Emergency Board Up Services in South Florida

What Emergency Board Up Actually Is

Board up is a temporary protective measure. When a window or door is compromised — shattered glass, a blown-out frame, structural damage from impact — an open gap in your home or business is an immediate liability. Boarding up means sealing that gap with plywood so the property stays protected until permanent repair or replacement can happen.

It is not a repair. It is not a fix. It is the right first step.

When You Need It

South Florida’s weather does most of the work. A single hurricane or tropical storm can push debris through glass that survived a dozen seasons. But hurricanes are not the only reason people call us.
The situations we respond to most often:

Hurricane and storm damage
Wind-driven debris, pressure changes, falling branches — hurricane season runs June through November, but severe storms hit year-round in South Florida. When impact glass holds but the frame fails, or a screen enclosure comes through a slider, the opening needs to be secured immediately.

Break-ins and vandalism
A shattered entry point is an invitation for a second visit. Boarding up closes that window — literally — before anything else is taken or damaged.

Accidental impact
A car into a storefront, a fallen tree branch through a bedroom window, a misthrown object. These happen fast and without warning.

Vacant and unoccupied properties
If a property is between tenants, listed for sale, or temporarily empty, an unsecured opening creates compounding risk — weather damage, trespassing, liability.

How Long Does Board Up Last?

That depends on conditions. In stable weather with no further impact, a properly installed board up holds for weeks. In active storm conditions, it provides protection through the event while minimizing further damage. It is a temporary measure — not a substitute for repair, but a reliable bridge to it.
Most clients schedule replacement within days to a few weeks, depending on availability of materials and permits.

A Note on Insurance

Many homeowner and commercial property policies cover emergency board up as part of a weather or damage claim. We do not bill insurance companies directly, but we can provide documentation of the work — scope, materials, date and time of service — that you can submit to your insurer as part of the claim process. Check your policy or contact your adjuster to confirm what is covered under your specific plan.

Frequently asked questions

Does boarding up damage the frame or the stucco?

No, it does not, when it is done properly. The plywood is fixed to the frame or to the surrounding structure with fasteners chosen for that surface, and the holes are filled when the board comes off. Damage happens when someone screws straight through a finished frame in a hurry.

Do I need to be there while you board up?

Not necessarily. For homes we prefer someone on-site to let the technician in and confirm the scope, but exterior openings can often be secured without interior access. For a business, a manager or keyholder usually needs to be reachable by phone.

Can you board up a sliding glass door or a full storefront?

Both, yes. A shattered patio door or a storefront panel is a bigger opening than a window, so it takes bracing across the span rather than a single sheet. Commercial openings are covered on our commercial glass repair page.

How soon can someone get out to me?

That depends on the day and where you are, and you will get a straight answer on the phone rather than a promise we cannot keep. Storm weeks are the exception, when every glass company in South Florida is booked and we schedule by how exposed the opening is.