Roof Boarding in St Albans (AL1–AL10) | Emergency Roof & Skylight Securing
When part of your roof is damaged, missing, or left open after an incident, it’s not just an inconvenience — it’s an immediate security and weatherproofing problem. Water ingress can spread quickly through insulation, ceilings and electrics, and an open roof or smashed skylight can also make a property vulnerable to further damage or theft.
Boarding Up St Albans provides roof boarding in St Albans and across the AL postcodes (AL1–AL10) for homes, shops, offices and vacant buildings. If you need urgent help tonight or you’re dealing with an out of hours situation, we’ll talk you through the safest next steps and give you a realistic ETA on the phone.
Need help now? Call 01727 326 204 for emergency assistance.
When roof boarding is needed (and why it can’t wait)
Roof boarding is used to secure and protect openings in the roofline — often as a temporary measure until permanent repairs can be carried out by a roofer, glazier, or insurer-appointed contractor.
Common call-out reasons in St Albans and the surrounding AL area include:
- Storm damage: tiles/slates lifted, ridge damage, or debris impact leaving a hole
- Smashed skylight or roof lantern (sometimes from accidental damage or vandalism)
- Fire damage where the roof has been opened for ventilation or access by the fire service (we secure the property; remediation is outside our scope)
- Impact damage (e.g., branches or falling masonry)
- Vacant property exposure where an access point has been created or discovered during inspection
- Roof access vulnerabilities after a break-in attempt via a flat roof, extension roof, or skylight
The immediate goals are to:
- Make safe the area and reduce risk to occupants and passers-by
- Stop water ingress as much as reasonably possible with temporary boarding and weatherproofing measures
- Secure the property to deter opportunistic entry, especially if the building will be unattended
If you’re dealing with storm damage or an incident right now, our emergency boarding up service is designed for urgent call-outs.
Roof boarding vs roof repair: what we do (and what we don’t)
It’s important to be clear about scope, especially when you’re stressed and trying to prevent further damage.
What roof boarding typically covers
- Boarding over roof openings, smashed rooflights, and compromised sections of roof covering
- Temporary, practical measures to reduce wind-driven rain entering the building
- Securing access points to help prevent unauthorised entry
- Documenting the condition with photos where safe to do so
What it doesn’t replace
Roof boarding is not the same as a full roof repair. We don’t re-tile an entire roof or complete structural roofing works as part of boarding. Instead, we stabilise and secure the situation so that follow-on trades can work from a safer, drier starting point.
If the damage appears structural or unsafe to access, we’ll explain your options before proceeding. In some cases, the safest next step is to restrict access and arrange specialist support.
Emergency roof boarding in St Albans: what happens when you call
When you call 01727 326 204, we’ll ask a few quick questions so we can bring the right fixings and boards:
- What’s been damaged: roof opening, skylight, flat roof, pitched roof edge?
- Approximate size of the opening and the height/access (front, rear, alleyway, shared access)
- Is anyone inside the property? Any immediate hazards (loose glass, hanging materials, water through lights)?
- Whether police, fire service, or building management are involved
- Whether you need the property secured tonight or made safe until morning
We don’t quote guaranteed arrival times — conditions vary — but we prioritise urgent calls and will give you a realistic ETA based on workload and location across the AL area.
Materials we use for roof boarding (and why)
Roof openings behave differently to doors and windows: they catch wind, shed water, and often involve awkward access. The material choice matters.
Exterior-grade plywood (common for roof boarding)
For many roof openings, we use 18mm exterior-grade plywood because it offers strong spanning capability and better durability in wet conditions than lighter boards.
Why it’s used:
- Resists flexing in wind better than thin board
- Holds fixings more reliably
- Provides a solid temporary barrier
OSB (useful in some situations)
For smaller, less exposed areas (or where the application is more about temporary closure than spanning), 12mm OSB may be appropriate.
Why it’s used:
- Cost-effective and quick to work with
- Suitable for smaller openings and certain internal/covered areas
We’ll choose the most appropriate option for the opening, exposure, and fixing points available. If you need window boarding rather than roof work (for example, a smashed window from the same storm), see window boarding in St Albans.
How we board a roof opening: methods and fixings
Every roof is different. A skylight on a flat roof extension is not the same as a hole in a pitched roof, and access can be the deciding factor in what’s safe and sensible.
Our typical roof boarding process
- Safety and access check
- We assess safe access and identify hazards (loose glass, unstable edges, water near electrics).
- Measure and prepare
- We measure the opening and cut boards to suit on-site.
- Protect and secure
- Where appropriate, we add measures to reduce water ingress (without claiming it’s a permanent waterproof repair).
- Fix using appropriate methods
- We use fixings suited to the substrate and the condition of the surrounding structure.
- Final checks and documentation
- We check security, stability, and take photos where safe.
- We can provide an itemised invoice and a brief work statement for insurers/landlords/facilities teams.
Fixing approach (non-destructive where possible)
Where the surrounding frame/structure is sound, we aim to secure boards in a way that balances holding strength and minimal additional damage. If the area around the opening is already fractured, rotten, or unstable, non-destructive methods may not be possible — we’ll explain what we can do before we proceed.
For door-related security after a break-in, a different solution may be more appropriate — see door boarding in St Albans.
Rooflights and skylights: the most common “open roof” emergency
A smashed skylight can feel deceptively small until the rain starts. Because skylights are overhead, water can track along joists and insulation and show up far from the original opening.
We frequently help with:
- Broken dome rooflights
- Cracked or missing panels
- Damaged frames that won’t hold a temporary cover securely
If the skylight frame is too damaged to secure reliably, we’ll tell you straight and talk through alternatives (including restricting access or arranging follow-on works).
Commercial buildings & flat roofs: securing larger openings
For commercial sites, roof boarding can be part of a wider make safe requirement — particularly if:
- the premises must be secured out of hours,
- there’s an on-site alarm response protocol,
- you need documentation for a facilities manager, landlord, or insurer.
Where roof access is controlled (gated service roads, shared rear access, business parks), we’ll coordinate arrival and site entry as smoothly as possible. If the incident also involves glazing at ground level, shopfront boarded up may be required as part of the same attendance.
What you’ll receive after roof boarding
When we secure your roof opening in St Albans or the wider AL area, you can expect:
- A clear description of what we did and why
- Photos of the opening and the completed boarding (time-stamped where possible)
- An itemised invoice for insurance or landlord records
- A practical handover: what’s secure, what still needs repair, and any access precautions
We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisors, but we can provide the documentation insurers typically ask for. For more guidance, see insurance claims for boarding up.
Typical emergency roof boarding scenario (what it often looks like)
A typical call-out might involve a property in the AL area where high winds have lifted sections around a rooflight overnight. The occupier notices dripping through a landing ceiling and a draught around the opening.
On arrival, we would:
- Check access and identify any loose fragments that could fall
- Measure the damaged section and cut exterior-grade plywood to cover the opening
- Secure the board with suitable fixings to stable surrounding structure
- Add practical measures to reduce water ingress, acknowledging this is temporary until a roofer completes repairs
- Provide photos and an itemised invoice for the insurer
If the opening is too unsafe to access without specialist equipment, we’ll tell you immediately and help you decide the safest next step.
Roof boarding for homes, landlords and vacant properties
Roof damage doesn’t only happen to occupied homes. We also help:
- Landlords managing void periods between tenancies
- Letting agents needing rapid securing to keep a property compliant and safe
- Property managers coordinating multi-trade follow-ons
- Vacant properties at higher risk of repeat entry once an opening is visible
If you’re securing an unoccupied building, longer-term solutions might be appropriate after the initial temporary boarding. You can also view our approach to vacant property boarding in St Albans.
Frequently asked questions about roof boarding in St Albans
Can you board up my roof tonight?
If it’s urgent, call us on 01727 326 204. We offer out of hours assistance where possible and prioritise emergency calls. We’ll give you a realistic ETA on the phone based on current workload and your location in the AL area.
Will roof boarding stop the rain completely?
Roof boarding is a temporary measure designed to reduce water ingress and secure the opening. Depending on wind direction, the size of the hole, and surrounding damage, we cannot guarantee a fully watertight result like a full roof repair would. We’ll be honest about what’s achievable on the night.
What boards do you use for roof openings?
Commonly 18mm exterior-grade plywood for strength and durability, and 12mm OSB for certain smaller or less exposed openings. The final choice depends on exposure, size, and fixing points.
Is roof boarding covered by insurance?
Often it can be, especially when it’s required to prevent further damage after an insured event (storm, burglary, impact). Policies vary, so check with your insurer. We can provide photos and an itemised invoice; see our insurance claims guidance.
What if the roof structure is too damaged to fix boards safely?
If the surrounding structure won’t take fixings, or safe access can’t be achieved, we’ll explain the limitation and options before proceeding. Sometimes the safest course is restricting access and arranging specialist support.
Do you also board up windows and doors if they’re damaged in the same incident?
Yes. Many incidents involve multiple openings (for example, storm damage causing a smashed window). We can often secure more than one area in the same visit when access and materials allow. See window boarding in St Albans and door boarding in St Albans.
Related situations we’re often called to
Roof boarding is commonly required following:
- Storm incidents (see storm damage boarding and securing)
- Fire-related access or damage (see post-fire boarding up)
- Impact accidents (see accident damage boarding up)
If you’re not sure what category your incident falls under, call us and we’ll guide you to the safest next step.
Roof boarding across St Albans and the AL postcodes
We provide roof boarding in St Albans and surrounding areas across AL1–AL10. Whether you’re in the city centre, a residential street, or managing a site on the outskirts, our approach is the same: make safe, secure property, and help you stabilise the situation without overpromising.
If you’re unsure whether you’re in our coverage area, see areas we cover or call us directly.
Ready to secure your roof opening?
Roof damage is stressful — especially when it’s late, raining, or you’re worried about security. We’ll keep it straightforward, explain what we can do, and help you protect the building until repairs are arranged.
Need help now? Call 01727 326 204 for emergency roof boarding in St Albans and across AL1–AL10.
Prefer to write it down? Email [email protected].
