Accident damage boarding up in Brighton (BN1–BN88)
Accident damage is one of those problems that turns up without warning: a vehicle clips a wall, a shopfront is hit, a window is cracked by a stray ball, or a door is forced off its hinges during an emergency entry. When it happens, the priority is simple—make the property safe, secure and weather-resistant until proper repairs can be arranged.
Boarding Up Brighton provides accident damage boarding up across Brighton and the wider BN postcode area (BN1–BN88). If you need urgent help, call 01273 092 166. If it’s safe to do so, we’ll talk you through the next steps on the phone and arrange attendance.
What counts as “accident damage” (and why securing matters)
Accident damage isn’t just “broken glass”. It often creates a mix of risks that need dealing with quickly:
- Security risk: a broken window or damaged door can make the property easy to enter, especially overnight or if it’s empty.
- Weather risk: Brighton’s coastal weather can push wind-driven rain straight through a breached opening.
- Safety risk: loose glass, splintered frames, or unstable panels can injure occupants, customers, or passers-by.
- Business interruption: for shops, cafés and offices, an exposed frontage on a busy street can stop you trading.
We’re not structural engineers and we won’t pretend to be. Our job is to secure the opening properly and sensibly, reduce immediate risk, and leave the site in a condition where glazing/door/roof contractors can follow on.
If you need an out-of-hours attendance, see emergency boarding up.
Common accident scenarios we see in Brighton and the BN area
Accident damage in Brighton often reflects the city’s mix of dense streets, older buildings and busy commercial areas. Typical call-outs include:
- Vehicle impact: a car clips a ground-floor bay window in a Victorian terrace (common across BN1/BN2), or reverses into a garage door/side entrance.
- Shopfront damage: an impact to glazing or frames outside a retail unit, leaving a large opening at street level.
- Door damage: a damaged lock or split door leaf after an emergency entry, mistaken address, or accidental breakage.
- Rooflights and skylights: cracked or missing panes after debris falls during high winds.
- Internal accidents with external consequences: for example, a fall into a window that pushes cracked glass outward, or a damaged frame that won’t close properly.
If the incident involved a crime (for example, someone deliberately drove into the premises), you may need our burglary repairs and boarding page as well—many jobs overlap.
What to do first after accident damage (practical steps)
If you’re dealing with the immediate aftermath, keep it simple:
-
Check for injuries and danger
If anyone is hurt, call 999. If there are loose cables, gas smells, or a risk of collapse, keep people back and contact the relevant emergency service. -
Make the area safe (without taking risks)
Keep customers/children/pets away. Don’t try to remove large shards from a frame at height. -
Document the damage if safe
A few photos on your phone can help with insurance and contractors later. If police attended, keep the reference number. -
Call for boarding up
Call 01273 092 166 and tell us:- what’s been damaged (window/door/shopfront/rooflight)
- whether the opening is ground floor or at height
- whether the property is occupied or vacant
- any access issues (gated alleyway, rear access, basement area)
If you’re managing a site for a landlord, agent or facilities team, we can provide clear work notes and documentation for handover.
How we secure properties after accident damage
Every property is different, but the goal is consistent: secure the opening against entry and weather while avoiding unnecessary further damage.
Step 1: Quick assessment on arrival
We’ll look at:
- The size and shape of the opening
- The condition of the surrounding frame (timber, uPVC, aluminium, masonry)
- Whether there are loose fragments that need making safe
- Any secondary risks (exposed latch points, damaged hinges, partial collapse)
If the frame is too compromised for a non-destructive fix, we’ll explain the options before proceeding. Sometimes the “best” security solution requires fixing into sound structure rather than fragile frames.
Step 2: Choosing the right material: plywood vs OSB (and when it matters)
We typically use:
- 18mm exterior-grade plywood for larger openings and where a stronger, more rigid panel is needed (common for shopfronts and big windows).
- 12mm OSB for smaller openings or where a practical, cost-effective board is appropriate.
We won’t overspec for the sake of it. We’ll use the right material for the exposure level, opening size and how long it needs to stay in place.
To learn more about methods and what “boarding up” actually means in practice, see what is boarding up?.
Step 3: Fixing methods that prioritise security
Where possible, we use anti-tamper fixings and methods designed to reduce the chance of removal from the outside—particularly important if the property will be unattended.
Depending on the substrate and access, this might include:
- Through-bolting with internal spreader plates/battens (common for windows)
- Secure screw fixing into sound timber or masonry (where appropriate)
- Boarding to match the reveal to reduce pry points
We’ll always balance security with the need for later repair work—no one wants a temporary fix that makes the glazier’s job harder than it needs to be.
Step 4: Weatherproofing and finishing
Accident damage often leaves awkward gaps. We’ll aim to minimise draughts and water ingress, while keeping ventilation considerations in mind (especially if the property has been wet).
If the opening is overhead, see roof boarding in Brighton—rooflights and skylights often need a different approach for safe access and weather resistance.
Step 5: Leaving you with documentation you can use
After the job, customers typically need to pass information to insurers, landlords, managing agents or repair contractors. We can provide:
- Time-stamped photos of the secured opening
- An itemised invoice
- A brief work statement describing materials and fixing method used
We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisers, but we can provide the sort of documentation insurers commonly request. More guidance is on our insurance claims help page.
Which boarding-up service is right after an accident?
Accident damage can affect different parts of a building. These are the most common solutions we provide.
Window boarding after accidental breakage
From smashed panes to cracked units that are no longer secure, we board windows to deter entry and protect the interior.
Read more about window boarding in Brighton.
Door boarding and temporary security
If a door won’t close, has split around the lock, or has been forced off line, boarding may be the safest immediate step. Where appropriate, we can discuss stronger temporary solutions for repeated access needs.
See door boarding in Brighton.
Shopfront boarding after impact
Retail glazing and aluminium frames can fail in a way that leaves a large, street-facing opening. We can board up to help you secure the premises and stabilise the situation while you arrange replacement glazing.
See shopfront boarding in Brighton.
Rooflight / skylight boarding
Accidents don’t just happen at ground level—debris impact and falls can break rooflights, leaving a direct route for rain and an obvious security vulnerability.
See roof boarding in Brighton.
Realistic example: accidental impact to a ground-floor frontage
A typical job we’re called to in Brighton is a ground-floor pane damaged by an impact, leaving jagged glass and an opening close to the pavement. The immediate concern is public safety and preventing access after closing time.
On arrival, we’ll first check what’s loose and what can be made safe without turning a bad situation into a worse one. We then measure and cut board to suit, fix it with security in mind (especially on street-facing elevations), and take photos for your records. If the frame is too distorted to take fixings safely, we’ll explain the most secure alternative and proceed only once you’re happy.
Accident damage for landlords, agents and facilities managers
If you’re arranging boarding up for a tenant, a vacant property, or a commercial site, we can work in a way that supports your process:
- Clear confirmation of what was secured (and how)
- Photos suitable for contractor handover
- Paperwork that helps with internal approvals and insurance notifications
For properties that are empty between tenancies, you may also want to look at vacant property boarding up rather than a short-term domestic-style fix.
FAQs about accident damage boarding up in Brighton
Can you board up tonight if the damage happens out of hours?
Yes—call 01273 092 166 and we’ll advise. We don’t promise fixed arrival times because conditions and workload vary, but we prioritise urgent security risks. For more information, see emergency boarding up.
Do I need to contact my insurer before you board up?
Not usually. If the property is insecure, it’s often better to secure it promptly and then notify your insurer as soon as practical. If it’s safe, take photos first. We can provide an invoice and supporting photos—see insurance claims support.
Will boarding up damage my window or door frame further?
We aim to avoid unnecessary damage and choose fixing points carefully. That said, if the surrounding frame is already weak or fractured, any secure fixing can be limited. If we think a non-destructive method won’t hold, we’ll explain options before proceeding.
How long can the boards stay in place?
It depends on exposure, opening size and how the boards are fixed. Boarding is a temporary security measure—ideal while you arrange glazing, joinery or building repairs. If you need a longer-term solution for an empty site, tell us when you call so we can advise on the most suitable approach.
Can you help if the property is a shop or restaurant?
Yes. We regularly secure commercial premises, including street-facing openings and larger panels. Start with shopfront boarding in Brighton and call us with the details.
Next steps: secure the property and reduce risk
Accident damage is stressful, but the next action is usually clear: secure the opening, keep people safe, and prevent the problem escalating overnight.
Need help now? Call 01273 092 166 for immediate assistance.
Or email details and photos (if safe to take) to [email protected].
