Storm Damage Boarding Up in Watford (WD1–WD25)

When storms hit Watford and the wider WD area, damage can happen fast—flying debris, fallen branches, lifted roof sheets, and shattered glazing. If you’ve woken up to a smashed window or you’re dealing with a damaged door or skylight after high winds or heavy rain, we can help make your property safe and secure.

Boarding Up Watford provides emergency storm damage boarding across all WD postcodes. We’re available 24/7 for urgent call-outs. We won’t promise exact arrival times, but we prioritise emergencies and will give you a realistic ETA on the phone. If you need help now, call 01923 311 082.

Call 01923 311 082

When Storm Damage Happens—and What’s at Risk

Storms in Hertfordshire often bring short, intense bursts of wind and rain. Typical issues we see across Watford, Bushey, Rickmansworth, and the WD districts include:

• Broken or blown-out windows from windborne debris
• Forced or warped doors where wind pressures strain the frame
• Damaged shopfront glazing from falling signs or unsecured street furniture
• Dislodged roof tiles, compromised skylights, and exposed loft spaces
• Water ingress through cracked frames and broken seals

Residential properties (including Victorian and interwar homes common across WD3, WD17 and WD18) can be vulnerable due to older sash windows and ageing putty or seals. Commercial units in busier areas are at risk from signage or neighbouring fixtures going airborne. Vacant or void properties often suffer repeat damage if not secured promptly.

The priority after storm damage is to make safe, weatherproof the opening, and prevent unauthorised access. That usually means temporary boarding to secure the perimeter and reduce further water damage until permanent repairs are arranged.

If this is your situation, our emergency boarding up team can attend out of hours to secure the property.

How We Secure Storm-Damaged Properties

Every job starts with a short on-site assessment to choose the safest, least destructive method. We use proven techniques and materials suited to storm scenarios:

• Window openings: We typically use 18mm exterior-grade plywood for larger spans and 12mm OSB for small panes, fixed with internal bracing or through-frame fixings depending on frame condition. Anti-tamper fixings are used where the property may be unattended. Learn more about our window boarding in Watford.
• Damaged doors: If the door leaf is split or the frame is loose, we can either board over the entrance or install a temporary steel door for controlled access. Steel doors are ideal for medium-term security while repairs are arranged. See door boarding and temporary steel doors.
• Shopfronts: For larger panes or multi-panel shopfronts, we measure and fit multiple boarded sections with reinforced fixings and perimeter sealing to resist wind uplift. More on shopfront boarding.
• Roof and skylight issues: Where wind has displaced tiles or damaged a skylight, we apply over-boarding to cover the opening, with attention to load paths and safe access. This is often combined with temporary weatherproofing. See roof boarding.

Why these methods work in storms:

• Solid boarding reduces wind re-entry forces that can worsen internal damage.
• Anti-tamper fixings prevent external removal—important if the site is unattended after hours.
• Correct board thicknesses resist flexing and uplift on wider spans.

What you receive:

• Time-stamped photos before and after
• An itemised invoice and work statement, suitable for insurance claims
• Clear notes on any structural concerns or follow-on repairs needed

If a frame is too damaged for non-destructive fixings, we’ll explain options on site before proceeding. We’re fully insured, and all technicians are DBS-checked.

Typical Storm Call-Out: What It Looks Like

A typical call-out might involve a late evening wind event across WD24. A detached house reports a smashed first-floor casement caused by a fallen branch. On arrival, we isolate the area, remove loose glass, and assess the frame. The sash rebate is distorted, so we opt for an internal brace with 18mm plywood cut precisely to the opening, secured into solid timber to avoid further frame damage. We apply external tape sealing to minimise rain ingress, then provide photos and a brief report for the insurer. If the client needs overnight access to a side door that won’t latch due to swelling, we can board that temporarily or fit a steel door depending on the damage and their access needs.

Immediate Steps If You’ve Got Storm Damage

• Stay safe: Avoid rooms with broken glazing or loose ceiling plaster. Watch for live electrics near water ingress.
• Call us to secure the property: For out-of-hours help, use our emergency boarding up line on 01923 311 082.
• Contact the police only if there’s a crime aspect (e.g., suspicious activity, looting). For non-crime storm damage, police attendance is usually not required.
• Inform your insurer early: Log the claim, get a claim or reference number, and ask what documents they require.
• Document the scene: Take photos or short videos of the damage and any water ingress, if it’s safe. Keep receipts for any temporary protective materials you’ve used.
• Prevent further damage: If safe, isolate water or power to affected areas and move valuables away from leaks.

We’ll handle the make safe and provide documentation insurers typically ask for. We’re not loss adjusters, but our paperwork helps streamline your claim.

Materials and Methods You Can Expect

• Boards: Exterior-grade plywood (18mm) or OSB (12mm+ where appropriate), clean-cut to size
• Fixings: Anti-tamper screws, internal anchors, and braces to suit the frame condition
• Sealing: Edge sealing or membrane as needed to reduce water ingress
• Access safety: Ladders, towers, or harnesses depending on height and roof conditions
• Temporary doors: Steel security door options when a damaged entrance still needs controlled access

We select materials based on span, exposure, and how long the property may be unattended.

Our Process—From Call to Secure

1. Call us with your WD postcode and brief description. We’ll prioritise emergencies and give a realistic ETA.
2. On arrival: Safety assessment, glass removal if necessary, and weather risk check.
3. Board sizing and fitting: Cut to fit, fixed using non-destructive methods where possible.
4. Weatherproofing: Perimeter sealing or temporary membranes for roof/skylight openings.
5. Documentation: Photos, itemised invoice, and work statement for your insurer.
6. Handover: Advice on next steps, including glazier/roofer follow-up where needed.

If additional services are appropriate, we’ll explain clearly and only proceed with your approval.

When to Choose Each Service After Storms

• Broken windows or cracked panes: window boarding in Watford
• A door forced by wind or debris, won’t secure: door boarding or temporary steel doors
• Smashed shop glazing or signage impact: shopfront boarding
• Roof tiles displaced or skylight compromised: roof boarding
• You need urgent, out of hours help tonight: emergency boarding up

Insurance and Evidence

• Keep your claim reference number to hand
• Save all photos we provide
• Retain our itemised invoice and work statement
• If your insurer requests a quote for permanent repairs, we’ll point you to appropriate trades; we focus on securing, not full glazing or roofing replacements

More detail: Insurance claims support and Pricing—what affects cost

FAQs: Storm Damage in the WD Area

Can you attend out of hours during a storm?

Yes. We handle out of hours and “tonight” calls via our emergency boarding up service. We’ll give a realistic ETA based on conditions and workload.

I’m in WD3 and my loft skylight is leaking after tiles blew off. Can you make it watertight?

We can over-board the opening and add temporary weatherproofing to make safe. Permanent tile or skylight replacement should be arranged with a roofer once it’s secure. See our roof boarding.

My shopfront in WD17 has a cracked pane after high winds. Do you board the whole frontage?

We board what’s required to make safe and secure—this may be a full-width section or targeted panels, depending on damage and frame integrity. More on shopfront boarding.

Will boarding up affect my insurance claim?

Insurers typically expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. Our documentation (photos, itemised invoice, work statement) supports your claim process. More info: Insurance claims.

Do you remove loose glass and clean up?

We remove loose and dangerous glass during make-safe work. Full debris cleanup can be limited in severe weather, but we’ll make the area safe and advise on follow-up.

Can you fit a temporary door if my front door won’t close after the storm?

Yes. Depending on the damage, we can board the entrance or install a temporary steel door for controlled access. See door boarding and temporary steel doors.

How long will the boarding need to stay up?

It depends on repair lead times. Boarding is a temporary solution to secure property and reduce water ingress until glazing or roofing repairs are completed.

Do you cover all WD postcodes during severe weather?

We cover WD1–WD25. In peak storms, we triage by urgency and safety risk and will be transparent about ETAs when you call.

Who We Help

• Homeowners and tenants needing to “make safe” windows, doors, or roof openings
• Shop owners requiring immediate shopfront boarded up after wind damage
• Landlords and agents securing vacant or void properties
• Facilities and site managers needing robust temporary boarding for larger premises

We’ve been trading for 10+ years, are fully insured, and our technicians are DBS-checked.

Need Emergency Storm Damage Boarding?

If you need to board up a broken window, secure a damaged door, or over-board a skylight after a storm, call now.

Need help now? Call 01923 311 082 for immediate assistance. If it’s not urgent, you can also email us for a callback.