Fire damage boarding up in Slough (SL) – securing your property after a fire
Fire damage is stressful, messy, and rarely “neat”. Even when the flames are out, a property can be left exposed through broken glazing, forced doors, heat-warped frames, or sections opened up by the fire service for access and ventilation.
If you need fire damage boarding up in Slough, we secure homes, shops and commercial buildings across the SL postcode area so your property is safe, weathered, and harder to target while the next steps are arranged.
Need help now? Call 01753 379 919 for immediate assistance.
Prefer email for a non-urgent enquiry? info@boarding-up-slough.co.uk
When fire damage boarding up is needed (common scenarios in Slough)
We’re often called after:
- Kitchen fires in flats and maisonettes (smoke damage, broken windows, front doors forced by entry teams)
- Electrical fires in older stock, including 1930s semis around areas like Cippenham and Langley, where heat can distort timber frames
- Small commercial fires in rear stockrooms or service corridors—common around busy mixed-use areas near Slough High Street and along main routes like the A4 Bath Road
- Arson or bin fires that spread to external doors, shutters, or ground-floor windows (even a “small” fire can compromise security)
Sometimes the fire itself doesn’t break a window—thermal shock can crack glass later, and water used to extinguish the fire can swell frames and weaken fixings. If the property will be unattended, even for one night, boarding up is often the sensible next step.
For urgent call-outs, see our emergency boarding up page.
What we do first: make the property safe to secure (without getting in the way)
We’re a boarding-up and property securing service—not fire restoration—and we’ll always work around whatever is happening on site.
Before we start fixing boards or installing a temporary door, we’ll:
- Confirm the building is safe to enter/work on (we follow instructions from the fire service or site lead)
- Identify the vulnerable points: smashed glazing, missing door leaves, burnt frames, exposed rear access, damaged rooflights
- Agree the approach with you: what needs securing immediately, and what can wait until insurers/contractors attend
- Document the condition (photos and a clear description of what we’ve secured)
If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain the options before proceeding. We won’t pretend there’s a “perfect” solution in every fire-damaged scenario—sometimes the goal is simply to reduce risk and buy time until repairs can be properly designed.
How we secure fire-damaged windows, doors and openings
Fire scenes create awkward openings: cracked panes, missing glass, warped timber, and sometimes large voids where glazing or panels used to be. The right method depends on the size of the opening, the substrate we can fix into, and how long the property is likely to stand.
Window boarding after fire damage
For broken or heat-cracked windows, we typically use exterior-grade plywood (often 18mm for larger openings) or OSB (commonly 12mm for smaller panes) depending on the risk level and fixing options.
We’ll aim for:
- Anti-tamper fixings where possible (important if the property is empty)
- A clean fit that covers the full vulnerable area, not just the shattered section
- Fixing methods that avoid unnecessary further damage to frames and reveals
If you specifically need help with glazing openings, read more about window boarding in Slough.
Door boarding and temporary access solutions
After a fire, doors are frequently:
- Forced by emergency entry
- Burnt at the edges
- Swollen from water
- Left misaligned so they won’t lock properly
If the existing door cannot be secured, we can provide door boarding in Slough. Where appropriate (especially for longer waits for repairs), we may recommend a temporary steel door rather than repeatedly boarding and unboarding a timber entrance.
Shopfronts and commercial glazing
Shops, takeaways and small units can be hit twice: first by the fire, then by opportunists once the frontage is obviously damaged.
For commercial premises we can secure:
- Large shopfront glazing panels
- Secondary access points (rear doors, side alley windows)
- Areas exposed by smoke ventilation or forced entry
If your premises is customer-facing, our shopfront boarding in Slough service focuses on larger spans and a more robust fixing approach suitable for busy streets.
Rooflights and overhead openings
Fire service access or heat damage can affect rooflights and skylights, particularly on flat roofs over extensions or commercial units. Boarding overhead openings is as much about weatherproofing as it is security.
If access allows and conditions are safe, we can help with roof boarding in Slough.
Materials and methods (what we use and why)
Fire damage sites are rarely dry and tidy, so we choose materials and fixings with that in mind:
- 18mm exterior-grade plywood for strength and better resistance on larger openings
- 12mm OSB for smaller areas where appropriate
- Anti-tamper fixings to help prevent removal from outside
- Fixing approaches suited to the surface available (masonry, timber, composite frames)
We’ll tell you what we’ve used and where, so you can pass accurate information to your insurer or contractor. If you’re unsure what “boarding up” actually involves, see what boarding up means.
What you get from us (useful for insurers and landlords)
After we secure the property, you’ll typically receive:
- Time-stamped photos of the secured elevations/openings
- An itemised invoice and brief statement of works
- Notes on any limitations (e.g., “frame too unstable to fix into”, “access restricted”, “temporary measure pending structural repair”)
We’re not loss adjusters and we can’t tell you what your policy will cover, but our documentation is designed to support the usual claim process. More guidance is on our insurance claims help page.
A realistic example: securing a smoke-damaged flat near Slough station
A common call-out for fire damage boarding up in Slough is a flat where a kitchen fire has been contained, but the property is left insecure. One recent scenario involved a flat near Slough railway station, where the fire service had gained access quickly and a front door was left unable to lock properly, with a cracked living-room window from heat stress.
Our technician attended once the scene was handed over, boarded the damaged window with exterior-grade sheet material using secure fixings, and made the main entrance safe with a robust temporary solution suitable for an unoccupied property. We then provided photos and a clear description of what was secured, so the occupier could forward it to their insurer and managing agent the same day.
What to do after a fire (practical steps before we arrive)
If it’s safe and you’ve been told you can:
- Keep any incident or reference numbers (fire service/police, where applicable)
- Contact your insurer early, even if you’re not sure of the full damage yet
- Take photos from a safe distance before anything is moved or covered
- Do not try to force warped doors or windows shut—it can make securing harder
- If the property is going to be empty, prioritise external ground-floor openings first
If you’re calling on behalf of a landlord, agent, or facilities team, it helps to know:
- Whether anyone needs to re-enter (medication, essential belongings)
- Whether there are shared entrances or communal hallways
- Any restrictions on parking/access (common around busy routes like the A4 corridor)
Fire damage boarding up for homes, shops and vacant properties
Different property types need different approaches:
- Homes and flats: focus on quick securing and weather protection while you arrange longer-term repairs. See residential boarding up.
- Shops and offices: reduce downtime and deter break-ins, especially where the frontage is visible. See commercial boarding up.
- Empty or void buildings: higher risk of repeat entry—longer-term options may be needed. See vacant property boarding solutions.
FAQs about fire damage boarding up in Slough
How quickly should I board up after a fire?
As soon as the building is safe to approach and you’ve been told the scene is handed over. Even if the damage looks “minor”, cracked glazing and doors that don’t lock properly can worsen quickly—especially in bad weather.
Can you board up if the frame is burnt or unstable?
Often yes, but it depends what’s left to fix into. If a frame is too damaged for non-destructive fixings, we’ll talk you through alternatives and be clear about any added drilling into masonry or the need for a different security method.
Is boarding up covered by insurance in Slough?
Many policies treat emergency securing as a reasonable mitigation step, but cover varies. We’re not able to confirm cover—what we can do is provide clear photos and an itemised invoice to support your claim. See insurance claims help.
Do you cover my area in the SL postcodes?
Yes—our work covers Slough and surrounding SL districts (including areas towards Langley, Colnbrook, Burnham, Windsor side and the wider SL region). For more detail, visit areas we cover.
What if I only need the property secured temporarily until repairs start?
That’s common after fire damage. We can install boarding as a temporary measure and discuss longer-term options where appropriate. If you’re dealing with repeated access issues on an empty building, you may also want to consider more robust vacant-property measures—start with our vacant property boarding solutions page.
Next steps: get your property secured
If your home, shop or building has suffered a fire, the priority is simple: secure the openings, reduce further damage, and help you move on to the next stage.
Need help now? Call 01753 379 919 for immediate assistance.
Or for non-urgent enquiries: info@boarding-up-slough.co.uk
