Emergency Board-Up Services
24/7 emergency board-up and tarping for damaged properties throughout Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey. Rapid response to secure your property after fire, storm, or vandalism.
Why Emergency Board-Up Cannot Wait
After a fire, severe storm, or structural breach, every hour your property remains unsecured creates additional risk. A home or business with broken windows, damaged doors, or an open roof is immediately exposed to weather, vandalism, theft, and unauthorized entry. In dense Greater Philadelphia neighborhoods — particularly South Philadelphia row homes, Bucks County residential communities, and commercial corridors — an unsecured damaged property becomes a liability within hours.
Most insurance policies require the property owner to take "reasonable steps to protect against further damage" after a covered loss. Failing to board up broken windows or tarp a damaged roof can give your insurance company grounds to dispute portions of your claim on the basis that additional damage was preventable. Our board-up team arrives quickly, performs the work, and provides photo documentation to support your claim.
We also understand that fire damage is emotionally overwhelming. Our crew works efficiently, professionally, and with respect for what you're going through. We communicate clearly, secure the property fully, and coordinate directly with your restoration adjuster. See our full fire damage restoration services for what comes after board-up.
60-Minute Response
We reach most Greater Philadelphia locations within 60 minutes of your call — day or night, weekends and holidays.
Full Property Securing
Every opening — windows, doors, garage, roof breach — is secured before our crew leaves the property.
Insurance Documentation
Before-and-after photos, written condition reports, and material documentation delivered for your claim.
Situations That Require Emergency Board-Up
Fire & Smoke Damage
Fire compromises windows, doors, walls, and rooflines — often in areas that are structurally sound but open to the elements. After the fire department releases the scene, board-up should begin within hours. Our team works in coordination with fire investigators to avoid disturbing evidence while still securing the structure.
Storm & Wind Damage
Nor'easters, thunderstorms, and high winds regularly damage roofs, gutters, siding, and windows across Bucks County and Montgomery County. Roof tarping after a shingle blow-off or structural breach prevents what is often just a moderate roof repair claim from becoming a comprehensive interior water damage claim. See our storm damage restoration page for full post-storm services.
Vehicle Impact
Vehicles striking buildings — into storefronts, garages, or residential walls — create immediate structural openings that require same-day board-up to prevent weather intrusion, unauthorized entry, and to satisfy insurance requirements.
Vandalism & Break-In
Broken windows after vandalism or a break-in create ongoing security vulnerabilities. Board-up after burglary secures the entry point used by intruders and prevents re-entry while you file a police report and arrange permanent repairs. Commercial properties are especially vulnerable after business hours.
Vacant Property Protection
Banks, property managers, and estate executors regularly engage us to board up vacant properties following fire, storm, or tenant departure damage. Vacant property insurance typically requires all openings to be secured. We provide service reports for lenders and insurers.
Structural Collapse
Partial structural collapses from fire, water saturation, or age require both board-up and temporary structural shoring. Our team includes structural stabilization in the emergency response where needed, preventing secondary collapse and enabling safe assessment.
Board-Up Materials & Methods
Not all board-up is equal. Properly installed emergency board-up uses the right materials, fastened correctly, covering every opening fully. Our standard method uses 5/8" OSB (oriented strand board) plywood, which provides superior strength over lighter materials and is accepted by virtually all insurance carriers as standard. Here is what our installation includes:
Window Board-Up
5/8" OSB cut to precise dimensions, secured with 3" screws at 6" intervals. Provides weather seal and deters entry. All window frames protected from screw damage to facilitate future glass reinstallation.
Door Board-Up
Hinged plywood panels with hasp locks allow authorized re-entry while securing the structure. For breached doors, full framing replacement may be done simultaneously.
Roof Tarping
Heavy-duty polyethylene tarps (6 mil minimum, 10 mil for extended exposure) secured with screw-down battens — never just bungee cords — to provide weathertight protection until permanent roofing work begins.
Wall Breach Sealing
Openings from vehicle impact, explosion, or partial collapse are sealed with full-frame OSB construction to provide both weather protection and structural stability.
Security Fencing
For large commercial losses or properties with extensive perimeter damage, temporary chain-link security fencing can be installed to restrict access to the full property.
Debris Clearance for Access
Our crew removes debris from doorways and access paths needed for subsequent fire or water damage restoration work — coordinating with the restoration timeline.
Board-Up is Step One. We Handle the Rest.
Board-up is the critical first step that protects your property while the restoration process begins. But it is only the beginning. Once the property is secured and the insurance claim is initiated, our restoration team handles every phase of bringing your home or business back to pre-loss condition.
Emergency Response
Our 24/7 emergency line connects you directly with our dispatch team. We'll have a board-up crew en route within the hour for most Greater Philadelphia locations.
PA: (267) 982-5504 NJ: (609) 952-0142Available 24/7 including holidays
More Fire & Storm Damage Resources
Fire Damage Restoration
Full fire and smoke cleanup, content pack-out, and structural restoration.
Storm Damage Restoration
Emergency response to Nor'easters, hurricanes, and severe storms.
Water Damage Restoration
Water extraction and structural drying after fire suppression efforts.
Mold Remediation
Post-fire mold prevention when suppression water isn't fully dried.
Commercial Restoration
Board-up and restoration for businesses, retail, and industrial properties.
Board-Up — Bensalem PA
Emergency board-up response in Bensalem, Bucks County.
Board-Up Services FAQs
Property Vulnerable? Call 24/7.
Don't leave your property unsecured. Our board-up team responds immediately to protect your investment after fire, storm, or vandalism.
Average response time: 47 minutes • Available 24/7/365