Fire Damage Boarding in Twickenham
Fire damage boarding in Twickenham is about quickly securing your property after a fire so it is safe, locked, and protected from the weather and unwanted visitors. Whether the fire was small and contained or has affected most of the building, we provide calm, professional emergency securing across all TW postcodes.
Need urgent help after a fire? Call 020 3772 7375 now for 24/7 emergency boarding up and property securing.
When You Need Fire Damage Boarding Up
A fire can leave your home or business exposed, even after the flames are out. Windows can blow out, doors may be forced by the fire brigade, and roofs or walls can be weakened.
You may need fire damage boarding in Twickenham when:
- Windows have shattered from heat or been broken for ventilation.
- Doors have been forced open or removed by the fire service.
- Frames, panels or shopfront glass are cracked, unsafe, or missing.
- The property is temporarily uninhabitable and needs to be a secure empty property.
- You need to keep people out while insurers, loss adjusters, and structural engineers assess the building.
Typical situations include:
- Houses and flats in areas like Twickenham Green, Whitton, Teddington or Richmond with burnt-out rooms but intact structure.
- Shops, offices or restaurants along Twickenham high street, in Richmond, Isleworth or Hounslow where front glass and doors have been damaged.
- Vacant or shared buildings where a small fire has caused enough damage that insurers require the property to be secured.
Our role is to:
- Make the access points safe and secure.
- Protect against intruders, squatters or curiosity-seekers.
- Keep out rain and animals where glazing or doors are missing.
- Help you meet your insurer’s expectations for short-term security.
We provide fire damage boarding in Twickenham for both residential boarding up and commercial boarding up, from small flats to multi-unit buildings.
How We Secure Your Property After Fire Damage
Our priority is always safety first, then security, and we use non-destructive securing wherever possible. There are rare cases where the structure is so damaged that additional fixings or bracing are needed; if so, we explain this clearly before we start.
1. Initial Safety Check and Assessment
When our DBS-checked technicians arrive, they will:
- Check for obvious structural risks around doors, windows and walls.
- Confirm the fire service has declared the site safe to enter (we do not override their advice).
- Identify all vulnerable points: broken glazing, warped frames, damaged doors, roof or skylight openings.
- Discuss with you (and, where present, the fire service or building manager) which areas must be secured immediately.
If there is any doubt about stability (e.g. severe wall or roof damage), we may advise waiting for a structural engineer or your insurer before boarding certain areas.
2. Boarding Windows and Openings (Plywood / OSB)
For smashed or removed glazing, we typically use:
- Exterior-grade plywood or OSB boarding, usually 11–18mm thick depending on the opening size and risk.
- Boards cut to cover the entire opening with minimal gaps for strength and weather protection.
- Anti-tamper fixings, designed so they cannot be easily undone from outside.
Where frames are still sound, we focus on non-destructive securing:
- Fixing into sturdy parts of the frame or surrounding structure.
- Avoiding unnecessary drilling or cutting of undamaged sections.
- Leaving internal finishes as untouched as possible while still achieving solid security.
This approach is suitable for windows in homes, flats and commercial units. If you need more detail on glazing after the event, we can coordinate our boards with future glass replacement by your chosen contractor.
3. Temporary Steel Doors and Access Control
Fire crews often need to force entry, which can leave you with:
- A missing front or back door.
- A badly warped or broken door frame.
- Locks and latches that no longer work.
In these cases, we can install temporary steel doors or temporary secure door panels at the main entry points. These offer:
- Strong, lockable access so you or your contractors can still enter safely.
- Better resistance to tampering than simple timber boarding alone.
- A practical solution for secure empty property situations where the building will not be occupied for some time.
Frames are checked for stability. Where necessary, we will reinforce or brace the opening so the temporary door is safe and secure, and we always aim to preserve what can be reused for future repairs.
4. Steel Security Screens for Fire-Damaged, Empty Buildings
If your property will be vacant for more than a few days or weeks, we can fit:
- Steel security screens to ground-floor windows and doors.
- Sitex-style security screens with small perforations for light and limited airflow.
- Screens fixed with anti-tamper fixings so they cannot be removed from outside.
These anti-vandal security screens are often suitable for:
- Empty houses and maisonettes awaiting refurbishment.
- Damaged commercial units in areas with higher footfall.
- Properties in TW postcodes where insurers want a higher level of security after fire damage.
Screens can be installed alongside temporary steel doors, giving you controlled access while keeping the rest of the building secure.
5. Weather Protection and Containment
While we do not carry out fire or smoke cleaning, odour removal, or specialist decontamination, we can help with:
- Boarding up roof lights or broken upper windows as part of our roof & skylight boarding.
- Fitting sheeting behind boards where practical to improve weather resistance.
- Reducing easy access for animals or vandals to fire-damaged areas.
We always make clear where our role ends, so there is no confusion: we secure and board up – we do not handle soot removal, deep cleaning or fire restoration works.
Why Choose Us for Fire Damage Boarding in Twickenham
Local, Fast, and Available 24/7
- Based in and around Twickenham, covering all TW postcodes including Richmond, Teddington, Whitton, Hampton, Isleworth, Hounslow and beyond.
- 24/7 emergency boarding up with efficient dispatch rather than unrealistic response promises.
- Over 10 years’ experience providing boarding up services to homes, landlords, businesses and managing agents.
Safety-Focused, Non-Destructive Where Possible
- Clear prioritisation of structural safety and fire service guidance.
- Non-destructive securing wherever possible, minimising extra damage to frames and fabric.
- Honest advice if a particular opening needs more intrusive fixings due to fire damage.
Insured, Vetted and Professional
- Public liability insured for your peace of mind.
- DBS-checked technicians used to working in sensitive situations and distressing events.
- Tidy, respectful working – we clear our own materials and leave access ways as neat as the circumstances allow.
Insurer-Friendly Documentation
Most insurers expect that you will board up and secure a fire-damaged property promptly. We help by providing:
- Time-stamped photos of the fire damage and the completed boarding works.
- An itemised invoice showing labour, materials and any specialist items (e.g. steel doors, security screens).
- A simple written statement of works completed, which you can submit with your claim.
For more guidance on claims, see our dedicated page on insurance support for boarding up in Twickenham.
What Happens Next
Our Simple Process After a Fire
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Contact us 24/7
Call us as soon as it is safe to do so. If the fire brigade is present, we can often coordinate around their work. -
Telephone assessment and planning
We ask brief, focussed questions about the damage:- Are windows or doors missing or broken?
- Has the fire service cut through the roof or walls?
- Is the property going to be occupied tonight or left empty?
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On-site securing and boarding
Our team:- Carries out a safety check around openings.
- Boards windows and damaged openings with plywood/OSB and anti-tamper fixings.
- Fits temporary steel doors or steel security screens where needed.
- Minimises extra damage through non-destructive securing methods.
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Paperwork for you and your insurer
After the work, we provide:- Photos of before and after works.
- An itemised invoice for boarding up services.
- A brief description of the steps we took to board up and secure the property.
You should keep any police or fire incident reference number and pass this to your insurer alongside our paperwork.
If you would like to understand cost factors in more detail, our page on boarding up prices in Twickenham explains what affects your quote without giving misleading “one-size” prices.
For other related services, you might also find the following pages helpful:
- Door boarding up after a fire – securing forced or burnt doors.
- Roof & skylight boarding in Twickenham – when fire has affected the roof or top-floor glazing.
- Vacant property boarding in Twickenham – for fire-damaged buildings that will remain empty.
- 24/7 emergency boarding up in Twickenham – if you are still in the “what do I do now?” stage.
FAQs – Fire Damage Boarding in Twickenham
How long does it take to board up a fire-damaged property?
It depends on how many windows and doors are affected, their size, and how easy they are to access. A small flat with a couple of broken windows can often be secured relatively quickly; a larger house or commercial unit with extensive fire damage will take longer. We work efficiently while keeping safety and quality our top priorities.
Is fire damage boarding up covered by insurance?
Many home and business policies do cover emergency boarding up as part of the claim, but every policy is different. You typically pay us directly, then reclaim from your insurer. We support this by providing insurance-ready paperwork, including photos and an itemised invoice. For more detail, see our insurance support for boarding up in Twickenham.
Will boarding up cause more damage to my property?
Our aim is non-destructive securing wherever possible. We fix boards into sound parts of the frame or surrounding structure and avoid drilling into undamaged areas if we can safely do so. However, with severe fire damage some additional fixings may be necessary to make openings secure. We will always explain this before we proceed.
Can you secure my home the same day after a fire?
We provide same day boarding up and emergency securing across Twickenham and the wider TW area whenever possible. Our service operates 24/7, and we dispatch the nearest suitable team rather than giving generic arrival times. The sooner you call, the sooner we can plan your emergency securing.
Do you handle fire and smoke clean-up as well?
No. We specialise in boarding up and securing – windows, doors, shopfronts, and openings. We do not carry out soot removal, odour control, or full fire restoration works. You or your insurer would usually appoint a dedicated fire restoration contractor for that. We are happy to co-ordinate our securing with them where needed.
Who should I call first – the fire brigade, insurer or you?
Always call the fire brigade in an emergency. Once the fire is out and you are safe:
- Contact your insurer to report the incident.
- Call us to board up and secure the property.
- Keep any incident or reference numbers provided by the fire service or police to support your claim.
Need help securing your property after a fire?
Call 020 3772 7375 for 24/7 fire damage boarding in Twickenham, or email us at [email protected] for non-urgent enquiries.
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