Boarding Up After Accident Damage in Milton Keynes (MK)

Accident damage can happen in seconds: a vehicle reverses into a wall, a delivery trolley goes through a glazed door, or a ladder slips and takes out a window. Whatever the cause, you’re left with an exposed opening, broken glass, and a property that may be unsafe to occupy or leave unattended.

We provide emergency boarding up in Milton Keynes and across MK postcodes (MK1–MK77) to help you make safe the scene and secure the property until permanent repairs are arranged. If you need urgent help now, call 01908 024 702 and we’ll give you a realistic ETA over the phone.

When accident damage usually happens (and why it needs dealing with quickly)

“Accident damage” covers a wide range of incidents. In Milton Keynes, we commonly get calls after:

• Vehicle impact: cars clipping boundary walls, hitting garage doors, or striking shopfront glazing (often from low-speed manoeuvres)
• Accidental breakage: a smashed window during DIY, a kicked-through panel, or damage caused during moving in/out
• Commercial knocks: impact from deliveries, pallet trucks, or equipment against glass doors and ground-floor windows
• Falling debris: tiles, branches, or loose materials cracking glazing or damaging frames during high winds (where the incident itself is an “accident”, even if weather contributed)

Even if the opening looks “not too bad”, it can quickly become a bigger problem:

• Security risk: a cracked or missing pane can turn into an easy entry point.
• Weather risk: wind and rain can cause further internal damage, especially overnight.
• Safety risk: unstable glass and sharp edges can injure occupants, staff, or passers-by.
• Insurance complications: insurers usually expect reasonable steps to prevent further loss—temporary boarding is often part of that.

If you need to board up a broken window or board up a door after impact, we can attend and secure it, including out of hours when the incident happens at the worst possible time.

First steps after an accident (before we arrive)

If you’ve had a collision or impact at your property, these steps help keep everyone safe and support any insurance claim:

1. Check for injuries and call emergency services if needed. Safety comes first.
2. Keep people away from broken glass and unstable frames. Don’t attempt to remove large shards from a frame if it could collapse.
3. If there’s a road traffic incident, get the relevant reference details. Police incident number (if attended), driver details, and photos—only if safe.
4. Take a few clear photos of the damage and the surrounding area before anything is moved (again, only if safe).
5. Call us to make the property safe. Call 01908 024 702

We’re not loss adjusters and we can’t advise on liability, but we can provide the practical documentation insurers typically ask for (see “What you get” below).

How we secure properties after accident damage (our make-safe process)

Every accident is different, but the goal is always the same: stabilise the opening, reduce risk, and secure the property until a glazier, door engineer, roofer, or builder completes permanent repairs.

1) We assess the opening and any frame movement

On arrival we’ll look at:

• Whether the frame is intact enough to board non-destructively
• Whether the surrounding structure looks compromised (e.g., impact has shifted the frame or damaged the reveal)
• The type of opening: window, door, shopfront, or overhead glazing
• Risks to the public (especially for ground-floor commercial frontage)

If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain the options before proceeding.

2) We choose the right boarding method and material

We typically use:

• 18mm exterior-grade plywood for robust security and better resistance to wet weather
• 12mm OSB for smaller openings or where a lighter board is appropriate

Fixing methods vary depending on what we’re securing, but may include:

• Through-fix with bolts and spreader plates/battens to reduce the chance of the board being pulled free
• Anti-tamper fixings where there’s a higher security need (important if the property will be unattended)
• A neat, measured fit to reduce gaps, rattling, and water ingress

If it’s a smashed window, we’ll usually board externally (where accessible and safe). For some layouts—like shared access areas—we may recommend an internal board as well, depending on the risk.

3) We “make safe” broken glazing as part of securing

Boarding up isn’t just putting a sheet over a hole. Accident scenes often have:

• Loose glass in the frame
• Beading hanging off
• Jagged edges around a door or shopfront

Where safe and appropriate, we’ll remove immediate hazards and secure what remains so the opening can be boarded properly. If specialist glazing removal is required (or if the structure is unstable), we’ll prioritise safe containment and clear advice.

4) We finish with checks and documentation

Before leaving, we check:

• Boards are firmly fixed and not flexing
• The opening is sealed as well as reasonably possible for a temporary measure
• Entry points are secured and the property can be locked up

For many customers—especially landlords, managing agents, and shop owners—proof matters. We can provide:

• Time-stamped photos of the boarded opening
• Itemised invoice and a clear description of works completed
• Notes on any limitations we observed (e.g., frame damage that needs a joiner/builder)

If you also need a longer-term solution because repairs will take time, we can discuss temporary steel doors and security screens for vulnerable openings.

Common accident scenarios we handle in Milton Keynes (and what we do)

Vehicle impact to a front window or door

This often leaves a wide opening at ground level—high risk if the property will be left overnight. We can secure property access quickly with strong boards and appropriate fixings. If a doorway can’t be locked due to damage, we may recommend a temporary door solution via door boarding in Milton Keynes.

Smashed patio/ground-floor window at a home

Even a single broken pane can be enough for someone to reach in and unlock a door. We’ll board up broken window openings using exterior-grade board and anti-tamper fixings where appropriate. See window boarding in Milton Keynes.

Commercial glazing damage during deliveries

For businesses, the priority is safety, liability, and getting closed up properly at the end of trading. If the frontage is damaged, we can get the shopfront boarded up as a temporary measure and leave it ready for glazing contractors. See shopfront boarding in Milton Keynes.

Rooflight or skylight damage from a fall/impact

Overhead damage can let in significant rain and create an internal slip/electrical hazard. If access is safe and appropriate, we can secure the opening and help prevent further water ingress. See roof boarding in Milton Keynes.

A typical call-out: accident damage make-safe (what it can look like)

A typical call-out might involve a late-evening report of an impact to a ground-floor window at a residential property in an MK postcode. The glass is gone, the frame is still mostly sound, and the property owner is worried about leaving it overnight.

After confirming details on the phone and giving a realistic ETA, we’d arrive to assess whether the frame can take a secure fixing without causing further damage. We’d measure the opening, cut 18mm exterior-grade plywood to suit, and fix it using a method designed to prevent the board being removed from outside. If there are sharp remnants of glass or loose beading, we’ll address immediate hazards where it’s safe to do so, then complete the boarding.

Before leaving, we’d take time-stamped photos and provide an invoice/work statement suitable for most insurance claims—so the customer can arrange a glazier or joiner for permanent repairs with the property protected in the meantime.

What if the door or frame is too damaged?

Accidents don’t always leave neat openings. If a door is split, a frame is twisted, or a shopfront has lost structural integrity, standard boarding may not be the safest or most secure option on its own.

In these cases, we’ll talk you through the practical next step, which may include:

• Boarding in a way that reduces further damage while still securing the opening
• Installing a temporary secure access solution (where appropriate)
• Advising you to involve a builder/structural professional if the surrounding wall or lintel appears compromised

We’ll always prioritise safety and clarity—no pressure, no confusing upsell.

Insurance and accident damage: what helps your claim

After an accident, insurers often want evidence that you took reasonable steps to prevent more damage.

Helpful actions include:

• Keep any police incident number or reference details (if applicable)
• Take photos before work starts (only if it’s safe)
• Record what was damaged and when you noticed it
• Keep receipts/invoices for the temporary works

We can provide documentation and photos to support your claim. For practical guidance, see insurance claims help. (We’re not loss adjusters, but we know what paperwork usually helps.)

Which service do you need after accident damage?

Most accident-damage call-outs in Milton Keynes fall into one of these:

• Windows: window boarding in Milton Keynes for a broken or vulnerable pane
• Doors/entries: door boarding in Milton Keynes when a door can’t be secured normally
• Commercial fronts: shopfront boarding in Milton Keynes when glazing is damaged at street level
• Rooflights/skylights: roof boarding in Milton Keynes for overhead openings

If you’re not sure, call 01908 024 702 and describe what’s happened—we’ll point you to the safest option and give you a realistic ETA.

What to expect when you call us

When you ring, we’ll ask a few quick questions to understand the risk and arrive prepared:

• Is anyone injured or is emergency response ongoing?
• What’s damaged: window, door, shopfront, rooflight?
• Is the opening accessible from the outside?
• Is the property occupied or vacant?
• Are there any immediate hazards (glass on public walkway, exposed electrics, etc.)?

We prioritise urgent jobs and aim to attend as quickly as possible, including out of hours. We don’t promise fixed arrival times—traffic and workload vary—but we will give you a realistic ETA on the phone and keep things straightforward.

If you need urgent help tonight, see emergency boarding up.

FAQs: Boarding up after accident damage in Milton Keynes

Can you board up a smashed window the same day?

Often, yes. We prioritise urgent calls and aim to attend as quickly as possible. Call 01908 024 702 and we’ll tell you a realistic ETA based on current workload.

Do you handle accident damage for shops and commercial units?

Yes. If your frontage glazing is damaged, we can arrange a shopfront boarded up make-safe so you can close securely and reduce risk to staff and customers. See shopfront boarding in Milton Keynes.

Can you secure a door that won’t close after impact?

Yes—this is a common outcome of accident damage. We can board up door openings and advise if a temporary secure access option is more appropriate. Start here: door boarding in Milton Keynes.

What materials do you use for temporary boarding?

Typically 18mm exterior-grade plywood for most security-critical openings, and 12mm OSB for smaller or lower-risk areas. The choice depends on the opening size, location, and whether the property will be unattended.

Will boarding up stop rain getting in?

Boarding significantly reduces exposure, but it’s a temporary measure—not a permanent weatherproofing system. We fit boards neatly and securely to minimise gaps, and we’ll be honest if the surrounding frame/wall damage limits how sealed it can be.

Is boarding up covered by insurance after an accident?

Often it can be, but cover depends on your policy and circumstances. We can provide photos and an itemised invoice to support a claim. See insurance claims help.

What if the frame or wall is structurally damaged?

If the impact has shifted the frame or damaged the surrounding structure, we’ll focus on making the area safe and securing what we reasonably can. If we believe a builder or structural professional is needed, we’ll tell you—before any work that could worsen the damage.

Do you cover my area in the MK region?

Yes—our team covers Milton Keynes and the wider MK postcodes (MK1–MK77). For local coverage details, see areas we cover.

Need help after accident damage?

If you need emergency boarding up after impact or accidental breakage, we’re here to help you make safe, secure property, and arrange temporary boarding that stands up until repairs are completed.

Need help now? Call 01908 024 702 for immediate assistance.
Or email: info@boarding-up-milton-keynes.co.uk.