Insurance Claims Support for Boarding Up in Portsmouth (PO1–PO41)

If you’ve just had a break-in, a smashed window, storm damage, or an accident at your property, dealing with the insurance side can feel like a second emergency. Our role is simple: we secure the property, reduce the risk of further loss, and provide the documentation insurers typically ask for—so you can move the claim forward with less stress.

Boarding Up Portsmouth supports customers across Portsmouth and the wider PO postcode area (PO1–PO41). We’re fully insured, with DBS-checked technicians, and we’ve been trading for 10+ years. If you need urgent help first, go straight to emergency boarding up and call 023 8272 0371.

The important bit: we’re not your insurer—but we make the process easier

We’re not loss adjusters and we can’t approve claims. What we can do is:

Make safe the damaged opening (window, door, shopfront, rooflight/skylight) to reduce risk
Help you record what happened (safely) and keep the right details
Provide clear, professional paperwork after the job—useful for most claims

Insurers generally want evidence that you’ve taken reasonable steps to prevent further damage or theft. Emergency boarding up and temporary security is often part of that duty of care—especially if the property will be empty overnight.

If you’re unsure what to do first, you can call us and we’ll talk you through the immediate steps, then advise on the most sensible way to secure the property based on what’s actually damaged.

What insurers usually expect after damage (and how boarding up helps)

While every policy is different, most claims processes work better when you can show:

What happened (e.g., forced entry, vandalism, storm impact, accidental breakage)
When it happened (approximate time, and when you discovered it)
What you did to prevent it getting worse (e.g., boarded up broken window, secured a door, made safe)
Evidence of the damage (photos, police reference number, witness details if relevant)
Invoices and a description of emergency works completed

Boarding up is often the first practical step—especially for a smashed window, a door that won’t lock, or a damaged shopfront where the opening is obvious from the street.

For an urgent attendance, see emergency boarding up.

Our documentation for insurance claims (what you’ll receive)

After we secure the property, we can provide documentation that’s normally suitable for insurers, managing agents, and landlords. Typically this includes:

Itemised invoice showing labour, materials, and any specialist fixings used
Work summary / statement describing what was damaged and what we installed
Time-stamped photos of the secured openings (before/after where safe and appropriate)
Notes on any access issues or hazards (for example, unsafe frames or high-level access limits)

If you tell us at the time of booking that this is for an insurance claim, we’ll make sure the paperwork is formatted clearly and the job description is unambiguous (e.g., “temporary boarding to ground-floor window following forced entry”).

If you’re a landlord or managing agent who needs repeatable paperwork, we can also align our reporting with your internal work order references where possible.

What to do immediately (before we arrive) to protect your claim and your safety

If you’re dealing with a break-in or serious damage, focus on safety first. Here’s what we recommend in the Portsmouth/PO area:

If there’s danger or a crime in progress, call 999.
If it’s a non-emergency crime report, use 101 and request a crime reference number.
Take photos if it’s safe.
A few clear pictures of the broken window/door/shopfront from different angles can help later. Don’t touch anything if you think it could be evidence.
Prevent further damage where possible—without putting yourself at risk.
Don’t climb, don’t handle broken glass, and don’t attempt DIY fixes on a compromised door. If rain is coming in, move valuables away from the opening.
Call us to secure the property.
If you need to secure property out of hours, we prioritise urgent call-outs and will give you a realistic ETA on the phone.
Call 023 8272 0371
Contact your insurer as soon as practical.
Ask what they need from you, and whether they require specific wording or a particular invoice format.

More practical guidance on scenarios can also be found on our situation pages, such as burglary repairs and storm damage boarding.

Do you need permission from your insurer before you board up?

Often, no—because boarding is usually considered an emergency “make safe” measure to prevent further loss. However, policies vary.

A sensible approach is:

If you can reach your insurer quickly, ask whether they have a preferred contractor process
If the property is exposed (open door, smashed window, unsafe shopfront), secure it first—then update the insurer with the invoice and photos

If you’re worried about costs, our pricing page explains what affects the price (size of opening, height/access, materials used, and complexity). We don’t publish fixed prices because each job is different and we prefer to quote honestly based on what’s in front of us.

Common claim scenarios we attend in Portsmouth and the PO area

Different events create different risks—and insurers tend to ask different questions. Here’s how we typically handle the first-response securing:

Break-ins and forced entry (doors and ground-floor windows)

A forced door often means the frame is split or the lock area is compromised. In those cases, simple patching doesn’t restore security.

We may board up a door temporarily or install a temporary steel door option if appropriate
If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain the options before proceeding

Vandalism and smashed glazing (including repeated incidents)

For repeated attacks, the goal is to stop an easy re-entry. Anti-tamper fixings and the right board choice matter.

We regularly attend smashed window jobs where glass is missing or unsafe
We install temporary boarding with fixings designed to prevent removal from outside

Storm damage (wind, debris impact, and partial failure)

Storms can cause awkward, irregular openings—particularly with older frames or roof-level damage.

We can make safe broken windows and compromised openings
For roof-level issues, we’ll advise what’s feasible safely and what needs a roofer afterwards

Related: roof boarding and storm damage.

Fire damage (securing only)

After a fire, you may have broken openings, missing door security, or a property that must be secured quickly.

We secure entry points and vulnerable openings
We do not provide smoke/odour remediation—our job is securing the site

Related: fire damage boarding.

How we board up (and why insurers care about doing it properly)

A rushed or poorly fixed board can create more problems: water ingress, damage to frames, and easy removal. Our approach is designed to be secure and sensible.

Depending on the opening, we typically use:

18mm exterior-grade plywood for robust security and weather resistance
12mm OSB for smaller or lower-risk openings where appropriate
Anti-tamper fixings to reduce the chance of boards being removed from outside
Fixing methods chosen to suit the frame condition and the property type

If the objective is medium-term security (vacant property, probate, long repair lead times), we may recommend a more durable solution than timber boarding.

Will boarding up affect my claim?

Insurers generally want you to prevent further damage. Boarding up usually supports that, but a few points are worth keeping in mind:

Don’t throw away evidence too quickly. If it’s safe, keep damaged locks/parts until you’ve spoken to your insurer.
Don’t carry out permanent repairs without approval if your policy requires authorisation.
Keep all paperwork. We’ll provide an invoice and job summary—store it with your claim documents.
Tell your insurer the property has been secured. This may reduce concerns about ongoing risk.

If you’re unsure, you can ask your insurer whether they categorise boarding as “emergency mitigation” or “temporary repairs”.

If you’re a landlord, managing agent, or business owner: claim-ready reporting

We regularly help:

Landlords needing a fast secure property solution between tenancies
Managing agents needing consistent documentation across multiple sites
Shop owners needing a shopfront boarded up after vandalism or impact
Facilities teams who need a clear work statement for internal reporting

We can provide job notes that include access details, fixings used, and photos—useful if you’re coordinating multiple contractors for glazing, joinery, alarms, or shutters afterwards.

Insurance Claims FAQs (Portsmouth & PO postcodes)

Do you provide paperwork suitable for my insurer?

Yes. We provide an itemised invoice and a clear description of works, and we can include time-stamped photos where appropriate. We’re not loss adjusters, but we provide the documentation insurers typically request.

I need to board up a broken window tonight—should I call you or my insurer first?

If the property is exposed (open window/door, missing glass, obvious entry point), call us first to make safe and secure it, then call your insurer. If you can safely call your insurer immediately, that’s fine too—but don’t leave a vulnerable opening overnight.

For urgent help, use emergency boarding up and call 023 8272 0371.

Will you take “before” photos for the claim?

If it’s safe and practical, we can take photos prior to boarding. Sometimes the priority is immediate safety (loose glass, unsafe frames), so we may secure first and document what we can afterwards. If you can take a quick photo before we arrive, do so safely.

Is boarding up covered by insurance?

Often it is, as an emergency measure, but it depends on your policy and the cause of damage. Keep your invoice and photos and speak to your insurer early. If you need cost context, see pricing.

My door frame is split—can you still secure it?

Usually yes. We’ll assess whether standard door boarding is secure enough or whether a stronger temporary solution is needed. If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive fixings, we’ll explain options before proceeding.

Related: door boarding.

I’m in a PO postcode outside central Portsmouth—do you cover me?

Yes. We cover the PO area (PO1–PO41) and prioritise urgent call-outs. When you call, we’ll confirm attendance_toggle and give you a realistic ETA based on workload and travel.

You can also check areas we cover for more information.

What if the property is vacant while the claim is ongoing?

Vacant properties are higher risk, and insurers may have security expectations. Temporary boarding may be suitable short-term, but for longer periods you may need stronger measures. We can advise after assessing the openings.

Related: vacant property boarding.

Can you speak directly to my insurer or managing agent?

We can share our invoice, work summary, and photos with whoever you authorise, and we’re happy to confirm what we did on site. We can’t negotiate claim outcomes, but we can provide clarity on the emergency securing work completed.

Need claim-friendly boarding up documentation?

If you need your property secured and want paperwork that helps your insurance claim run smoothly, call us and we’ll take the details.

Ready to get started? Call 023 8272 0371 or email us for a free, no-obligation quote.

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