Door Boarding in Slough (Emergency & Planned Door Boarding)
When a door has been forced, kicked in, or left insecure after an incident, getting it made safe quickly matters. Our door boarding in Slough service is designed to secure domestic and commercial entrances across the SL postcode area—whether you need a rapid emergency attendance tonight or a planned visit for a void property.
If you’re dealing with a break-in, damage after an accident, or a door that simply won’t lock properly after impact, we can board up the opening and reduce the risk of further entry, weather exposure and liability.
Need urgent help now? Call 01753 379 919 for immediate assistance.
Or email info@boarding-up-slough.co.uk if it’s not time-critical.
When you might need door boarding (and why it can’t wait)
A damaged door is more than an inconvenience. It’s a security gap—and in a busy area like Slough, particularly around main routes such as the A4 (Bath Road), A355 Farnham Road, and the approaches to the M4/M25, an unsecured entrance can attract opportunists quickly.
Common call-outs we attend include:
- Post-burglary door damage: splintered frames, snapped locks, broken nightlatches and multipoint mechanisms that won’t engage
- UPVC or composite doors that won’t close after the frame has shifted
- Fire brigade entry where the door has been forced for access (we secure the property afterwards)
- Commercial rear doors on service yards or alleys that have been attacked or prised
- Vacant property entrances where the door is missing, weak, or repeatedly targeted
- Accidental impact (for example a delivery trolley/vehicle strike) leaving the doorway unsafe
If your situation is burglary-related, see our practical guidance on securing property after a break-in—including what insurers usually ask for.
Emergency door boarding up in Slough: what happens when you call
If you need emergency door boarding in Slough, we keep it simple and calm—because this is usually happening at a stressful time.
- We take key details on the phone: address/postcode (SL1–SL9 and nearby SL districts), door type, whether the frame is intact, and whether police are attending or have attended.
- You secure immediate safety first: if there’s any risk, wait for the police and do not confront anyone on-site.
- On arrival, we assess the opening and the fixing points: we look at the door leaf, frame, surrounding masonry/timber, and any glazing panels.
- We board the doorway using appropriate materials and fixings (details below).
- You receive documentation: typically an itemised invoice and a work record, and we can provide time-stamped photos of the boarding for your insurer if requested.
We don’t promise fixed arrival times—traffic, access and police presence can affect this—but urgent calls are prioritised. If you need a dedicated emergency page, use emergency boarding up for the fastest route to help.
Need help now? Call 01753 379 919
How we board up doors (materials, methods, and why)
Door boarding is not “one size fits all”. The correct method depends on the doorway construction, the condition of the frame, and whether the building will be occupied.
Materials we commonly use
- 18mm exterior-grade plywood for most door openings (strong, reliable, good screw-holding)
- 12mm OSB in limited situations (smaller/less exposed openings where appropriate)
- Timber battens for bracing and to spread load
- Anti-tamper fixings where the board must resist removal from the outside—particularly important if the property will be unattended
- Weather-resistant membranes/tapes when we need to reduce draughts and rain ingress (without creating unsafe ventilation issues)
We’ll explain what we’re using and why. If a frame is too damaged for a non-destructive approach, we’ll talk you through the options before proceeding.
Fixing methods (chosen to suit the doorway)
Depending on the door and surrounding construction, we may use:
- Through-bolting with spreader plates/battens (common on larger openings where we can safely access both sides)
- Screw fixing into sound timber (useful where the internal reveal/frame is intact and strong)
- Masonry fixings (only where appropriate, and always with care to avoid unnecessary damage)
Our goal is to make the entrance secure while keeping follow-on repairs straightforward for your chosen locksmith, joiner, or glazier.
Door types we regularly secure across SL postcodes
Slough and the surrounding SL area has a real mix of property styles—from older terraces and ex-local authority stock to newer flats and modern commercial units. We regularly board up:
- Timber front doors on older houses and maisonettes
- UPVC and composite doors (often where the lock strip or hinges have failed after force)
- Aluminium commercial doors and service entrances
- Double doors (including rear access points and outbuildings)
- Doors with glazing panels (we may also recommend window boarding in Slough if adjacent panes are vulnerable)
If you need a broader overview of boarding methods, see what boarding up is and when it’s used.
Temporary steel doors vs boarding: when a steel door is the better option
Boarding is ideal for immediate security and short-term protection. But if the property is likely to be empty for weeks (probate, renovation, change of tenancy, repeated targeting), it can be worth upgrading to a temporary steel door solution.
A temporary steel door is typically used when:
- the entrance will be used by contractors/inspectors (controlled access is helpful)
- repeated break-ins are a concern
- you need stronger, more durable security than plywood provides
Tell us what’s happening and we’ll advise honestly whether boarding is enough or whether a more robust approach is sensible for a vacant/void property. You may also find our vacant property boarding guidance useful.
Commercial door boarding for shops, offices and industrial units
Commercial sites often have rear doors and side access routes that are out of sight—service roads, loading areas and shared alleyways. If a door has been attacked, it’s not just about theft risk; it can become a health & safety and insurance issue.
We can secure:
- rear staff entrances
- warehouse and light industrial unit doors
- office side doors
- trade counter entrances where the frontage must remain closed until repairs
If the damage includes glazing or a smashed entrance panel, we may combine door boarding with shopfront boarding in Slough.
For business premises, we can provide clear paperwork for your facilities team/landlord and support your insurance trail. See insurance claims support for what we can (and can’t) help with.
A realistic emergency scenario (what this looks like on the ground)
A common call we see in Slough is a forced rear door on a ground-floor flat or a back entrance to a small business unit—often after the lock has been attacked and the frame split. In these situations, the door may still “close” but won’t secure, leaving the occupier feeling exposed.
We’ll typically:
- check whether the door leaf is safe to leave in place or should be removed from the opening
- board the doorway with 18mm exterior plywood, braced so it can’t be pushed through
- use anti-tamper fixings where the property will be unoccupied overnight
- take photos for records and provide an itemised invoice so the customer can pass details to their insurer or landlord
If you’re dealing with vandalism rather than a break-in, our vandalism repair guidance may be the most relevant next step.
What you’ll receive after we secure the door
We aim to leave you with clarity, not just a boarded doorway. Typically, you’ll receive:
- a clear description of what we secured and how
- photos on request (useful for landlords and insurers)
- an itemised invoice and work record
- practical guidance on what to do next (locksmith, door replacement, glazing, etc.)
We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisors, but we can provide the documentation insurers commonly ask for and explain what we did in plain terms.
Door boarding FAQs (Slough & SL area)
How long does door boarding take?
It depends on the size of the opening, the condition of the frame and access. A straightforward single doorway can often be secured quickly once we’re on site, but if the frame is shattered or there are multiple entry points, it takes longer. If it’s urgent, use emergency boarding up and we’ll prioritise you.
Is door boarding covered by insurance in Slough?
Often it can be, particularly after burglary, vandalism, storm damage or impact—but policies differ. Keep your crime reference number (if applicable) and take photos if it’s safe. We can provide paperwork and photos to support your claim—see insurance claims support.
Can you board a door without damaging the frame further?
Where the surrounding structure is sound, we choose fixing methods that avoid unnecessary damage and spread load properly. If the frame is already compromised (splintered timber, loose masonry), we’ll explain the safest approach before starting.
Do you do door boarding for landlords and letting agents?
Yes. We regularly secure doors between tenancies and after forced entries. If the property is likely to remain empty, we can also discuss longer-term options for vacant property security.
What if the door has glass in it as well?
If the glazing is broken or vulnerable, we may recommend boarding the glazed section and nearby windows too. In many cases this is best handled as a combined visit with window boarding in Slough.
Next steps: book door boarding in Slough
If your door has been forced, won’t lock, or the opening is unsafe, we can secure it and help you move on to permanent repairs.
Need help now? Call 01753 379 919 for immediate assistance.
For non-urgent enquiries: email us.
