Situations We Help With in Tonbridge (TN) — Emergency Boarding Up & Make-Safe

When something goes wrong at your property, you don’t need a sales pitch — you need practical help and a calm plan. Boarding Up Tonbridge provides emergency boarding up and make-safe services across Tonbridge and the wider TN postcode area (TN1–TN40), helping you secure property after incidents like burglary, vandalism, storm damage, fire, flooding or accidental impact.

If you’ve got a smashed window, a damaged door, or a shopfront that won’t secure, we’ll talk you through the next steps and arrange the right type of temporary boarding. For urgent situations, visit our emergency boarding up page or call now.

Need help now? Call 01732 900 178 for immediate assistance.

When to Call Us (and When to Call Someone Else First)

Call us when you need to make safe an opening quickly — for example to board up broken window, secure a forced door, or get a shopfront boarded up after damage.

Call 999 first if:

Anyone is in danger or the incident is ongoing
There’s a serious road traffic collision affecting the structure
There’s a fire risk or you suspect gas/electrical danger

Call your insurer early where possible. We’re not loss adjusters, but we can provide the documentation insurers typically ask for (see below).

For an overview of what boarding up is and what it’s for, see: what is boarding up.

What Happens When You Call (3-Step Process)

A quick assessment over the phone
Tell us what’s happened, what’s been damaged (window, door, shopfront, roof/skylight), and whether the building is occupied. If you have them, share photos — it helps us arrive with the right materials.
We attend and secure the property
We’ll choose the safest and most appropriate method on arrival — whether that’s boarding to glazing, securing a door opening, or installing a temporary solution for a higher-risk site.
You receive clear documentation
We can provide time-stamped photos, an itemised invoice, and a short statement of works to support your insurance claim.

We don’t quote fixed arrival times — conditions and workload vary — but if you call, we’ll give you a realistic ETA and prioritise urgent call-outs.

Common Situations We’re Called Out For in Tonbridge & the TN Area

These are the real-world events that usually trigger an emergency call. Each situation page goes deeper into the steps to take, what boarding method is likely, and what insurers tend to ask for.

Burglary / Break-in (forced doors and windows)

A break-in is stressful, and it often leaves more than one weak point — a door that won’t lock properly, a cracked pane, or a frame that’s been pulled.

What we typically do:

Secure damaged windows with exterior-grade boarding (size and fixings depend on the opening)
Board up door openings if the door leaf/frame can’t be secured safely
Recommend the right option if the opening is better protected with a temporary steel door (especially for vacant properties)

Vandalism (smashed glass, repeated targeting, shopfront damage)

Vandalism often happens out of hours, and it’s common for properties to be targeted again if the opening is left exposed. If you’ve got a smashed window or repeated damage, anti-tamper methods matter.

What we focus on:

Fast emergency boarding up to stop easy access
Anti-tamper fixings where appropriate (to reduce removal from outside)
Practical advice on temporary security for empty or repeatedly targeted sites

Read more: vandalism repair and boarding up
Commercial options: shopfront boarding

Storm Damage (blown-in panes, fallen branches, loose frames)

High winds and flying debris can break glazing, dislodge panels, or expose rooflights. The priority is weatherproofing and preventing further damage.

What we commonly handle:

Boarding broken windows and vulnerable openings
Temporary protection while you arrange glazing or building repairs
Advice on whether an opening needs stronger protection than standard board (e.g., larger apertures)

Read more: storm damage make-safe
Related service: roof boarding

Fire Damage (post-fire securing — not remediation)

After a fire, the property may be left insecure due to heat-damaged frames, broken glazing, or forced entry by emergency services. Our role is to secure property and reduce risk of theft or weather ingress.

What we can do:

Board and secure accessible openings once the site is safe to approach
Work around damaged frames carefully, explaining options if non-destructive fixing isn’t possible
Provide documentation for insurers

What we don’t do:

Smoke/odour remediation or full fire restoration (we focus on securing)

Flood Damage (swollen doors/frames, compromised locks)

Flooding can make doors and frames swell or shift, leaving them unable to close or lock. It can also compromise the security of ground-floor openings.

What we consider:

Safe access and whether the structure is stable/dry enough to work on
Ventilation needs (where appropriate) alongside security
Temporary boarding to prevent opportunistic entry

Accident / Impact Damage (vehicle strikes, accidental breakage)

Accidental impact can leave unpredictable damage — shattered glass, warped frames, or even structural concerns. If a vehicle has struck the building, safety comes first.

What we do in these situations:

Make the opening safe and secure to prevent injury and entry
Board larger openings in a way that’s stable and tamper-resistant
Liaise on-site where needed (e.g., with a responsible person or facilities contact)

How We Decide the Right Make-Safe Method

Every opening is different. We’ll recommend the most appropriate approach based on risk, exposure, and how long the solution needs to last.

Common methods include:

Plywood boarding (often 18mm exterior-grade for larger or higher-risk openings)
OSB boarding (commonly 12mm for smaller openings or lower-risk situations)
Anti-tamper fixings to reduce removal from outside — especially important if the property will be unattended
Options for higher-security needs on certain jobs (discussed on-site)

For service-specific detail, see our main services hub: boarding up services.

Residential, Commercial and Vacant Properties — Different Risks, Different Priorities

We secure a wide range of buildings across Tonbridge and the TN area:

Homes and flats: Keeping families safe, reducing exposure, and supporting household insurance documentation. See residential boarding up.
Shops and commercial premises: Out-of-hours damage, shopfront vulnerability, and public-facing safety. See commercial boarding up.
Vacant/void properties: Higher risk of repeat entry and theft; security needs can be longer term. See vacant property security.

Make-Safe Documentation for Insurance Claims

Insurers usually want evidence of:

What happened (as best as can be documented)
What emergency steps were taken to prevent further loss
A clear record of work completed

Where requested, we can provide:

Time-stamped photos of the damage and the secured opening
An itemised invoice
A short statement of works (what was done and why)

More guidance here: insurance claims support.
For budgeting context (without fixed prices): boarding up pricing.

Practical Tips While You Wait (If It’s Safe)

If you’ve had a break-in, vandalism or a smashed window, these steps can help:

Keep your police reference number if the police attended.
Take a few photos from a safe distance before anything is moved (don’t touch broken glass).
If you can, isolate pets/children away from the affected area.
Don’t attempt to cover broken glazing with thin plastic from outside — it can worsen cuts and doesn’t secure the property.
If the building has been hit by a vehicle or has fire damage, don’t re-enter until it’s declared safe.

FAQs (Situations & Emergency Boarding Up in Tonbridge)

How quickly can you board up a broken window in Tonbridge?

We prioritise urgent calls and aim to attend as quickly as possible, but we don’t promise fixed response times. When you call, we’ll give you a realistic ETA based on current workload and conditions. For urgent help, see 24/7 emergency boarding up.

Can you board up a door after a break-in?

Yes. If the door or frame won’t secure properly, we can board up door openings to prevent access. In some cases (especially for vacant properties), we may discuss a more robust temporary solution. See door boarding and burglary repairs.

My shopfront is damaged — can you secure it out of hours?

Yes, we regularly attend out-of-hours commercial call-outs where a shopfront boarded up solution is needed to reduce risk and keep the site safe. See shopfront boarding.

Is boarding up covered by insurance?

Often it can be, depending on your policy and the cause (e.g., burglary, storm damage). We’re not insurers or loss adjusters, but we can provide photos, an itemised invoice, and a work statement to support your claim. More detail: insurance claims.

Should I call a glazier or a boarding-up service first?

If the opening is insecure right now — especially at night, after vandalism, or if you need to secure property immediately — boarding up is typically the first step. Glazing repairs can then be arranged once the site is safe and measured properly.

Will boarding up damage my window frames or brickwork?

We aim for secure, appropriate fixings that protect the property. Where possible, we use methods that minimise unnecessary damage. If the frame is already compromised (common after forced entry or fire), we’ll explain the options before proceeding.

Can you help if the damage is on an upper floor or rooflight?

Yes, depending on access and safety conditions. Rooflights/skylights and upper-floor windows can require different approaches and may depend on safe working access. See roof boarding.

What information should I have ready when I call?

If you can, tell us:

What happened (burglary, storm, vandalism, accident, etc.)
What’s damaged (window, door, shopfront, rooflight)
Whether anyone is on-site and if the building is occupied
Any immediate hazards (loose glass, unstable frame) Photos are helpful but only take them if it’s safe.

Next Steps

If you’re dealing with an incident right now — burglary, vandalism, storm damage or an accident — we can help you make safe the property and reduce further risk with temporary boarding.

Need help now? Call 01732 900 178 for immediate assistance.
Or email: info@boarding-up-tonbridge.co.uk

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