Boarding Up West Ham (E13) – 24/7 Emergency Property Security

If you need boarding up in West Ham after a smashed window, forced door, or shopfront damage, the priority is simple: secure the opening, prevent further loss, and make the property safe. Boarding Up East London provides 24/7 boarding up across West Ham and the E13 area, with experienced, fully insured, DBS-checked technicians who are used to working on busy streets, estates, and commercial frontages.

West Ham sits in a high-traffic pocket of East London, with a mix of Victorian/Edwardian terraces, purpose-built flats, and light industrial/commercial units. That variety matters, because the right boarding method for a ground-floor sash window isn’t the same as for a modern glazed entrance, a rear alley door, or a damaged shopfront panel.

We don’t promise unrealistic arrival times. Workloads and road conditions vary, especially around key routes and peak hours. When you call, we’ll talk through what’s happened, check what access you have, and give you a realistic ETA—then prioritise urgent “make safe” jobs where the property is exposed.

Need urgent help now? Call 020 4634 6384 (24/7).

Why boarding up matters in West Ham (E13)

West Ham has a few local factors that tend to drive emergency calls for temporary boarding:

Busy roads, fast-moving impacts, and roadside glazing

With heavy traffic flows and frequent servicing/deliveries, we often see accidental impacts—especially to ground-floor windows, front doors, and shopfront glazing. Even a small crack can turn into a full smashed window overnight (wind pressure, vibration, or tampering), so getting it boarded sooner usually reduces the overall risk.

Mixed property styles = different weak points

In E13 you’ve got:

• Older terraces where timber frames can be fragile after a break-in (fixing points need care to avoid splitting)
• Ex-local authority blocks and modern flats where communal entrances and side panels can be targeted
• Small industrial and trade units where rear/side access is more exposed—particularly after-hours

Boarding up isn’t just “cover the hole”. The goal is to secure the property without causing avoidable extra damage, while keeping the opening stable until glazing/door repairs can be arranged.

Night-time footfall and opportunistic damage

Around West Ham station and the main walking routes, damage can happen late—anything from attempted entry to random vandalism. When a pane is gone, it becomes an invitation: draught, rain, visibility into the property, and the possibility of someone reaching in to unlock a handle. That’s why we use anti-tamper fixings where appropriate—because a board that can be removed from the outside doesn’t really secure anything.

Weather exposure from the docks-side climate

E13 and neighbouring areas can catch sharp gusts and driving rain. Once an opening is compromised, water can get behind skirtings, into insulation, and around electrics surprisingly quickly. Effective boarding isn’t only about security—it’s also basic weather protection while you sort the next stage.

A typical West Ham call-out (what it can look like)

A typical call-out in West Ham might involve a ground-floor flat where the outer pane has been broken during an attempted burglary early evening. The resident may have taped up the glass, but the frame is still exposed and the window won’t close properly.

On arrival, we would normally:

1. Make the area safe

   • Check for loose shards in the sill and immediate surroundings (inside and out)
   • Confirm nobody is injured and the opening is safe to work around
   • If the frame is unstable, we’ll explain the safest fixing approach before we start

2. Measure and choose the right board

   • For larger or high-risk openings, we typically use 18mm exterior-grade plywood
   • For smaller/low-risk openings, 12mm OSB may be appropriate
     The aim is a secure fit that won’t flex or tear away under pressure.

3. Fix using a method suited to the frame and access

   • Where possible, we use internal bracing/battens so fixings can’t be removed from outside
   • If access is limited (communal areas, awkward reveals, or restricted internal access), we’ll choose the most secure practical method and talk you through it

4. Document the work

   • You can request time-stamped photos, a clear work summary, and an itemised invoice—the sort of paperwork insurers typically ask for
     (We’re not loss adjusters, but we can help you keep your claim paperwork tidy.)

5. Leave the property secure

   • Once boarded, the opening is protected against entry and most weather until repairs are arranged
   • If anything is too damaged for a non-destructive approach, we’ll explain your options before proceeding

This is the difference between “a sheet over a hole” and boarding up that actually helps you sleep that night.

What to do right now in an emergency in West Ham

If you’re dealing with a smashed window, a forced door, or you need to board up a broken window tonight, these steps help keep you safe and protect your claim.

1. If there’s an active break-in or immediate danger, call 999

   • Don’t confront anyone
   • Move to a safer room or a neighbour’s property if needed

2. If the property is unsafe (glass everywhere, door hanging off), keep people away

   • Keep children and pets clear
   • Avoid touching broken glass—use shoes, gloves, and a torch if you must move through the area

3. Take photos if it’s safe

   • Photograph the damage from a couple of angles
   • If items were stolen, photograph the disturbed areas too
     These photos can help later—especially if rain comes in before things are secured.

4. Call us to secure the opening

   • Explain what’s damaged: window/door/shopfront, ground floor or upper floor, and whether you have internal access
   • If you’re near a main road or close to West Ham station, mention it—access and parking can affect how we approach the job
   • We’ll advise what to do while you wait, and give a realistic ETA

5. Contact your insurer as soon as practical

   • Keep any crime reference number if the police attended
   • Ask your insurer what documentation they want for emergency works
     We can provide an invoice and supporting notes/photos on request.

6. Basic “make safe” while waiting (only if safe)

   • Close curtains/blinds to reduce visibility into the property
   • If you can, isolate the room and keep valuables out of sight
     Avoid DIY boarding from the outside—poorly fixed boards can be pulled off quickly.

If you need out of hours help to secure the property, call: 020 4634 6384.

Our local coverage around West Ham

We cover West Ham (E13) and also operate across E15 when overflow risk crosses the boundary (for example, where the nearest access route or the property layout makes that the practical approach).

Nearby areas we regularly attend include:

• Boarding up Plaistow (E13)
• Boarding up Stratford (E7)
• Boarding up Canning Town (E16)

If you’re on or near Barking Road or close to West Ham station, tell us when you call—those details help us plan access and get the right materials to you first time.

West Ham boarding up FAQs (E13)

Can you board up a shopfront on Barking Road without shutting the whole premises?

Often, yes—especially if only part of the frontage is damaged. The key is managing safety (glass, passers-by) and securing the opening properly. When you call, tell us whether the unit is trading, whether there’s an internal shutter, and what the damage looks like so we can plan the safest way to shopfront boarded up work.

I’m in E13 near West Ham station—will you work out of hours?

Yes. We provide 24/7 boarding up for West Ham and E13, including evenings, nights, and weekends. We can’t guarantee a fixed arrival time because traffic and workload vary, but we’ll give a realistic ETA on the phone and prioritise exposed properties.

Can you “make safe” if the window frame is cracked or the brickwork is loose?

Usually, but the method may change. If the surround is too weak for standard fixings, we may need to use bracing or alternative fixing points. If something looks structurally unsafe, we’ll explain what we can do immediately and what may need a builder/glazier afterwards.

What if my flat is in a block and the damage is in a communal area?

We can often still help, but access matters. If you can contact the managing agent or concierge (if there is one), it speeds things up. Tell us whether the opening is on a stairwell/landing, and whether you can provide access to the internal side—secure boarding is easier when we can fix from inside.

Can you board up an upstairs window in West Ham?

Yes, depending on safe access. For upper floors we’ll assess what’s required (for example, whether access can be safely achieved from inside, or whether specialist access is needed). If it’s not safe to proceed, we’ll be honest about that and discuss alternatives to secure the property.

Do I need to clean up the glass before you arrive?

No—don’t put yourself at risk. If you can safely clear a path to stop injuries, do so carefully, but it’s fine to leave it. Our priority is to make safe and secure property so the situation can’t get worse overnight.

Will boarding up stop rain coming in completely?

Boarding significantly reduces weather ingress, but no temporary solution is the same as a proper replacement window/door. We fit boards to cover the vulnerable area and minimise exposure; if you’ve had wind-driven rain, you may still want to ventilate and dry the room once it’s secure.

I need documentation for insurance—what will I receive?

If requested, we can provide an itemised invoice, a work summary, and time-stamped photos showing the opening before/after. Keep your police reference number (if applicable) and any insurer instructions—good paperwork often makes the claim process smoother.

Call now for boarding up in West Ham (E13)

If you need emergency boarding up in West Ham—whether it’s a board up door, a smashed window, or you need the building secured out of hours—call us now.

Need help now? Call 020 4634 6384. If you can’t stay on the line, ask for a callback and we’ll return your call as soon as possible.