access
Purpose-built flats and maisonettes, including blocks near town centres and station approaches
Newer builds and conversions, where glazing sizes can be larger and access can be controlled via communal entrances

Access matters. Parking restrictions near town centres, shared entrances, or rear garden-only access can all affect the approach—if you can, tell us what you’re dealing with when you call.

A realistic Bromley micro case study (what it looks like in practice)

A homeowner near Bromley South station called after returning to find a rear ground-floor window broken following an attempted break-in. The frame was intact but the remaining glass was loose, and the property backed onto a side access that made the opening visible from outside.

We:

Made the opening safe by removing loose shards from the frame edge
Cut an exterior-grade board to fit the recess cleanly
Fixed it using a method that resisted removal from outside
Photographed the secured opening for the homeowner’s insurer and provided an itemised invoice

The aim wasn’t to “repair” the window—just to restore security and buy time for a glazier to supply the correct unit.

What to do before we arrive (if it’s safe)

When something’s just happened, it’s easy to miss basics. These quick steps help:

If there’s a crime, call the police first and note the crime reference number
Take a few photos from a safe distance (don’t touch broken glass)
If you can, keep pets/children away from the damaged area
If you have an alarm, let us know if it’s triggered or if you need access advice
Tell your insurer early; many will ask when the property was secured and by whom

If you need urgent help, go straight to our 24-hour emergency boarding up in Bromley page.

Where we provide residential boarding up (local BR coverage)

We cover residential call-outs across Bromley and the BR districts, including:

If you’re unsure whether your road falls within our coverage, check areas we cover or call and we’ll confirm.

FAQs — Residential boarding up in Bromley

How long does residential boarding up take?

It depends on the size and condition of the opening, access, and whether the frame is stable. A single standard window can often be secured quickly once we’re on site, while bays, doors, or multiple openings take longer. If you tell us what’s damaged when you call, we’ll set expectations honestly.

Is boarding up covered by home insurance?

Often, yes—especially when it’s necessary to prevent further loss after burglary, vandalism, storm damage, or an accident. Policies vary. We can provide the documentation insurers typically ask for; see insurance claims support for practical guidance.

Can you board up a window without damaging the frame?

Where the frame is sound, we aim to use fixings and methods that avoid unnecessary damage. However, if the frame is already split, rotten, or unstable, a more robust fixing method may be required for safety and security. We’ll explain the options before we proceed.

Do you work on flats and maisonettes with communal entrances?

Yes. Let us know about entry systems, concierge hours, and whether the damaged opening is street-facing or internal. If access requires a managing agent, we can work with them—especially for out-of-hours incidents.

We’re near Bromley High Street—can you secure a flat above a shop?

Yes—properties above shops are common around Bromley town centre and similar areas. Access and safe working at height can be the deciding factor, so tell us what floor it’s on and whether there’s internal access to the opening.

Next steps

If your home has been broken into, damaged by weather, or left exposed, we can help you secure it and get you back to a safe baseline.

Need help now? Call 020 4634 7872 for immediate assistance.
Or email: info@boarding-up-bromley.co.uk

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