- Home
- Window boarding
Window boarding for smashed and broken windows
A window with no glass is an open way in. We take out the loose glass, cut a board to the size of the frame and fix it so the window is shut again.
- Open 24 hours, every day
- Homes and businesses
- Fully insured
- Photos for your insurer
What window boarding is and when it is used
Window boarding is a timber board fixed over a window that has lost its glass. It keeps people and weather out until a glazier can fit a new pane.
It suits any window, on any floor. Small top lights, bay windows, sash windows and wide picture windows are all boarded the same way, with the board cut to that one frame. It is one part of our wider emergency boarding up work.
Once the board is on, the window can be measured for glass. We handle that too, either as a broken window repair for single panes or a double glazed unit replacement for sealed units. You do not have to find a second firm.
If a door was damaged at the same time, we can cover it on the same visit with door boarding. For a house or unit that will stand empty, have a look at vacant property boarding instead.
What we do at the window
- Loose and hanging glass is removed
- A board is cut to the frame size
- The board is screwed firmly in place
- Glass on the ground is swept up
Ask for a window boarding quote
Send a picture of the window and say which floor it is on. A price comes back before we travel.
Prefer to talk? Call 0808 135 0137.
What window boarding includes
Cutting boards to your window
- Each window measured before cutting
- Sheet timber cut to size on site
- One board per pane or one across the frame
- Bay windows boarded section by section
- Sash, casement and fixed windows
- Top lights and small side panes
- Wide windows braced with timber battens
- Upstairs windows as well as ground floor
Fixing and finishing
- Shards pulled from the frame first
- Boards screwed at the corners and edges
- Fixings placed to suit the frame material
- Board edges kept tight to the frame
- Glass swept from sills, floors and paths
- Broken glass taken away
- Before and after photos for your insurer
- An itemised invoice for the work
What window boarding costs
Every window is a different size and in a different place, so there is no fixed price list. These four points set the price.
-
How many windows
One board for a single window costs less than covering a whole side of a house. -
Size of each window
A small pane takes part of a sheet. A wide bay can take several sheets and battens. -
Which floor it is on
Windows above ground level need ladders or other access, which adds time. -
Time of the visit
Let us know if the window must be covered tonight or if tomorrow is fine.
Send a photo of the window for a boarding quote
How window boarding works
-
Photograph the window
Take a picture from a safe distance and send it with the postcode. -
Receive your quote
We tell you the price and when we can come. It is your choice whether we go ahead. -
The window is boarded
Loose glass comes out, the board is cut and screwed on, and the mess is swept. -
The frame is measured
Sizes are taken for the new pane, ready for when you want the glass replaced.
Why use us for window boarding
-
Cut to fit your frame
Sheet timber is cut beside the window, so the board matches the opening. -
Someone always answers
Calls are picked up 24 hours a day, including weekends and bank holidays. -
We reglaze as well
After boarding, the same team can measure for the new pane and come back to fit it. -
Photos for your claim
You receive pictures of the broken window and the finished board, plus an itemised invoice.
Before and after: what our window boarding looks like
Boarding upstairs windows
A broken upstairs window is easy to leave because nobody can walk up to it. It still lets rain into the room, and loose glass can drop onto whatever is below. It is worth covering even if the break looks small.
Tell us what is underneath the window, such as a path, a flat roof, a conservatory or a neighbour's garden. That helps us plan how to reach it. Keep people and pets away from the ground below until the glass is out.
If you are not sure whether we can get to a window, send us a photo of that side of the building and we will tell you.
Related boarding and glazing services
-
Emergency boarding up
Broken windows and doors made secure, day or night. -
Door boarding
Damaged doors and frames boarded and locked up. -
Shopfront boarding
Large shop windows covered so you can lock up. -
Broken window repair
Cracked and smashed panes taken out and replaced. -
Double glazed unit replacement
New sealed units fitted into your existing frames. -
Vacant property boarding
Empty buildings boarded against break-ins.
We also work for landlords and letting agents, facilities managers, schools and pubs and restaurants. Useful guides: what to do when a window is smashed and what boarding up involves and how long it can stay, or see all guides.
Window boarding questions
Can you board a window on an upper floor?
Yes. We board windows above ground level as well as those you can reach from the pavement. Tell us the floor and what is below the window so we bring the right access.
Is the board fitted inside or outside?
It depends on the frame and how the window can be reached. We will tell you which way suits your window when we see the photo.
Will light still get into the room?
No. A timber board blocks the whole pane, so that room will be dark until the glass is replaced. We measure for new glass on the same visit so the order is not held up.
What if only one pane of a larger window is broken?
We can board just the broken pane where the frame allows it. Otherwise one board goes across the full window.
Can I leave a cracked window until morning?
A crack can spread and the glass can fall without warning. If you cannot have it boarded straight away, keep everyone clear of it and do not open or close the window.
How much does window boarding cost?
The price depends on how many windows are broken, how big they are and how high up. A photo and a postcode are usually enough for a quote.
Need a window boarded now
Message us a photo of the window with the postcode. You will get a quote and a time back.