Insurance Claims Support for Boarding Up in Milton Keynes (MK)

When a window is smashed, a door is forced, or a shopfront is damaged, insurance is often the next worry—right after making the property safe. We work with homeowners, landlords and businesses across Milton Keynes and the wider MK postcodes (MK1–MK77), providing emergency boarding up and the paperwork insurers typically ask for.

We’re not loss adjusters and we can’t advise on policy wording. What we can do is secure the property properly, document what we’ve done, and give you clear, itemised information to help your claim move along.

Need urgent help first? Call 01908 024 702 — we prioritise emergency boarding up and we’ll give you a realistic ETA on the phone. If it’s not urgent, you can also email us.

When to involve your insurer (and when to call us first)

In most real-world situations, the order matters:

If there’s danger or a crime in progress, call 999. If it’s safe but you need a record, call 101.
If the property is insecure, call us to make safe. A smashed window or broken door shouldn’t be left overnight.
Contact your insurer as soon as practical and tell them you’ve arranged emergency works to prevent further loss.

Insurers generally expect you to take “reasonable steps” to prevent additional damage (weather ingress, repeat entry, vandalism). Emergency boarding up is usually viewed as that immediate risk-control step.

If you need urgent attendance, go straight to our emergency boarding up page and call 01908 024 702.

What insurers typically need after emergency boarding up

Every insurer is slightly different, but most claims handlers ask for clear evidence and traceable costs. As part of our standard process, we can provide:

Itemised invoice showing labour and materials used (e.g., board thickness, fixings)
Work description / make-safe statement explaining what was secured and why
Time-stamped photos (where possible) of the damaged opening and completed boarding
Company details and insurance confirmation on request (we’re fully insured)
Notes on access and risks (e.g., unsafe frames, high-level work constraints)

If you tell us at the time of booking that it’s an insurance-related call-out, we’ll make sure the documentation is suitable for submission.

For a clearer overview of what boarding up is (and what it isn’t), see what boarding up is.

Our documentation process (what you’ll actually receive)

People often assume boarding up is “just a sheet of wood and a few screws”. In practice, insurers want to see that the property was secured competently and proportionately. We focus on a neat, defensible job that stands up to scrutiny.

Photos: before and after (when safe to take)

If it’s safe, our technicians will take photos that show:

The opening and the surrounding frame
Any obvious forced-entry points (e.g., lock side, hinge side)
The completed boarding from outside (and sometimes inside if accessible)

If the area is unsafe (loose glass, unstable frame, exposed electrics), we’ll prioritise make safe work and photograph what we can afterwards.

Itemised invoices, not vague totals

Your invoice will typically set out:

Call-out / attendance
Labour time on site
Materials used (e.g., 18mm exterior-grade plywood for most window/door openings; 12mm OSB can be appropriate for smaller/low-risk areas)
Fixings (including anti-tamper fixings when required)

Anti-tamper fixings matter because they reduce the chance someone can remove the board from outside—particularly relevant if the property will be unattended.

Work statement suitable for claims handlers

We can include a short statement such as:

What happened (as reported to us)
What was insecure
What method we used to secure it
Any limitations we encountered (for example, “frame too damaged for non-destructive fixings”)

Where we have to take a more invasive approach because the structure is compromised, we’ll explain options before proceeding.

Boarding methods insurers expect to see (and why)

We choose the method based on safety, opening size, footfall and whether the building will be occupied.

Windows: board up a broken window properly

A common insurance scenario is a smashed window after burglary, vandalism or an accident. Our goal is to board up broken window openings to prevent entry and weather damage.

Depending on the window type and condition, we may:

Fix boards into sound masonry/timber around the reveal using appropriate fixings
Use internal bracing to avoid damaging frames where possible
Seal edges where needed to reduce draughts and water ingress (temporary, not a permanent “repair”)

More detail is on our window boarding in Milton Keynes page.

Doors: board up door openings or fit a temporary steel door

If the door is split, the lock area is destroyed, or the frame is compromised, simply boarding the leaf may not be the best long-term option—especially for homes or active sites that need controlled access.

For higher-risk or longer-duration jobs we may recommend a temporary steel door, which provides:

A lockable, solid barrier
More practical access than repeated boarding removal
Better deterrence for vacant properties

Read more about door boarding in Milton Keynes.

Shopfronts: retail claims and out-of-hours securing

Commercial claims often involve larger glazing panels and higher visibility. We can arrange shopfront boarded up solutions that are tidy, secure, and suitable for high-footfall areas while you organise replacement glazing.

See shopfront boarding.

What to do right now (helpful steps that won’t harm your claim)

If you’re dealing with a break-in, storm damage, or impact damage in Milton Keynes, these steps usually help:

Take a few photos of the damage before anything is moved (only if safe).
Keep your crime reference number if the police attended (or if you report it later).
Prevent further damage: move valuables away from the opening and keep people clear of glass.
Call us to secure property access points so the building can’t be entered easily.
Notify your insurer and provide our invoice/photos when requested.

If the damage follows a specific event, you may find these guides useful:

Will insurance cover boarding up?

Many policies include cover for emergency repairs or “make safe” work—especially following burglary, vandalism, storm damage or accidental impact. However:

Cover depends on your policy wording, excess, and claim circumstances
Some insurers require you to use their preferred contractor (others don’t)
Some will reimburse emergency works if costs are reasonable and evidenced

If you’re unsure, call your insurer and ask:

“Is emergency boarding up covered as a make-safe measure?”
“Do you need pre-authorisation?”
“What documents do you require for reimbursement?”

We can’t guarantee what your insurer will pay, but we can ensure the work is documented clearly and priced fairly.

If your insurer wants to speak to us

It’s common for insurers, managing agents, or loss adjusters to request details. If needed, we can provide:

Scope of works carried out
Materials and fixing methods used
Attendance date/time and site notes
Photos of the secured openings

If you want us to liaise, email us at info@boarding-up-milton-keynes.co.uk and include:

The property postcode (e.g., MK6, MK10, MK14)
Your claim reference (if available)
The insurer contact details and what they’re requesting

Common claim scenarios we see across Milton Keynes (MK)

We’ve been trading for 10+ years, and across MK districts the patterns repeat. Typical reasons people call us include:

Burglary: forced doors, kicked panels, broken locks and frames
Vandalism: repeated smashed window incidents on ground-floor glazing
Storm damage: debris impact, roofline damage causing window breakage
Accidents: vehicle impact into a frontage, or accidental internal breakage

In each case, the immediate goal is the same: emergency boarding up to make safe, then clear documentation for the insurer.

FAQs: Insurance claims and boarding up in Milton Keynes

Do you provide receipts/invoices suitable for insurance claims?

Yes. We provide itemised invoices and can supply a short work statement plus time-stamped photos where possible—useful for most insurers processing claims in Milton Keynes and the MK postcodes.

Can you send photos to me or directly to my insurer?

We can send them to you by email, and if you request it, we can also send them to your insurer/agent. We’ll always follow your instructions on who receives what.

Do I need to call my insurer before you attend?

Not always. If the property is insecure, it’s usually better to secure it first and then notify the insurer. If you have time and it’s safe, a quick call to ask about authorisation won’t hurt—but don’t leave a broken opening overnight while waiting on hold.

Will you board up tonight or out of hours?

We provide 24/7 boarding up across Milton Keynes and MK. We don’t promise fixed arrival times, but we prioritise urgent calls and will give a realistic ETA when you call. For urgent help, use emergency boarding up.

My insurer says they only pay for “temporary repairs”. Does boarding up count?

Boarding up is a standard temporary repair/make-safe measure because it prevents further loss and reduces risk of re-entry. It’s not a permanent replacement for glazing/doors, but it’s an accepted stop-gap.

What if the frame is too damaged to fix boards neatly?

If the surrounding frame/masonry is unstable or too rotten/split to hold fixings safely, we’ll explain the options before proceeding. That may include different fixing points, internal bracing, or (for doors) recommending a more secure temporary solution.

Are you insured and are your technicians vetted?

Yes—we’re fully insured, and our technicians are DBS-checked. If your insurer requests proof of insurance, ask us and we’ll provide what’s appropriate.

Can you help with glazing replacement as part of the claim?

Our focus is securing and make-safe boarding. We can stabilise the situation so you can arrange glazing/repairs via your preferred contractor or insurer pathway.

Next steps: secure the property and keep your claim moving

If you need to secure property access points after damage anywhere in Milton Keynes or the MK postcodes, we can help with temporary boarding and the insurer-friendly documentation that usually follows.

Ready to get started? Call 01908 024 702 or email us for a free, no-obligation quote.

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