Boarding up for Different Property Types in Basingstoke (RG21–RG24)

When a window’s smashed or a door won’t secure, what you need depends as much on the property as on the damage. A family home in RG22, a town-centre shop in RG21, and a vacant unit in RG24 each present different risks and boarding-up options. We specialise in tailoring our approach to houses, flats, shops, offices, industrial units and void properties across Basingstoke. Fully insured, 10+ years trading, DBS-checked technicians.

If you need urgent help now, call 01256 631 114 for emergency boarding up. We’ll give a realistic ETA on the phone and prioritise urgent calls.

What changes by property type

  • Risk profile: Is the property occupied, accessible to the public, or unattended for days/weeks?
  • Access and fixings: Can we fix to a solid frame, masonry, or do we need freestanding or braced solutions?
  • Materials: 18mm exterior-grade plywood for high-risk openings; 12mm OSB for smaller, low-exposure windows; temporary steel doors or security screens for voids.
  • Compliance and documentation: For commercial and managed sites we provide RAMS on request, itemised invoices, and time-stamped photos for insurers. See our insurance claims guidance.

Below you’ll find how we secure the three main property categories we handle every day in Basingstoke and the RG21–RG24 area.

Residential properties (houses, flats, maisonettes)

Homes need fast, tidy, weatherproof solutions that keep families safe without causing further damage.

  • Typical scenarios:
    • Smashed rear patio door after a break-in (RG21–RG22)
    • Cracked front bay window from an impact
    • Storm-damaged skylight or roof light letting in water
  • Our approach:
    1. Make safe: Clear loose glass, check frames, and protect floors where we’re working.
    2. Board selection: Use 18mm exterior-grade plywood for doors and larger windows likely to face tampering; 12–18mm OSB/plywood for smaller panes. We cut tight to size to minimise gaps and drafts.
    3. Fixing method: Prefer internal fixings into sound timber where possible (less tamper risk and better weather seal). Where frames are compromised, we’ll explain options—through-bolts with anti-tamper fixings into masonry, or a temporary steel door if the door set is beyond repair.
    4. Weatherproofing: Seal edges if there’s wind-driven rain risk; for roof issues we’ll board and weatherproof the opening with safe access methods.
  • What you get:
    • Clear explanation of options and costs before we start (see our pricing factors)
    • Photos of the damage and completed boarding
    • An itemised invoice suitable for home insurance, plus our details for your claim
  • Related services:
  • Situations we commonly attend:

Practical tip: If safe, take photos before we arrive and keep your police reference number for the insurer. If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain before drilling or bolting.

Commercial properties (shops, offices, hospitality, industrial)

Commercial premises in RG21’s town centre and business areas across RG22–RG24 face higher exposure to footfall and out-of-hours risks. Shopfront glazing, in particular, needs swift, visible security that deters repeat attempts.

  • Typical scenarios:
    • Smashed shopfront after attempted theft or vandalism
    • Office entry door forced out of hours
    • Industrial unit roller door compromised, personnel door damaged
  • Our approach:
    1. Rapid make-safe and clear delineation of hazards to protect the public.
    2. Board specification: 18mm exterior-grade plywood or thicker where spans are large; bracing for wide panes to prevent flex; anti-tamper fixings to prevent removal from outside.
    3. Temporary access: Fit a temporary steel door when a doorway must remain in use but cannot be secured with timber alone.
    4. Documentation: On request, we’ll provide basic RAMS, time-stamped before/after photos, and clear descriptions of fixings and materials for facilities teams and insurers.
  • What you get:
    • Clear perimeter and tidy work area on handover
    • Robust fixings designed to resist tampering
    • Straightforward communication about follow-on glazing or repairs
  • Related services:
  • Relevant situations:

Why anti-tamper fixings matter: They cannot be removed from the outside without specialist tools—vital if the premises will be unattended overnight or over a weekend.

Vacant and void properties (between tenancies, long-term empty)

Empty homes and commercial units in RG23–RG24 benefit from solutions designed for days to months, not just overnight security.

  • Typical scenarios:
    • Recurrent attempts to enter an empty house
    • Squatter prevention for a vacant commercial unit
    • Post-fire or flood property awaiting assessment and repairs
  • Our approach:
    1. Survey for weak points: unsecured doors, ground-floor windows, accessible side/rear openings.
    2. Medium-term security: Consider steel security screens (Sitex-style) and temporary steel doors for primary access points; robust timber boarding for secondary openings.
    3. Ventilation and moisture: Where appropriate, use vented panels to reduce condensation and mould risk.
    4. Fixings strategy: Anti-tamper fixings into masonry or solid frames. Where frames are unsound, we’ll discuss freestanding or braced options that avoid further damage.
  • What you get:
    • Priority on deterrence and durability
    • Photos, keyed alike options for steel doors, and clear key-handover notes
    • Ongoing checks available by arrangement
  • Related services:
  • Useful pages:

Limitations: We secure and make safe; we’re not loss adjusters or remediation specialists, so smoke/odour clean-up after a fire is outside our scope. We do, however, liaise with your insurer and provide the documentation they typically require.

Materials and methods we trust

  • Timber options:
    • 18mm exterior-grade plywood for doors, shopfronts, and high-risk openings
    • 12mm OSB for small, low-exposure windows when appropriate
  • Fixings:
    • Internal fixings where possible for tamper resistance and weathering
    • External anti-tamper bolts/washers into masonry or sound timber when frames are compromised
  • Alternatives:
    • Temporary steel doors for controlled access
    • Security screens for longer-term vacant property protection

Why this matters: The right thickness and fixing method prevent prying, flexing, and easy removal—key to keeping an unattended property secure.

What to expect when you call

  1. Immediate triage: We’ll ask about the property type, damage, and location (RG21–RG24) so we bring the right materials.
  2. Realistic ETA: We don’t promise fixed arrival times, but we prioritise urgent calls and provide an honest estimate. For out-of-hours emergencies, call 01256 631 114.
  3. On site: Make safe, measure, cut, and fit boards; fit a temporary steel door if needed; remove loose glass and debris from the work area.
  4. Handover: Photos, itemised invoice, and notes suitable for insurers. See FAQs for common questions.

Local coverage in Basingstoke

We cover residential, commercial, and vacant properties across RG21, RG22, RG23, and RG24 under Basingstoke and Deane. Common call-outs come from town-centre premises in RG21 and residential areas in RG22–RG24. Nearby area pages include:

Explore all areas we cover.

FAQs about property-type boarding in Basingstoke

Do you handle high-street shopfronts in RG21 out of hours?

Yes. We regularly attend town-centre call-outs in RG21 for smashed shopfronts and can make safe and secure with robust boarding and anti-tamper fixings. For access needs, we can fit a temporary steel door.

What’s different when boarding a flat compared with a house?

Access and fixings. Flats often require internal fixings and careful debris control in communal areas. We protect floors, keep noise to a minimum where possible, and liaise with building management if needed.

Can you secure an empty property in RG23/RG24 for several weeks?

Yes. For voids we recommend a mix of timber boarding and steel security solutions. We can fit a keyed temporary steel door for controlled access and provide vented panels to reduce condensation risk.

Will my insurer accept your documentation?

In our experience, yes. We provide time-stamped photos, a clear work description, and an itemised invoice—what most insurers request. See our insurance claims page.

How quickly can you attend a smashed window at a rented house in RG22?

We prioritise urgent calls and aim to attend as quickly as possible, especially where the property can’t be secured. Call 01256 631 114 and we’ll give a realistic ETA based on time of day and workload.

Do you offer RAMS for office or industrial sites?

On request, yes. For managed commercial or industrial sites we can provide basic RAMS and coordinate with facilities teams. See our commercial property boarding.

My front door is beyond repair after a break-in—can you provide secure access overnight?

Yes. We can install a temporary steel door so you can lock up and re-enter safely while you arrange permanent repairs. More on door boarding and temporary steel doors.

Can you board a damaged skylight during bad weather?

We can usually board and weatherproof roof openings the same visit, using safe access methods. We’ll discuss options if wind conditions make roof access unsafe.

Next steps

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