Flood Damage Boarding in Twickenham
Flood damage boarding in Twickenham is about quickly making your home or business safe and secure after water has got in and damaged doors, windows, and frames. When flooding leaves openings that you cannot lock or close properly, our emergency boarding up team can help you secure the property, protect your belongings, and give insurers the evidence they need.
Need urgent help? Call 020 3772 7375 now for 24/7 emergency boarding up and flood damage securing in Twickenham and across the TW area.
When You Need Flood Damage Boarding Up
Floods in Twickenham and the wider TW area can come from many sources:
- River Thames flooding or high groundwater
- Heavy rain overwhelming drains and sewers
- Burst internal pipes or tanks
- Firefighting water after an incident
- Neighbouring property leaks or overflows
Water can quickly cause:
- Swollen, warped door frames that will not shut or lock
- Saturated timber window frames that start to crumble or split
- Softened plaster and brickwork around openings
- Loose locks and hinges that no longer line up
- Glazing cracks or shattered glass from sudden temperature changes
You may need flood damage boarding in Twickenham if:
- A ground floor door will not close or lock because the frame has swelled.
- Window frames have become so soft they will not hold the glass or lock.
- You have had to remove doors or windows for drying/repairs and now have an open aperture.
- You must evacuate and leave the building unattended, but can no longer secure it.
- You want to secure an empty property while drying and restoration work is carried out.
We regularly provide:
- Temporary secure door solutions when entrance doors are unusable.
- Emergency window boarding where glazing has cracked, fallen out or must be removed.
- Non-destructive securing wherever possible, designed to make repairs easier later.
If your flood is part of a wider weather event, you may also find our dedicated storm damage boarding guidance helpful.
How We Secure Your Property After Flood Damage
We have over 10 years’ experience providing emergency boarding up and non-destructive securing across Twickenham and the TW postcodes. Our approach is always:
- Make it safe.
- Make it secure.
- Make it easy to repair later.
1. Initial Assessment and Safety Check
When we arrive, we will:
- Check for obvious structural issues at doors and windows (cracking, severe movement).
- Look for electrical hazards (sockets, consumer units and cables in flooded areas).
- Confirm with you whether the property is being dried/restored and who else is involved (insurer, loss adjuster, builder, restoration company).
If we see anything that looks structurally unsafe, we will:
- Explain it clearly in plain language.
- Avoid putting extra load on already damaged structures.
- Recommend you speak to your insurer, loss adjuster or a structural engineer before intrusive work.
2. Non-Destructive Securing Wherever Possible
Our default method is non-destructive securing:
- We use fixings that go into sound areas of the frame or surrounding masonry, avoiding further damage to already weakened wood.
- We aim to avoid drilling into uPVC or aluminium frames if they can be preserved.
- We work from the inside where practical, particularly at easily accessible ground floor windows, to reduce the risk of tampering.
Rarely, where flood damage has left the frame unstable or soft throughout, some gentle, carefully placed fixing into brickwork or remaining sound timber is unavoidable. If this is needed, we will:
- Tell you what we propose before we start.
- Keep holes minimal and in places that are easy to make good.
3. Plywood and OSB Boarding – Materials We Use
For most flood damage boarding we use:
- Structural plywood or OSB typically 11–18mm thick, depending on the size and risk profile of the opening.
- Boards cut to fit neatly over windows or doors, overlapping onto solid structure.
- Anti-tamper fixings, designed so they cannot be easily undone from the outside.
Plywood and OSB boarding gives:
- A strong physical barrier against break-ins.
- Extra protection where frames may continue to weaken as they dry.
- A weather-resistant temporary seal while internal drying continues.
If you need more detailed information about our methods for glazing, see our dedicated window boarding in Twickenham service.
4. Temporary Secure Doors After Flooding
When flood water makes doors unusable (swollen, twisted, or removed entirely), we can:
- Board over the opening securely, or
- Fit a temporary secure door solution where appropriate.
A temporary secure door typically involves:
- A solid timber or steel-clad door leaf sized to the opening.
- Strong hinges and multiple locking points.
- Anti-tamper fixings into stable surrounding structure.
This allows:
- Safe, controlled access for you, contractors and loss adjusters.
- Proper locking at the end of each day while the property is empty and drying.
You can read more about our approach to doors on our dedicated door boarding up page.
5. Ventilation vs Security
With flood damage, there is often a tension between:
- Ventilation – helping the property dry out and reducing mould risk.
- Security – preventing unauthorised access and theft of contents or fixtures.
We will discuss options with you, such as:
- Boarding only part of an opening and using secure vents.
- Using boards that can be temporarily removed by you from the inside during the day.
- Leaving some upper windows operational if they are safe and lockable.
Our aim is to give you practical, balanced options, and to note clearly on our paperwork what has been secured and what has deliberately been left for ventilation.
6. Tidy, Respectful Working
Flood situations are stressful and often upsetting. Our technicians are:
- DBS-checked, polite, and used to working in sensitive situations.
- Careful with mud, debris and remaining contents.
- Trained to pick up and safely dispose of loose glass and sharp materials in the work area.
Why Choose Us for Flood Damage Boarding in Twickenham
Local, Experienced, Fully Insured
- Based in and around Twickenham, operating across all TW postcodes including Richmond, Whitton, Teddington, Hampton, Hounslow and Staines-upon-Thames.
- 10+ years’ experience in boarding up after floods, storms, burst pipes and other emergencies.
- Public liability insured, with DBS-checked technicians for your peace of mind.
Emergency Property Securing 24/7
- Available day and night for emergency boarding up in Twickenham.
- Efficient mobile teams covering the whole area – from riverside homes near Richmond Bridge to businesses around Twickenham Green, Hounslow High Street and Heathrow.
- Focus on same day boarding up wherever possible.
For more general emergency support, you can read about our 24/7 emergency boarding up in Twickenham.
Non-Destructive Approach and Future Repairs
- We always try to protect what can be saved, especially in older or character properties.
- Fixings are positioned with future repair works in mind.
- Where you already have a builder or restoration firm involved, we are happy to liaise with them to keep solutions practical and cost-effective.
Insurance-Friendly Paperwork
Insurers nearly always expect you to take reasonable steps to secure the property after a flood.
We support your claim by providing:
- Time-stamped photos of damaged openings and completed boarding.
- An itemised invoice showing labour and materials.
- A simple work statement describing what we secured and why.
For a fuller overview of insurance matters, please see our dedicated page on insurance support for boarding up in Twickenham.
What Happens Next
1. Contact Us
- Call 24/7: Call 020 3772 7375
- Or contact our Twickenham team via the website for non-urgent enquiries.
If this is an emergency and you are still in the property, prioritise your safety first – especially around electrics and deep water – before calling.
2. We Ask a Few Quick Questions
We will ask:
- Where you are (postcode and type of property).
- What has happened (river flood, burst pipe, surface water).
- Which openings are affected (front door, back door, ground floor windows, etc.).
- Whether the emergency services, your insurer, or a drying/restoration firm are already involved.
This helps us arrive with the right materials and equipment.
3. On-Site Securing
On arrival we will:
- Walk through the affected areas with you, highlighting any urgent hazards.
- Agree a boarding and temporary door plan that balances security and ventilation.
- Carry out the work using plywood or OSB boarding, anti-tamper fixings and, if needed, a temporary secure door.
If you have other vulnerabilities – like broken windows from wind or flying debris – we can also provide storm damage boarding as part of the same visit.
4. Handover and Paperwork
Before we leave we will:
- Walk you round the property so you can see each secured opening.
- Explain how any temporary doors or removable boards work.
- Provide a written invoice and, on request, a brief work summary to support your insurance claim.
If the flood followed a break-in or vandalism, you may also find our pages on post-burglary boarding up or vandalism repair boarding useful.
Flood Damage Boarding – FAQs
How fast can you get to me after a flood?
We provide 24/7 emergency boarding up across Twickenham and the wider TW postcode area. Exact arrival times depend on where you are and how busy we are at that moment, but we always triage calls and aim for an efficient, same-day response for flood damage boarding.
Do I need to wait for my insurer before boarding up?
Usually, no. Insurers generally expect you to secure the property as soon as reasonably possible to prevent further loss. Keep any photos you have, and we will also take time-stamped photos and provide clear paperwork to support your claim. If in doubt, call your insurer and note what they advise.
Can you board up if the frames are soft or crumbling from water?
Yes, in most cases we can. We work carefully around weakened areas, fixing into solid surrounding structure where possible. If frames are too far gone to take any fixings safely, we will explain this and agree an alternative, such as spanning boards or a more substantial temporary door framing.
Will boarding up stop my home drying out?
Not completely. We can discuss options to maintain controlled ventilation, such as upper windows left operational, vents, or removable internal boards. Our goal is to give you both security and a realistic chance of drying the property effectively.
Can you still help if the electrics are affected?
We are not electricians, so we cannot work on or near unsafe live electrics. If we suspect the electrics are compromised, we will recommend you have power isolated by a qualified electrician or your utility provider. Once it is safe, we can continue with boarding and securing.
Is flood damage boarding covered by insurance?
Every policy is different, but many home and commercial policies cover the reasonable cost of emergency securing after insured events like flooding, storm damage or burst pipes. We provide insurance-ready paperwork; however, we are not loss adjusters or legal advisers, so you should always confirm cover details with your insurer.
Need help now?
For 24/7 flood damage boarding and emergency securing in Twickenham and across the TW area, Call 020 3772 7375 or Email us.
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