Repair guide
Boarding Up After a Break In: What to Do First
A break in or a smashed window is upsetting, and it is easy to do things in the wrong order. The priorities are people first, then evidence, then making the property secure.
We provide 24 hour emergency window and door repairs across Newcastle and the North East, including boarding up, temporary glazing and lock changes, so the property does not stay open overnight.
Free in-person quotes. Photo estimates sometimes possible. 24 hour emergency call out.
Repair first
Replacement only when a repair is not possible
Fast response
Messages answered within 15 minutes in working hours
Free quotations
In person, with photo estimates sometimes possible
Guaranteed work
over 10 years of repair experience
The first hour, in order
- Make sure everyone is safe and keep children and pets away from broken glass
- If anyone may still be inside or nearby, leave and call 999
- Report the incident to the police and note the crime reference number
- Photograph the damage and the point of entry before anything is moved
- Contact your insurer, or their emergency line, and ask what they need
- Call us so the opening can be boarded, glazed or the lock changed
What not to touch
Do not pull loose glass out of a frame, because panes under tension can drop without warning. Do not tidy the point of entry until you have photographs, and do not throw damaged locks or handles away, as your insurer may want to see them.
How emergency boarding works
Our first job is to make the property safe and secure. Broken glass is cleared and taken away, and the opening is boarded or temporarily glazed so the house is secure and dry that night. Forced locks are replaced, usually with higher security cylinders.
Where a made to measure unit or an ordered part is needed, we secure the property first and return to complete the permanent repair.
For your insurance claim
We can provide itemised invoices and a written description of the damage and the work carried out, which is normally what an insurer asks for. We will also point out the weak points that were used to get in, so the same route is not available again.
Guidance on cost
Typical price ranges
The ranges below are guidance only, based on the sort of repairs we carry out across the North East. Prices vary with size, specification, access and the condition of the frame, so we confirm the price after inspecting the fault. In-person quotations are free.
| Work | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Emergency attendance and make safeExplained on the phone so there is no surprise | quoted before we set off |
| Boarding up an openingDepends on size, height and access | around £90 to £180 |
| Emergency cylinder or lock changeHigher security cylinders available | around £80 to £180 fitted |
| Permanent glass replacementMade to measure, with safety glass where required | quoted after measuring |
Related repairs
Services covered in this guide
Where we carry out this work
Questions
Frequently asked
What should I do first if a window has been smashed?
Keep people and pets away from the glass, do not pull loose pieces from the frame, and call us to make the opening safe and secure. Photograph the damage for your insurer first if you can.
Are you really available at night and at weekends?
Yes. Standard hours are 8am to 5pm, with a 24 hour emergency call out service for insecure properties.
Will boarding up damage the frame?
It is fitted so the property is secure without harming the frame, and it is removed when the permanent glazing goes in.
Can you provide paperwork for an insurance claim?
Yes. We can supply itemised invoices and written descriptions of the damage and the work carried out.
Need it sorted today?
Tell us what the window or door is doing and we will arrange a free in-person quotation. Clear photographs can sometimes help us estimate sooner.