Accident Damage Boarding Up in St Albans (AL1–AL10)
Accident damage is one of those situations that can go from “annoying” to “urgent” in minutes. A vehicle clips a garden wall and takes out a front window. A delivery mishap cracks a shopfront pane. A falling object damages a door or skylight. Whatever caused it, the result is often the same: an exposed opening that puts your property at risk.
If you need emergency boarding up in St Albans after an impact or accident, we can help you make safe, protect the inside from weather, and secure property until repairs or replacement glazing can be arranged. For urgent help, call Call 01727 326 204.
We cover St Albans and the wider AL area (AL1–AL10), with 10+ years trading, fully insured work, and DBS-checked technicians.
When accident damage usually happens (and why boarding up matters)
Accident damage isn’t always dramatic—it’s often the everyday incidents that create the biggest security problem:
- Vehicle impact: a car mounts a kerb, reverses into a frontage, or hits a garage door
- Commercial knocks: deliveries, pallet trucks, equipment movement near glazing
- Falling objects: roof tiles, tree limbs, signage, ladders and building materials
- Internal accidents: accidental breakage from inside that still leaves a vulnerable opening
- Secondary damage after storms: debris impact that shatters glass or damages frames (see also storm damage boarding in St Albans)
Even if the incident happened in daylight and “someone will fix it tomorrow”, a broken pane or damaged door can quickly become:
- A security risk (opportunistic theft, repeat targeting, trespass)
- A safety risk (sharp glass, unstable frames, trip hazards)
- A weather risk (rain ingress, draughts, further damage to floors and electrics)
That’s where temporary boarding and professional securing comes in—done properly, it reduces risk without making later repairs harder.
For urgent call-outs, use our emergency line: Call 01727 326 204.
What we do first: making safe after an impact
When you contact us about accident damage, we’ll ask a few practical questions so we can arrive prepared:
- What’s been damaged: window, door, shopfront, roof/skylight
- Approximate size of the opening (a rough estimate is fine)
- Whether the frame is intact or heavily distorted
- Whether the property is occupied, vacant, or a commercial site
- Any immediate hazards (shattered glass, unstable panels, exposed electrics)
On arrival, our priority is safety
We start by assessing what’s safe to work on. If there’s loose glass, sharp edges, or a compromised frame, we’ll work carefully to make safe and reduce the chance of further injury or damage. Where needed, we can cordon off an area while we secure the opening.
We’re not structural engineers, and we won’t pretend otherwise. If the impact has caused wider structural movement (e.g., bowing brickwork, a heavily racked opening, or a door frame pulled out of square), we’ll explain what we can do immediately to secure the site and what may need follow-on attention from a builder or glazier.
How we secure accident-damaged windows and doors
Accident damage often causes a messy mix of problems: broken glazing, bent frames, and fixings that won’t take a normal screw. Our approach is to secure the property using methods that are robust, appropriate to the material, and designed to prevent removal from outside.
Boarding up smashed windows (domestic and commercial)
For most broken or smashed window openings, we typically use:
- 18mm exterior-grade plywood for strength and durability where appropriate
- 12mm OSB for smaller openings or lower-risk temporary measures (site-dependent)
We cut boards to size, fix them securely, and aim to leave the surrounding area stable and protected. If the window frame is still sound, we’ll use fixings that hold well without unnecessary damage. If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll talk you through options before proceeding.
If what you need is specifically to board up broken window or deal with a smashed window, see:
window boarding in St Albans
Boarding up doors after impact or forced distortion
Accidents can crack a door leaf, shear hinges, or split the frame so the lock no longer engages. If you need to board up door after impact damage, we can secure it temporarily so the property isn’t left exposed.
Depending on the condition of the opening, we may recommend:
- Door boarding to secure the entry until a replacement door/frame is fitted
- A temporary steel door where a timber door is destroyed or the property will be unattended
A temporary steel door can be a practical medium-term option for landlords and managing agents, especially if repairs may take days rather than hours.
Learn more here: door boarding in St Albans
Shopfront damage (glazing and frames)
With retail and commercial premises, the priority is often to secure quickly and reduce downtime—especially if the premises can’t be left open overnight. We can shopfront boarded up securely using materials and fixings suitable for larger spans and public-facing sites.
If your premises has suffered impact damage and you need a shopfront boarded up, start here:
shopfront boarding in St Albans
Rooflights and skylights after a strike
Impact damage to rooflights can leave you exposed to weather straight away—especially in poor conditions. Roof-level boarding also comes with access and safety considerations. If we can safely access the area, we can secure it to reduce water ingress and prevent further damage.
See: roof boarding in St Albans
Materials, fixings, and why they matter after accident damage
A lot of “quick boarding” fails because it’s not fixed correctly. After an accident, openings can be uneven and frames can be weakened—so how the board is secured matters as much as the board itself.
We commonly use anti-tamper fixings where appropriate, because they help prevent boards being removed from outside. This is especially important if:
- The property will be unattended overnight
- It’s a commercial unit with repeat footfall nearby
- It’s a vacant property awaiting longer repairs (see vacant property boarding in St Albans)
We also take care with:
- Board thickness (strength vs practicality for the opening)
- Fixing points (avoiding fragile edges and compromised frame sections)
- Weather protection (reducing drafts and water entry as much as possible)
What to expect when you call us (and what you’ll receive)
Accidents don’t happen on a tidy schedule, and we won’t promise a fixed arrival time. Conditions vary by workload and time of day. What we will do is:
- Prioritise urgent calls and aim to attend as quickly as possible
- Give you a realistic ETA on the phone
- Talk you through any immediate steps to keep people safe while you wait
After the job, customers typically need clear paperwork and evidence—especially for insurance.
You can request:
- Time-stamped photos of the secured opening
- An itemised invoice
- A brief work statement describing what was done and why
If you’re dealing with an insurer: we’re not loss adjusters or legal advisors, but we can provide the documentation insurers typically ask for. More guidance here: insurance claims help
A typical accident-damage call-out in St Albans (example scenario)
A typical call-out might involve a ground-floor window that’s been broken by an accidental impact—often leaving jagged glass and a twisted or weakened frame. The customer may have temporarily covered it, but still needs the property properly secured before night.
On arrival, we’d assess the frame condition and any hazards, remove or stabilise dangerous loose sections where safe to do so, and then fit a cut-to-size plywood board using secure fixings. If the frame won’t take fixings safely, we’d explain the limitation and agree an alternative method to secure the opening.
Before leaving, we’d check there are no easy leverage points from outside, confirm the internal area is safe, and provide photos and an invoice suitable for your records or insurer.
What to do right now if your property has accident damage
If you’re dealing with a broken window, damaged door, or a compromised shopfront, these steps help you stay safe and protect your claim:
- Check for injuries first and call 999 if anyone is hurt.
- If there’s a crime element (e.g., a vehicle impact followed by attempted entry), call the police and keep the reference number.
- Keep people away from broken glass and unstable frames. Don’t try to pull out shards—sharp edges and sudden movement can cause injury.
- Take photos if it’s safe (wide shot + close-ups). This can help with insurance and repairs.
- Call us to secure the opening—we can advise what to do while you wait and what we’ll need access-wise.
For urgent help: Call 01727 326 204
Or email (non-urgent): [email protected]
Accident damage vs burglary/vandalism: does it change what you need?
Sometimes it’s not immediately clear whether damage was accidental, deliberate, or opportunistic. From a securing point of view, the immediate goal is the same: secure property and prevent further loss.
If the damage may be linked to a break-in or attempted entry, you may also want to read:
Coverage across St Albans and the AL postcodes
We provide boarding up services in St Albans and across AL1–AL10, including residential, commercial and managed properties.
If you’re outside central St Albans, you may find these local pages helpful:
To see the wider list of coverage areas, visit: areas we cover
FAQs: Accident damage boarding up in St Albans
Do I need boarding up if the glass is only cracked?
Often, yes—especially if the pane is compromised or could fall out. Cracked glazing can fail suddenly with temperature changes or vibration. If the property is being left unattended, it’s usually safer to secure property properly rather than hope it holds.
Can you board up a window tonight?
If you need out of hours assistance, call and we’ll tell you what’s realistically possible based on workload and location in the AL area. We prioritise urgent calls and aim to attend as quickly as possible, but we don’t guarantee fixed response times. For urgent help: Call 01727 326 204.
What if the frame is too damaged to fix boards to?
That happens with impact damage. If we can’t use standard fixing points safely, we’ll explain the options before proceeding. In some cases, a different securing approach (including a temporary steel door for a destroyed entrance) is more appropriate than forcing fixings into unsafe material.
Can you secure a shopfront after an accident?
Yes. We regularly attend commercial call-outs where glazing has been damaged and the premises can’t be left exposed. If you need a shopfront boarded up, we’ll focus on safe access, strong materials, and fixings that resist removal from outside. See: shopfront boarding in St Albans
Is boarding up covered by insurance?
Sometimes it is, depending on your policy and circumstances. We can provide photos and an invoice to support your claim. For practical guidance, see: insurance claims help
Will boarding up stop rain coming in completely?
Boarding is primarily a security measure, and we also aim to reduce weather ingress. However, if surrounding structures are damaged (warped frames, missing seals, roof damage), it may not be fully watertight. We’ll explain what’s achievable on site and what needs follow-on repair.
How long does boarding up take?
It depends on the size of the opening, access, and how damaged the frame is. A single board up broken window is usually quicker than a large commercial frontage or a rooflight. When you call, we can give a realistic expectation based on what you describe.
Need help after accident damage in St Albans?
If you’ve got a smashed window, damaged door, or you need to make safe after an impact, we’re here to help across AL1–AL10.
Need help now? Call 01727 326 204 for immediate assistance.
Prefer email for non-urgent enquiries? [email protected]
