Vandalism Repair in Slough: Boarding Up & Securing Your Property After Damage
Vandalism is upsetting at the best of times—especially when it leaves your home, shop or office exposed overnight. If you need vandalism repair in Slough, our job is to secure the building quickly, prevent further damage and give you the paperwork you’ll need for the next steps (insurers, landlords, managing agents or the police).
For urgent help, call 01753 379 919 or email info@boarding-up-slough.co.uk. We cover Slough and the wider SL postcode area.
When vandalism damage typically happens (and why boarding up matters)
Vandalism doesn’t always mean a dramatic smash-and-grab. In Slough, we’re often called out to damage that’s “small” but leaves a property vulnerable—especially around busy routes and mixed residential/commercial areas.
Common scenarios include:
- Smashed or cracked glazing after stones, bottles, or deliberate impact
- Kicked-in panels on timber doors or snapped uPVC door sections
- Damage to shopfronts (including broken toughened glass and bent frames)
- Forced shutters or security grilles that won’t close properly afterwards
- Rooflight/skylight damage on flat roofs, extensions, or commercial units
- Repeated targeting of vacant properties or buildings between tenants
Even if the opening looks “partly intact”, leaving it unsecured can lead to:
- opportunistic theft
- weather damage (rain getting into floors, electrics, stock, plasterwork)
- pets or children getting into unsafe areas
- an insurer questioning whether the property was adequately protected
If you’re unsure whether boarding is needed, call 01753 379 919 and tell us what’s happened. We’ll give practical guidance and talk you through the options.
What to do straight away after vandalism (before we arrive)
If you’ve just discovered damage, these steps help protect you and your claim.
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Check for immediate danger
If there’s hanging glass, exposed wiring, a smell of gas, or signs of fire risk, keep people back and call the relevant emergency service. -
If a crime is involved, report it
If safe, report the incident and keep a crime reference number. It often helps with insurance and property management reporting. -
Take a few photos (if safe to do so)
Wide shots, close-ups, and any obvious points of entry. Don’t touch broken glass. -
Avoid clearing up too much
It’s tempting to tidy immediately, but keep things as found where possible until it’s recorded. -
Call us to secure the opening
The sooner the building is made safe, the sooner you can move on to glazing, door replacement, shutter repairs, or longer-term security.
If this is happening right now or you can’t safely leave the building exposed, use our urgent help page: emergency boarding up.
How we secure vandalised properties in Slough (what we actually do)
Vandalism repair, in our world, means making the property secure and weather-resistant again—fast, safely, and in a way that’s appropriate for the damage. We’re not glaziers or decorators, and we won’t pretend otherwise. Our priority is to stop the situation getting worse.
Step 1: We assess the opening and the frame condition
When we arrive, we check:
- whether the frame is sound enough to fix boards without causing further damage
- if there are loose shards or unsafe edges that need careful handling
- whether the damage suggests repeat targeting, which may influence the security method
- access constraints (rear gardens, alleyways, shopfront public areas, shared entrances)
If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain the choices before proceeding.
Step 2: We choose the right boarding method and materials
We typically use:
- 18mm exterior-grade plywood for most ground-floor windows, doors and shopfront sections
- 12mm OSB for smaller or less exposed openings where appropriate
We size and position boards to cover the vulnerable area properly—not just the broken pane—because partial coverage can still be levered or pushed in.
Fixing methods vary by situation:
- Anti-tamper fixings where the property will be unattended or is at risk of repeat vandalism
- Internal bracing or through-fix methods (where suitable) to reduce the chance of removal from outside
- Careful, minimal-impact fixing where the client needs to preserve frames for later repairs
Step 3: We make it safe around the opening
Where needed, we’ll:
- remove immediate hazards (loose glass that could fall)
- tidy sharp edges and make the area safer for occupants and passers-by
- advise if anything looks structurally unsound and should be checked by a builder
Step 4: We document the work for your records
Most customers need clear evidence for insurers, landlords, facilities teams, or incident logs. We can provide:
- time-stamped photos before and after
- an itemised invoice
- a short work statement describing what was secured and how
We’re not loss adjusters, and we can’t guarantee what any insurer will accept—but we’ll give you the documentation insurers typically ask for. See: insurance claims support.
Securing different types of vandalism damage
Smashed windows and glazed doors
A cracked pane, especially if it’s been hit repeatedly, can fail later. For residential properties and ground-floor flats, we’ll usually recommend window boarding in Slough to remove the obvious access point quickly.
For glazed doors or side panels, we may use door boarding up depending on how the entry point works and whether the door is still functional.
Shopfront attacks (including toughened glass)
Shops, takeaways and salons often have large panes that are expensive and slow to replace—especially outside normal glazing hours. We secure with correctly sized panels and fixings suitable for public-facing areas, keeping sightlines and access in mind where possible.
If your frontage has been targeted, see shopfront boarding for what to expect.
Rooflights and skylights
Vandalism isn’t always at street level. We’re called to rear extensions and low flat roofs where rooflights have been smashed. Once water gets in, damage spreads fast.
Where safe access is possible, we can carry out roof boarding to weatherproof and secure overhead openings.
Repeated vandalism or vacant properties
If a property is empty, between tenants, or waiting on probate/renovation, boarding can become a medium-term need rather than a one-night fix.
In those cases, we’ll talk you through stronger options such as temporary steel doors or security screens depending on the risk and the length of time needed. Start here: boarding up for vacant property.
Residential vs commercial vandalism: what changes?
Residential homes and flats
For houses and flats in Slough (including HMOs and rental properties), the focus is usually:
- keeping the family/tenants safe
- maintaining privacy and heat retention
- preventing a “second incident” after the first breakage
If you’re a landlord or letting agent, we can coordinate access with occupants and provide the documentation you need for your maintenance records. More here: residential boarding up.
Shops, offices and industrial units
Commercial vandalism is often about:
- securing high-value stock and equipment
- making the frontage safe for the public
- enabling you to reopen or trade safely where possible
- providing paperwork for facilities management and insurers
We can work with site contacts and follow reasonable on-site procedures. For an overview, see commercial boarding up.
How long does vandalism boarding up take?
It depends on:
- the number and size of openings
- whether the frame is intact
- access (upper floors, rear alleys, shared entrances)
- whether we’re securing a window, door, shopfront, or rooflight
We don’t quote fixed arrival times or “guaranteed” durations—conditions vary. But when you call, we’ll ask a few quick questions so we can bring the right materials and give you a realistic expectation.
If you need help tonight, go straight to: 24 hour emergency boarding up in Slough.
Cost considerations (honest guidance)
People often ask “how much does vandalism repair cost in Slough?” Boarding up costs vary based on the opening size, materials, fixing method, access, and whether it’s a shopfront/roof-level job.
We’ll explain the approach before starting and provide an itemised invoice afterwards. For a clear overview of what affects pricing, see boarding up pricing.
Vandalism repair in Slough and across SL postcodes
We’re based locally and cover Slough and surrounding SL postcodes, including SL1, SL2 and SL3 (and wider areas across the SL region). Whether it’s a broken window in a residential street, a damaged shopfront near a busy parade, or an empty unit that’s been targeted, we’ll focus on making the property secure and helping you move to the next stage of repairs.
For a broader view, see areas we cover.
FAQs about vandalism repair & boarding up in Slough
Do you repair the glass or replace doors as well?
We specialise in securing and weatherproofing—boarding up windows/doors/shopfronts and installing temporary security options. We’re not a glazing or door replacement company, but we can secure the opening so your chosen contractor can carry out repairs safely later.
Is vandalism boarding up covered by insurance?
Often it can be, but every policy is different. The most helpful things you can keep are your crime reference number, photos, and our invoice/work statement. We provide documentation insurers typically request—see insurance claims support.
My property has been vandalised more than once—can you make it harder to target?
Yes. Depending on the building and timeframe, we may recommend anti-tamper fixings, stronger boarding methods, or longer-term options for voids. If the property will be empty, start with vacant property boarding up.
Can you board up a shopfront without making the whole unit unusable?
In many cases, yes. The approach depends on the layout, damage location, and whether there’s another entrance. For retail units, we’ll aim for security first, then practicality—see shopfront boarding.
Do you cover my part of Slough?
We cover Slough and the SL postcode area. If you’re unsure, call 01753 379 919 and tell us your postcode and what’s happened.
Next steps: secure the building and stop the damage spreading
If you’ve had vandalism damage, the priority is to secure the opening properly and document what was done—so you can move forward with glazing, door replacement, shutter repairs, or a full refurbishment.
Need help now? Call 01753 379 919 for immediate assistance.
Or email: info@boarding-up-slough.co.uk
