Repair guide
Boarding Up After a Break In: What to Do First
By the Newcastle Window and Door Repairs team
Last updated:
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.
In Newcastle and throughout the North East, our round-the-clock emergency work includes securing damaged openings with boards or temporary glazing and replacing locks. The immediate aim is to avoid leaving the building open overnight.
Repair first
15 minute replies
Working hours
Free in-person quotes
Fully insured
Guaranteed workmanship
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.
Emergency repairs
- Smashed, cracked or vandalised glass
- Doors that will not lock or will not close at all
- Snapped keys and seized or drilled cylinders
How emergency boarding works
Safety and security come before the finished glazing. We remove broken glass and take it away, then use boarding or temporary glazing to keep the opening dry and secure overnight. Damage to forced locks is addressed by replacement, normally using higher security cylinders.
If the permanent work depends on glass measured for the opening or a component that must be ordered, we provide that protection first. A later appointment completes the repair with the required replacement.
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
Guidance only. Size, specification, access and frame condition affect the price; a free inspection confirms it.
| Work and what affects its cost | 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 |
Repairs for boarding up after a break in
Local help with boarding up after a break in
Want a professional to handle it?
Questions
Frequently asked
How should I handle a smashed pane before help arrives?
Keep everyone, including pets, clear of fragments. Leave loose glass in place rather than pulling it out. If safe, record the damage in photographs for your insurer before calling for the opening to be secured.
Can boarding be arranged outside normal hours?
Yes. Our usual working day is 8am to 5pm, but an insecure building qualifies for emergency attendance at any hour, including nights and weekends.
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.
Ask about boarding up after a break in
Photo estimates sometimes possible.
Related services
Covering Newcastle and the North East.