Vandalism Repair in Brighton: Boarding Up & Securing Your Property (BN Postcodes)
Vandalism is upsetting and disruptive—especially when it happens to your home or business overnight, or right before opening hours. If you’re dealing with smashed glass, a kicked-in door panel, or damage around locks and frames, our vandalism repair support focuses on one priority: securing the property fast and properly so you can protect people, stock, and what’s left inside.
Boarding Up Brighton provides vandalism boarding and emergency property securing across Brighton and the wider BN postcode area (BN1–BN88). We’re not glaziers or decorators, and we won’t pretend otherwise—our job is to make the building safe, secure, and weather-resistant until your insurer, landlord, or chosen trades can complete permanent repairs.
If you need urgent help, use our emergency service: emergency boarding up.
Need help now? Call 01273 092 166 for immediate assistance.
What counts as vandalism (and why it needs securing quickly)
Vandalism isn’t always “just a broken window”. In Brighton it often involves:
- Smashed shopfront glazing (thrown objects, attempted break-ins, late-night incidents)
- Cracked or shattered domestic windows (ground-floor flats, rear access points, side returns)
- Damaged doors and frames (kicked panels, forced locks, prised hinges)
- Attacks on communal entrances (blocks of flats with shared doors, buzzers, side lights)
- Rooflights/skylights broken (from thrown items, climbing attempts, or impact damage)
Even when nothing is taken, a compromised opening can quickly lead to bigger problems:
- Opportunist burglary through a now-vulnerable window or door
- Weather ingress (especially on exposed elevations near the seafront)
- Injury risks from broken glass or unstable frames
- Insurance complications if the property is left insecure
If there’s any chance the opening could be accessed from outside, boarding up is usually the sensible next step. If you’re unsure, call and describe what’s happened—photos help if you can safely take them.
Need urgent securing? Call 01273 092 166
First steps after vandalism (before we arrive)
If it’s safe to do so, the following actions make things easier and help with insurance:
- Make sure everyone is safe and keep people away from broken glass and unstable frames.
- Call the police if there’s a crime in progress or evidence of a break-in. Keep your incident or crime reference number.
- Take a few photos from inside and outside (only if safe). These can help both your insurer and our team assess the right approach.
- Don’t disturb evidence if there’s a chance the police may attend.
- Turn off alarms that have triggered (if you can do so safely) and secure pets away from the damaged area.
If you’re a tenant, it’s worth notifying your landlord/managing agent early—many will want to arrange the securing themselves, especially for communal areas.
For other “break-in” circumstances, you may also want: burglary repairs and boarding up.
How we secure vandalised properties in Brighton and the BN area
We tailor the method to the opening, the condition of the surrounding frame, and how long you need the security in place. The goal is always the same: reduce risk, prevent unauthorised access, and protect against weather.
1) Window boarding after vandalism (homes and flats)
For broken or vulnerable windows, we typically use:
- 18mm exterior-grade plywood for most ground-floor and accessible openings
- 12mm OSB for smaller, lower-risk openings where appropriate
Fixing method depends on the window type and the frame condition:
- Non-destructive fixing where possible (using reveals and internal bracing when suitable)
- Anti-tamper fixings where appropriate, particularly if the property will be unattended
- Clearance and ventilation considerations if the room needs airflow (for example after water ingress)
If the surrounding timber or uPVC frame is too damaged to take fixings safely, we’ll talk you through the options before proceeding. Sometimes the “right” answer is a different securing method or a temporary door solution.
Related service: window boarding in Brighton
2) Door boarding and securing entry points
Vandalism to doors often affects:
- Lock areas (cylinders snapped or pulled)
- Door panels (kicked through)
- Hinges and frames (prised, split, or loosened)
Depending on what’s left to secure, we can:
- Board and brace damaged doors to prevent entry
- Secure sidelights and adjacent glazing
- Install a temporary steel door where the doorway is compromised and needs a more robust, medium-term solution (especially for vacant or repeatedly targeted properties)
Related service: door boarding in Brighton
3) Shopfront boarding for retail and hospitality
A smashed shopfront is one of the most stressful scenarios because it affects:
- Safety for staff and customers
- Theft risk (stock is often visible)
- Trading ability and brand perception
We can board up larger commercial openings using appropriately sized sheet materials and fixings designed to resist removal from outside. We’ll also consider practicalities like:
- Keeping a safe access route where possible (so you can enter/exit)
- Protecting sharp edges and unstable glass remains
- Coordinating with your glazier or facilities team for follow-on works
Related service: shopfront boarding in Brighton
4) Rooflights and skylights damaged by vandalism
Roof-level damage can be easy to miss but quick to cause internal harm—water ingress ruins ceilings, electrics, and insulation. If vandalism has broken a rooflight/skylight, we can help with temporary protection and boarding where safe access is possible, then leave clear documentation for insurers and follow-on contractors.
Related service: roof boarding in Brighton
What to expect when you call us
When you contact Boarding Up Brighton, we’ll ask a few practical questions to get the right solution to you:
- What’s been damaged: window, door, shopfront, rooflight?
- Is the property occupied or vacant?
- Is there any immediate hazard (hanging glass, unstable frame, exposed electrics)?
- Can you send photos (if safe)?
- Do you need access maintained (e.g., a shop needing a staff entrance)?
We don’t promise fixed arrival times—traffic around Brighton, lane closures, seafront congestion, and the nature of emergency call-outs can affect scheduling. What we do is prioritise genuine security risks and keep you updated.
If it’s out of hours, go straight to: emergency boarding up
Materials and methods: why we do it this way
Good boarding up isn’t just “putting a board over it”. The method matters—especially if the property will be unattended or has already been targeted.
We focus on:
- Correct thickness and grade of sheet material (strong enough for the risk level)
- Fixings that resist tampering from outside
- Secure bracing where needed for larger openings
- Neat, safe edges to reduce injury risk and improve weather resistance
- Practical access planning (for shops, landlords, and managing agents)
If the opening is irregular (common in older Brighton properties) or the masonry is fragile, we’ll adapt the fixing approach to avoid unnecessary damage.
If you want a plain-English overview, see: what is boarding up?
Documentation for landlords, businesses, and insurance
After vandalism, paperwork becomes important quickly—especially for landlords, commercial premises, and managed buildings.
We can provide:
- Time-stamped photos of the secured openings (before/after where possible)
- An itemised invoice and a clear statement of work completed
- Notes on any constraints encountered (e.g., frame too damaged for non-destructive fixing)
We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisers, but we can give the kind of documentation insurers typically request. More guidance here: insurance claims support.
Common vandalism scenarios we see in Brighton & BN postcodes
Vandalism patterns vary depending on the setting:
- City-centre and night-time economy areas: retail glass and entrances are more exposed, especially late evening into early morning.
- Seafront and promenades: strong winds can turn a “small” broken pane into fast water ingress, and salt air doesn’t do damaged frames any favours.
- Residential streets and communal entrances: door-entry systems and shared doors can be targeted, leaving multiple residents affected.
If your property is vacant between tenants or awaiting sale, consider stronger medium-term protection via vacant property boarding and security.
FAQs about vandalism repair & boarding up in Brighton
Can you board up tonight if my window has been smashed?
Yes—if you need urgent help, use our emergency boarding up service and call 01273 092 166. We’ll ask a few questions to make sure we bring the right materials and fixings.
Do you repair the glass as well?
We secure the opening and make the property safe. Permanent glazing repair, locksmith work, and redecorating are typically handled by your chosen trades or insurer’s contractors. We can work alongside them and leave the site ready for follow-on repairs.
Will boarding up damage my window frame or brickwork?
We aim for non-destructive methods where suitable, but if the surrounding structure is already damaged (common after heavy impacts), some fixings may be unavoidable to make the property secure. If we believe additional damage is likely, we’ll explain your options before proceeding.
Is boarding up covered by insurance after vandalism?
Often it can be, depending on your policy and excess. Keep your crime reference number and photos if possible. We can provide invoices and supporting documentation—see insurance claims support.
I’m a landlord/managing agent—can you secure a communal entrance?
Yes. Communal doors and sidelights are a common call-out. If a longer-term solution is needed, we may recommend a stronger temporary option rather than repeated basic boarding.
Next steps: secure the property and reduce further risk
Vandalism can escalate if an opening is left accessible. If your property has been damaged—whether it’s a flat, house, shopfront, office, or a vacant building—we’ll help you secure it properly and leave you with clear documentation for the next stage.
Need help now? Call 01273 092 166 for immediate assistance.
Or email details/photos (if safe): [email protected]
