Insurance Claims for Boarding Up in Woking (GU21–GU24)

If you’re dealing with a burglary, smashed window, storm damage, or fire and you need to claim on insurance, we can help by securing the property quickly and providing the documentation your insurer will expect. We work across Woking and the GU21–GU24 postcode districts, 24/7. We’re fully insured, have 10+ years’ trading history, and our technicians are DBS-checked.

If you need immediate help, please call 01483 694 663. For urgent out-of-hours incidents, visit emergency boarding up.

What We Provide for Insurance Claims

Insurers typically need clear evidence of the incident and the work completed to make the property safe. After we secure your window, door, shopfront or roof, you’ll receive:

  • Time-stamped photos of damage before and after boarding
  • An itemised invoice with labour, materials (e.g., 18mm exterior-grade plywood, anti-tamper fixings), and access requirements
  • A concise work statement describing the issue, location, and method used to make safe
  • Optional attendance note, including time on site and any liaison with police or fire service
  • Our company details: trading name, address, VAT (if applicable), and insurance details upon request

We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisors, but our paperwork is designed to support most home, landlord, and commercial policies. For more on our approach, see our FAQs and how we handle burglary repairs, storm damage, and fire damage.

How the Insurance-Backed Boarding-Up Process Works

  1. Call us on 01483 694 663. We’ll ask a few quick questions about the incident, property type, and access.
  2. If it’s safe, take a few photos before we arrive. Keep glass fragments away from walkways and pets.
  3. We attend as quickly as possible. We don’t guarantee fixed times, but we prioritise urgent calls and give a realistic ETA over the phone.
  4. On site, we assess the opening, measure accurately, and select suitable materials:
    • 18mm exterior-grade plywood for doors, shopfronts, and larger windows
    • 12mm OSB for smaller openings where appropriate
    • Anti-tamper fixings so panels can’t be removed from outside
    • Temporary steel doors where door leaves/frames are compromised
  5. We make safe, weatherproof if needed, and ensure no sharp hazards remain.
  6. You receive time-stamped photos and an itemised invoice via email, ready to forward to your insurer. We can also note your police reference number on the paperwork.
  7. If longer-term security is needed (vacant or void property), we’ll discuss options such as temporary steel doors and screens and vacant property solutions.

For a deeper look at the technical side of the work, see what boarding up is and our service pages for window boarding, door boarding, shopfront boarding, and roof boarding.

What Insurers Typically Expect

Every insurer has their own process, but in Woking and the GU21–GU24 area we commonly see the following requirements:

  • Policyholder details and policy number
  • Incident description and date/time (e.g., “smashed window after attempted burglary”)
  • Police reference number for criminal incidents
  • Evidence of damage (photos and/or video)
  • Proof of emergency works to secure property (our itemised invoice and work statement)
  • Follow-up quotes for permanent repair or reglazing (we don’t reglaze; your insurer may send their own contractor or ask you to obtain quotes)

We provide timely, clear documentation so your claim can progress. If you’re unsure what your insurer needs, ask them directly, then tell us—we’ll tailor our statement where possible.

What You Should Do After Damage (Step-by-Step)

  • Stay safe. If you suspect an intruder or smell gas/smoke, move to a safe location and call the emergency services first.
  • For break-ins or vandalism, report to police and keep the reference number.
  • Take a few clear photos before any clean-up, if safe to do so.
  • Call us to secure the property. We can attend out of hours to board up a broken window or door.
  • Contact your insurer as soon as you can. Confirm whether your policy covers emergency boarding up and how to submit documents.
  • Keep receipts and all communications. We email itemised invoices and photos for easy forwarding.

Materials and Methods Insurers Recognise

We use methods aligned with common insurance expectations for temporary security:

  • Exterior-grade plywood (typically 18mm) for strength and weather resistance
  • 12mm OSB for smaller openings where proportionate
  • Anti-tamper coach bolts or security screws to prevent removal from outside—crucial if the property will be unattended
  • Backing battens where frames are too damaged to take direct fixings without risk of further harm
  • Temporary steel door sets when a door leaf/frame is compromised or repeated access is needed
  • Weatherproofing measures around roof or skylight boarding when storms are involved

If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain options and seek your approval before proceeding. Our aim is to balance security, structural integrity, and future repair needs.

Common Claim Scenarios in Woking (GU21–GU24)

We regularly support claims across residential, commercial, and vacant properties in Woking and surrounding districts:

  • Burglary or attempted break-in with a smashed back door panel or forced lock
  • Shopfront impact or vandalism after hours—front glazing cracked or shattered
  • Storm damage: fallen branches, wind-blown debris through an upstairs window or roof light
  • Fire damage: windows weakened or removed by fire crews to ventilate—property left exposed
  • Flood-related swelling: frames won’t close, requiring temporary boarding to secure

If this sounds like your situation, our situations hub explains what happens next, and our property types pages cover residential, commercial, and vacant property considerations.

Costs and Payment for Insurance Jobs

We’re transparent about costs and what affects them. We don’t publish fixed prices because every incident differs, but typical cost factors include:

  • Size and number of openings to board
  • Material type and thickness (e.g., 18mm plywood vs 12mm OSB)
  • Access complexity (upper floors, restricted access, obstacles)
  • Out-of-hours attendance
  • Additional security (temporary steel doors, extra fixings)
  • Travel and time on site

You can learn more on our pricing page. For insurance claims, most customers pay us directly and reclaim from their insurer using our invoice and photos. If your insurer has a specific process, we’ll follow it where practical.

Documentation You’ll Receive

After the make-safe works, we typically send:

  • Email with time-stamped before-and-after photos
  • Itemised invoice listing labour, materials, and any specialist kit
  • Work statement summarising the incident and what we did to make safe
  • Company details and proof of insurance on request

Need something specific for your claim? Let us know on the call and we’ll accommodate where possible.

  • Established locally: 10+ years covering Woking and GU21–GU24
  • 24/7 attendance for emergencies and out of hours
  • Fully insured, DBS-checked technicians
  • Correct materials and anti-tamper fixings as standard
  • Clear documentation designed to support insurance claims
  • Practical, honest advice—no overpromises on ETAs, just a realistic plan

Read what local customers say on our reviews page, and see our areas we cover for neighbourhood details including Horsell, Knaphill, Goldsworth Park, Old Woking, and more.

FAQs: Insurance and Boarding Up in Woking

Is emergency boarding up covered by insurance?

Often yes, especially for incidents like burglary, vandalism, storm or fire. Policies vary—call your insurer to confirm. We provide the itemised invoice and photos they usually require.

Can you include my police reference number on the invoice?

Yes. Share it when you book and we’ll note it on the documentation we send after the make-safe.

Do you invoice the insurer directly?

Most customers pay us and reclaim. If your insurer needs something specific—like a particular reference on the invoice—tell us and we’ll add it where feasible.

What if the insurer wants quotes for permanent glazing repairs?

We focus on securing the property. Your insurer may send their own contractor for reglazing or ask you to obtain quotes. Our documentation supports the emergency stage.

We’re a shop in Woking town—can you provide a same-day board for a smashed shopfront and receipts for insurance?

Yes. We regularly handle shopfront boarding same day or out of hours. You’ll receive time-stamped photos and an itemised invoice for your insurer.

Will anti-tamper fixings and 18mm plywood meet insurer requirements?

Insurers don’t usually specify exact fixings, but they expect robust, non-removable boards. We use anti-tamper fixings and suitable-grade materials as standard.

My rented flat in GU21 was broken into—can you send paperwork suitable for a landlord insurance claim?

Yes. Our documents suit landlord and residential policies. See residential properties and burglary repairs for what to expect.

Do you attend out of hours and provide documentation the same night?

We attend out of hours for emergencies. Photos are taken on site; invoices and documentation follow promptly by email—often the same night or first thing next day depending on workload.

Next Steps

Need help now? Call 01483 694 663 for immediate assistance.