Pricing for Boarding Up in Watford (WD1–WD25)

When you need boarding up, you usually need it fast—and you also need clear, honest information about costs. This page explains how we price our work across the WD area, what affects the total, and what you get for your money. We don’t publish fixed prices because every job is different, but we’ll always explain costs upfront and confirm before we start.

If you need urgent help now, please call 01923 311 082. For non-urgent estimates, you can also email us.

How Our Pricing Works

Every job is priced on the work and materials needed to secure your property properly and safely. We’ll ask a few quick questions when you call, and if possible, request photos. This lets us give a realistic estimate and ETA on the phone.

Typical cost components:

  • Call-out and attendance
  • Labour time (on site)
  • Materials used (e.g., 18mm exterior-grade plywood, 12mm OSB, fixings, battens, steel hardware)
  • Specialist equipment (towers, lifts) if required
  • Out-of-hours uplift (evenings, nights, weekends, bank holidays)
  • Parking and congestion where applicable

We’re fully insured, have 10+ years trading, and use DBS-checked technicians. After the job, we issue an itemised invoice/receipt and a work statement—useful for insurers. See how we support claims at Insurance claims.

What Affects the Price

The following factors have the biggest impact on the final cost:

  • Opening size and quantity
    • A single smashed pane is one price bracket; multiple large shopfront panes require more boards, fixings and time.
  • Access and height
    • Ground-floor window boarding is simpler than a high-level opening that needs a tower or specialist access.
  • Material specification
    • We typically use 18mm exterior-grade plywood for larger spans and 12mm OSB for smaller openings, with anti-tamper fixings. We’ll recommend what’s appropriate to make safe and secure.
  • Damage severity
    • Intact frames make non-destructive fixings possible. If frames are too damaged to hold, we may need to batten across the opening. We’ll explain options before we proceed.
  • Doors vs windows
    • Door boarding up may include a temporary steel door or additional framing to keep access secure while allowing keyholder entry. See door boarding for details.
  • Property type
    • Residential openings are usually straightforward. Commercial shopfronts often involve larger spans, laminated glass, and security considerations. Learn more at shopfront boarding.
  • Time of attendance
    • Out-of-hours work (overnight, weekends, bank holidays) costs more due to staffing and logistics.

What You Get As Standard

  • A safety-first approach to make safe and secure the opening
  • Correct materials for the opening: 18mm exterior plywood or 12mm OSB as appropriate
  • Anti-tamper fixings and proper edge distances to prevent easy removal
  • Neat trimming to avoid sharp edges and trip hazards
  • Clear explanations before we drill or batten—no surprises
  • Time-stamped photos on request
  • Itemised invoice and work statement for insurers
  • Advice on next steps and recommended follow-on repairs

For a deeper look at methods and materials, see what is boarding up.

Typical Scenarios And Relative Costs

Not a quote—just to help you gauge what drives cost. We’ll price your exact job over the phone once we understand the details.

  • Single ground-floor sash window, residential
    • Usually one board, straightforward access, minimal fixings
  • Patio door glass smashed, residential
    • Larger opening, more board and fixings; may need extra bracing
  • Shopfront pane broken, commercial
    • Large span boards, multiple fixings, possibly two technicians
  • High-level window or skylight
    • Access equipment and extra time; weatherproofing considerations
  • Temporary steel door after forced entry
    • Supplied and fitted with secure frame, suited to medium-term security

If your situation is unusual—flood-swollen frames, fire-damaged lintels, or structural concerns—we’ll explain safe options and any extra steps. For event-specific guidance, see:

Our Process When You Call

  1. Quick assessment
    • We’ll ask for your WD postcode, the opening type (window/door/shopfront/roof), size, height, and what’s damaged.
  2. Estimate and ETA
    • We give a realistic ballpark based on the details and current workload. No fixed arrival promises, but we prioritise urgent cases.
  3. On-site confirmation
    • We confirm the scope and price before starting. If we find hidden damage, we’ll explain options and any cost differences first.
  4. Boarding up and safety checks
    • Boards measured, cut and secured using anti-tamper fixings. We make safe, tidy, and weather-resist where relevant.
  5. Documentation and payment
    • Itemised invoice and photos on request. We can liaise with you or your facilities/insurance contact.

Need more detail on specific services?

Insurance And Payment

  • We are not loss adjusters, but we provide the documentation insurers typically require: itemised invoice, time-stamped photos, and a brief work statement. More info at Insurance claims.
  • Keep your police reference number if applicable.
  • Payment is usually taken on completion. For commercial clients and facilities managers, we can work with purchase orders or approved vendor processes.

Ways To Keep Costs Sensible

  • If safe, take clear photos before we arrive—full view and close-ups. This helps us bring the right materials first time.
  • Tell us the approximate window/door size and floor level.
  • Inform us about access constraints (gates, parking, security staff).
  • If you’ll need medium-term security, ask about temporary steel doors or security screens at the outset to avoid doubling up.
  • Contact your insurer early to log the incident.

Out-Of-Hours And Emergency Work

We offer 24/7 boarding up across WD postcodes. Out-of-hours work has an uplift due to staffing and logistics, but we’ll always explain this when you call. We don’t guarantee fixed response times—traffic, workload and distance vary—but we prioritise urgent calls and provide a realistic ETA.

If it’s unsafe or you suspect a crime in progress, call 999 first. Once safe, call us to secure the property.

FAQs About Pricing

Can you give a fixed price over the phone?

We’ll give a realistic estimate based on your description and photos if possible. Final price is confirmed on site once we see the full extent of the damage and access.

Do you charge more in certain WD postcodes?

No postcode surcharges. Costs vary by travel time, parking constraints, and job complexity, not by the postcode itself.

What if the frame is too damaged for standard fixings?

We’ll explain alternative methods (battens, frame repairs, or a temporary steel door) and the cost difference before proceeding.

Is emergency boarding up covered by insurance in Watford?

Many policies cover emergency securing after an insured event. We provide itemised invoices and photos to support your claim. See Insurance claims.

Do you have a minimum charge?

Yes, there is a minimum to cover call-out and first labour period. We’ll confirm this on the phone before attending.

Can you invoice my business or landlord directly?

Yes. We work with landlords, facilities teams and insurers. See property types or call to discuss your account details.

Do you remove boards later—what does that cost?

We can return to de-board when your glazing is ready. Removal is usually quicker than installation and priced accordingly; we’ll estimate when we fit the boards.

Next Steps

  • Need help now? Call 01923 311 082 for immediate assistance.
  • Planning ahead or want a ballpark? Email us with photos and your WD postcode, or see our FAQs and reviews for more on how we work.

For general guidance on our services, visit: