Door Boarding in Stevenage (Emergency & Planned Property Security)

If your door has been forced, damaged, or simply won’t lock properly, you need to secure the opening quickly—especially if the property will be unattended overnight. We provide door boarding in Stevenage and across the SG postcodes, helping homeowners, landlords, shop owners and facilities teams make safe after break-ins, vandalism, accidents and storm damage.

For urgent help, call 01438 594 023. We prioritise emergency jobs and will give you a realistic ETA on the phone (we don’t promise fixed arrival times, as traffic, access and existing call-outs can affect attendance).

Looking for urgent attendance right now? Use our dedicated page for emergency boarding up.

When door boarding is needed (and why it can’t wait)

A damaged door isn’t just inconvenient—it can leave your property exposed to theft, weather, and further damage. We’re often called when customers need to:

• board up door after a forced entry (splintered frame, broken lock, door kicked in)
• secure a door that won’t close properly after impact or swelling
• protect an empty property between tenants (especially if it’s already been targeted)
• secure a rear/side entrance that’s hidden from view and vulnerable out of hours
• temporarily secure a commercial doorway while replacement parts are ordered

Typical high-risk situations include:

• Burglary: internal damage to the lock area or the door skin, frame pulled away from fixings
• Vandalism: deliberate impact damage, kicked panels, attempted entry
• Fire or flood: doors that have warped, swollen or no longer fit the frame
• Accidents/impact: vehicle strikes, delivery mishaps, or structural movement around the opening

If you’re dealing with a break-in, you may also find our guidance useful on burglary repairs in Stevenage.

Our approach: fast “make safe” first, then stable security

Door boarding isn’t one-size-fits-all. A front door with a damaged frame needs a different approach to a rear timber door, a communal entrance, or a commercial doorway.

When you call, we’ll ask a few quick questions to avoid surprises:

• Is the door open, jammed, or partially attached?
• Is there frame damage (split timber, pulled hinges, broken keeps)?
• Is it ground-floor, or does access require controlled entry/permissions?
• Is this a lived-in property, or a vacant/void building?
• Do you need temporary access maintained (e.g., for trades, tenants, deliveries)?

From there, we’ll prioritise:

1. Immediate security (stop easy access from outside)
2. Safety (remove sharp edges, stabilise loose panels where possible)
3. Weather protection (reduce draughts and water ingress where practical)
4. A clear plan for the next stage (repairs, replacement, or longer-term screening)

Materials we use (and why)

We use materials chosen for strength, fix security, and suitability for the opening.

18mm exterior-grade plywood (common for doors)

For many domestic and commercial openings, 18mm exterior-grade plywood provides a strong, stable barrier and is less likely to flex under impact. It’s a reliable option when you need temporary boarding that will hold up until a new door/frame is fitted.

12mm OSB (for smaller openings or secondary protection)

OSB can be appropriate for smaller, lower-risk openings or when the structure supports it. We’ll always consider the risk level, location of the door, and whether the property is likely to be targeted again.

Temporary steel doors (when boarding isn’t enough)

If a property needs to remain accessible while still being secured—common for vacant buildings, refurbishments, or repeated targeting—temporary steel doors can be a better solution than boarding alone. We’ll explain your options and costs clearly before proceeding.

For longer-term vacant security, you may also want to read about vacant property boarding in Stevenage.

Fixings and methods: how we stop removal from outside

The difference between “a board on a door” and a properly secured opening is usually the method.

Depending on the door type and frame condition, we may use:

• Anti-tamper fixings where appropriate (to reduce the risk of removal from outside)
• Through-fix methods (bolted or secured through the structure) when the surrounding material is sound
• Careful placement of fixings to avoid worsening cracks or splits
• Non-destructive approaches when possible—especially if the door/frame will be repaired rather than replaced

If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain what’s possible and why before we do anything that could affect repairs. Our goal is always to secure the property without creating unnecessary extra work later.

Emergency door boarding: what to expect when you call

If you’re standing with a damaged entrance and need help now, you want clarity—not a sales pitch.

Here’s how it normally works:

1. Call us on 01438 594 023
   Tell us what’s happened and which SG postcode you’re in (SG1–SG19).

2. We’ll confirm the right solution
   In some cases, door boarding is enough. In others, a temporary steel door or additional protection is safer.

3. Attendance and access
   We prioritise urgent calls and aim to attend as quickly as possible. We can’t guarantee fixed times, but we will give you a realistic ETA based on workload and travel.

4. Make safe & secure property
   We focus on securing the opening, reducing the risk of further entry, and leaving the site stable.

5. Documentation for peace of mind and insurers
   If needed, we can provide:

   • time-stamped photos (before/after)
   • an itemised invoice
   • a brief work statement describing what was done and what materials were used

For broader urgent help beyond doors, see 24/7 boarding up in Stevenage.

Common emergency scenarios we handle (doors)

Door issues rarely happen at a convenient time. We frequently attend out of hours for:

• A smashed door panel after an attempted break-in
• A door kicked in where the lock area has torn out
• Communal doors that won’t latch after impact (security risk for multiple flats)
• Commercial rear doors attacked overnight
• A property where the door is technically “closed” but no longer locks (still insecure)

If windows are also affected, you may need window boarding in Stevenage as part of the same make-safe visit.

Door boarding for homes, landlords and commercial sites

Residential properties

We’ll secure the opening while considering day-to-day needs—especially if you still need to get in and out safely. If boarding would trap occupants or create a safety issue, we’ll discuss alternatives.

More on domestic work: residential boarding in Stevenage.

Rental properties and voids

Landlords and letting agents often need fast security plus paperwork. We can help you secure the property and provide documentation suitable for maintenance records and insurers.

Commercial and facilities management

For shops, offices and industrial units, the priority is often preventing repeat entry and protecting stock and equipment. If you need a more robust medium-term solution, we can discuss steel door options and staged security planning.

Learn more: commercial boarding up in Stevenage.

Insurance and reporting: practical guidance (without pretending to be adjusters)

After a break-in or malicious damage, insurers often ask for clear evidence of what happened and what was done to prevent further loss.

Helpful steps:

• If there’s a crime, call the police first and keep your reference number
• Take photos before anything is moved (only if safe)
• Don’t touch potential evidence areas unless necessary for safety
• Contact your insurer as early as you can

We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisers, but we can provide the documentation insurers typically need. For more on the process, see insurance claims support.

Limits and honest expectations

• We don’t quote guaranteed arrival times—we prioritise urgent calls and will tell you what’s realistic on the phone.
• If the opening is structurally unsafe (e.g., severe frame collapse), we may recommend additional trades before a full security solution is possible.
• After fire damage, odour and smoke remediation is outside our scope—we focus on securing the property. See fire damage boarding.

FAQs: Door boarding in Stevenage (SG1–SG19)

Do you board up doors the same night?

Yes, we can help out of hours depending on availability. Call 01438 594 023 and we’ll confirm a realistic ETA and the best way to secure the entrance tonight.

Can you board up a uPVC door?

Often, yes—but it depends on how the frame has failed and whether there’s enough solid structure to fix into safely. If the surrounding area is too damaged, a temporary steel door may be a better option.

Will boarding up stop another break-in?

Boarding significantly reduces easy access and is a strong deterrent, but no temporary solution is invulnerable. We use suitable thickness boards and secure fixings to make removal from outside difficult, especially if the property will be empty.

Do you provide temporary steel doors as well as boarding?

Yes. If you need ongoing access (for repairs, tenants, trades) and stronger security than a board, we can discuss steel door installation and whether it’s appropriate for the opening and timescales.

What if the frame is split or crumbling?

We’ll assess the frame and explain the safest fixing approach. If we can’t secure properly without causing further damage, we’ll talk you through alternatives before proceeding.

Is door boarding covered by insurance?

Often it can be, especially after burglary, vandalism, storm damage or impact—but every policy differs. We can supply photos, invoices and a work summary to support your claim. See insurance claims support.

Can you secure a property that’s empty or between tenants?

Yes. Vacant properties are commonly targeted, so we’ll recommend a security level that matches the risk—boarding for short-term, or steel doors/screens for longer periods. Start here: vacant property security.

What you’ll receive after we secure the door

We aim to leave you with clear confirmation of what’s been done:

• A properly secured opening (appropriate material for the risk and location)
• Clear advice on next steps (repair, replacement, upgrade)
• Documentation if requested (photos, invoice, work statement)

If you want to understand boarding methods more generally, read what boarding up is.

Ready to secure your door?

Need help now? Call 01438 594 023 to arrange door boarding in Stevenage and across SG1–SG19. If it’s not urgent, you can also email us with photos and your postcode for guidance and a no-obligation quote.