Accident damage boarding up in West London (W2–W14)
Accident damage can happen in seconds: a delivery van clips a shopfront on a narrow street, a cyclist goes through a ground-floor window, or a reversing vehicle catches a gate and takes the doorframe with it. If you’re dealing with broken glazing, a forced opening, or an exposed property, our accident damage boarding service helps you secure the building and reduce further risk across West London’s W postcodes.
We’re used to the realities of West London properties—busy roads like the Uxbridge Road and the A4, tight access on residential streets around Shepherd’s Bush, and high-footfall areas near stations and parades of shops. The priority after an impact isn’t just “covering a hole”: it’s making the site safe, preventing opportunistic entry, and protecting the interior from weather while you organise repairs.
If you need urgent help, start here: emergency boarding up.
When accident damage usually happens (and what it looks like)
Accidental impact damage tends to fall into a few common patterns:
- Vehicle strikes: a car or van hits a shopfront, front wall, garage door, gate, or basement area—often leaving shattered toughened glass and twisted frames.
- Construction and maintenance incidents: scaffolding knocks a sash window, a sheet of material drops onto glazing, or a skip lorry catches a canopy.
- Domestic accidents: a slammed door breaks glazing, a child’s ball cracks a pane, or a furniture move damages a patio door.
- Public area incidents: communal doors and lobby glazing in mansion blocks get damaged by trolleys, bikes, or moving crews.
Even if the opening looks “small”, damage to frames, locks, or surrounding brickwork can make an entry point that’s easy to exploit—especially if the property will be unattended overnight.
If anyone is injured, or if there’s a danger to the public (glass on a pavement, unstable frontage), call the emergency services first. Once the immediate safety issue is under control, we can secure the opening.
What to do straight away (before we arrive)
If it’s safe to do so, these steps help protect people and support any insurance claim later:
-
Make the area safe
Keep people away from broken glass and damaged frames. Don’t try to force doors shut if the frame has shifted. -
Take photos
Wide shots and close-ups of the damage, including any vehicle involvement and the surrounding area, help later. If you’re a tenant or facilities manager, it also helps you report clearly. -
Get key details
If a third party is involved (delivery driver, contractor, neighbour), record names, vehicle reg, employer, and their insurer details where possible. -
Report if required
For road traffic incidents or criminal suspicion, obtain a police reference number. For commercial sites, log it internally (incident report). -
Call for securing
Contact us to board up or install a temporary secure barrier so you can arrange glazing/door repairs without leaving the property exposed.
For urgent attendance, use emergency boarding up. Otherwise, we can schedule planned works for vacant or low-risk sites.
How we secure accident-damaged properties in West London
Every impact is different. A cracked pane in a timber sash needs a different approach from a twisted aluminium shopfront frame. Our goal is always the same: secure, safe, weather-resistant protection until permanent repairs are completed.
Step 1: Quick assessment and safe access
On arrival, we’ll look at:
- The size and position of the opening (ground floor, upper floor, rear access, basement lightwell)
- Whether the frame is intact enough to fix into safely
- Any signs of ongoing movement (e.g., door won’t close because the frame has racked)
- Risks to the public (particularly on busy pavements)
If the surrounding structure looks unsafe, we’ll be honest about what we can and can’t do. Boarding up secures openings; it doesn’t replace a structural engineer where one is needed.
Step 2: The right material for the opening
We commonly use:
- 18mm exterior-grade plywood for strong, reliable security on larger or vulnerable openings
- 12mm OSB for smaller windows or lower-risk locations where a lighter board is appropriate
Material choice depends on the risk level, exposure to weather, and how long it’s likely to remain in place.
If you want a deeper overview of what boarding up involves, see what is boarding up.
Step 3: Fixing method that matches the frame condition
Where possible, we use fixing methods designed to deter tampering from outside:
- Anti-tamper fixings so boards can’t simply be unscrewed from the street
- Through-bolting or bracing where the reveal allows and it’s appropriate for the opening
- Careful fixing into sound timber/brick rather than damaged, crumbling edges
If the frame is too damaged for a non-destructive approach, we’ll explain the options before proceeding. In some cases, a temporary steel door is the safest way to secure a badly damaged entrance.
Step 4: Weather protection and sensible ventilation
Accident damage often leaves jagged edges and gaps. We aim for a neat, close fit to reduce:
- Wind-driven rain entering the property
- Draughts and temperature drop (important for occupied homes)
- Further cracking and movement around the opening
Where flood water or fire service activity has occurred alongside the accident, ventilation might matter more—see also flood damage boarding and fire damage securing.
Step 5: Documentation you can actually use
For landlords, managing agents, and commercial operators, paperwork matters. We can provide:
- Time-stamped photos of the secured opening
- An itemised invoice and a clear work statement of what was done
- Notes on any limitations (e.g., “frame too distorted to rehang door; temporary steel door advised”)
We’re not loss adjusters and can’t guarantee what an insurer will cover, but this documentation is typically what insurers ask for. More guidance here: insurance claims support.
Accident damage: what we can secure (and the best service for each)
Broken or exposed windows
If the impact has smashed a window, cracked a pane, or knocked the frame loose, we’ll board it securely and safely.
- Best fit service: window boarding in West London
This is common in ground-floor flats, bay windows on period terraces, and rear extensions with large panes.
Damaged doors, frames and entrances
If a door has been struck and won’t lock, or the frame has shifted, boarding may be possible—but for main entrances it’s often better to install a more functional temporary solution.
- Best fit service: door boarding and securing
If access needs to be maintained for occupiers or contractors, tell us on the call so we can propose the safest option.
Shopfronts and commercial glazing
West London has plenty of glazed frontages—parades of shops, cafés, salons, and estate agents. Impact damage can leave large openings that attract attention quickly, especially near transport hubs and busy roads.
- Best fit service: shopfront boarding
We’ll secure the opening in a way that reduces the chance of further break-ins while you arrange glazing replacement.
Rooflights and overhead glazing
Accidents aren’t always at street level—roof work, fallen branches, or dropped materials can break skylights or roof glazing. These openings let water in fast.
- Best fit service: roof boarding and skylight securing
Access, height, and safe working are key here. If conditions aren’t safe, we’ll tell you rather than take risks.
A realistic example: impact damage outside a busy West London frontage
A facilities manager calls after a reversing delivery vehicle clips a commercial entrance, shattering the glazed panel and bending the frame. The site is on a well-lit street with evening footfall, and the business can’t leave an open frontage overnight.
We attend, photograph the damage, and check what’s still structurally sound. Because the frame is distorted and the lock no longer engages, we secure the opening using exterior-grade plywood with anti-tamper fixings, ensuring no sharp glass remains accessible from outside. We provide a clear work statement and photos for their insurer and the delivery company’s claims process, then advise on the next step: a glazing contractor to reinstate the shopfront safely.
Will insurance cover boarding up after an accident?
Often, boarding up is treated as emergency mitigation—a reasonable step to prevent further loss (theft, weather damage). Cover varies by policy and circumstances, especially where third-party liability is involved.
Practical tips that help:
- Keep your incident reference number (police, building management, or internal log)
- Record third-party details if someone else caused the impact
- Take photos before and after boarding if safe
- Keep invoices and work statements together
More detail: insurance claims support.
FAQs about accident damage boarding up in West London
How quickly can you attend after an accident?
We prioritise urgent, high-risk openings (street-facing doors, shopfronts, ground-floor windows). We don’t quote guaranteed arrival times because traffic, access, and the nature of the incident vary—especially across West London during peak periods. If you need help tonight or out of hours, go to emergency boarding up.
Can you board up without damaging my window frame or brickwork?
Where the frame and reveals are sound, we use methods designed to be secure without unnecessary damage, including anti-tamper fixings and appropriate fixing points. If the surrounding area is already cracked, rotten, or unstable, we’ll explain the safest method before we proceed.
Do you secure commercial sites with risk assessments?
Yes—commercial boarding often needs a practical approach to access, pedestrian safety, and working areas. If you have site rules (loading bay times, security sign-in, permits), tell us when you call so we can plan accordingly. For commercial-specific details, see commercial property boarding up.
What if the property is going to be empty for weeks?
If it’s a void property, longer-term options can be more suitable than standard ply—depending on the risk level and the opening type. See vacant property security.
Do you repair the door/window as well?
We secure and protect the opening. Permanent repairs (new glazing, door replacement, carpentry, façade works) are typically done by specialist trades. We can, however, make the site safe and secure so those repairs can be organised without the property being left exposed.
Next steps: secure the opening and reduce the risk
Accident damage is stressful, but the path forward is straightforward: make it safe, secure it properly, then arrange permanent repairs with the right trades.
- If you need urgent help, use emergency boarding up.
- If you’re comparing options for windows, doors or shopfronts, start with our boarding up services in West London.
Need help now? Call 020 4634 8072 for immediate assistance.
