Roof Boarding in Crawley (RH10 & RH11)

When wind, impact or fire damage leaves a hole in your roof, you need to make the property safe and watertight quickly. Our roof boarding service across Crawley—RH10 and RH11—secures damaged roofs, skylights and rooflights so you can prevent further water ingress, deter unauthorised entry and stabilise the situation until permanent repairs are completed.

We prioritise emergency calls and attend as quickly as workload and conditions allow. For urgent help now, call 01293 699 986. We’re available 24/7, fully insured, and our technicians are DBS-checked.

• Need immediate help? Visit our emergency boarding up page
• Want to understand costs? See our transparent pricing guide
• Making an insurance claim? Read our insurance claims support

When You Need Roof Boarding

A damaged roof escalates fast. Even a small opening can let in significant rain and wind, leading to soaked insulation, ceiling collapse, electrical hazards and mould. We commonly provide emergency roof boarding in Crawley after:

• Storm damage: lifted tiles, torn felt, dislodged ridge tiles and fallen branches
• Impact: fallen trees, scaffolding accidents, or debris from nearby works
• Fire: fire service cut-outs, heat-damaged coverings, brittle glazing on rooflights
• Vandalism or break-in: forced entry via flat roofs or skylights
• Accidental damage: trades access mishaps or slipped skylight panes

If it’s safe to do so, take a few photos of the damage from ground level. Then call us on 01293 699 986. We’ll give you a realistic ETA and explain what to expect on arrival.

What Our Roof Boarding Service Includes

We secure pitched and flat roof openings of all sizes, from small skylight failures to large hole coverings after a storm. Our approach is practical, methodical and focused on safety and weatherproofing.

• Initial assessment from ground level and (if safe) roof edge/loft/attic
• Risk assessment and method planning (access route, edge protection)
• Temporary weatherproofing: sheeting or tarpaulin where appropriate
• Structural check of surrounding timbers and coverings
• Roof boarding with 18mm exterior-grade plywood (typical) or 12–18mm OSB depending on span and load considerations
• Anti-tamper or coach fixings, battens and bracing as needed
• Perimeter sealing to reduce water ingress (temporary sealants/flashings)
• Photos of before/after and an itemised invoice for insurers

If we find the frame or rafters are too compromised for standard fixings, we’ll explain your options before proceeding—this may include additional bracing, spanning to sound timbers, or a mixed solution of boarding plus heavy-duty sheeting.

Materials & Methods We Trust

Using the right materials matters. Our choices balance strength, weather resistance, and removal practicality for repair contractors later.

• 18mm exterior-grade plywood: our default for larger spans and exposed openings
• 12mm–15mm OSB3: suitable for smaller openings, rooflights and where weight reduction helps
• Treated battens: create a firm fixing plane and prevent board flex
• Anti-tamper fixings: prevent removal from outside—important for unattended properties
• Coach screws/bolts with penny washers: secure into rafters or noggins without crushing
• Temporary flashings/tape systems: protect edges and overlaps from wind-driven rain
• Heavy-duty tarpaulin/reinforced sheeting: where full-coverage weatherproofing is needed before boarding, or to complement boarding on complex shapes
• Edge protection: roof ladders, harness anchor points and standoff systems where appropriate

Why these methods? Roof openings are exposed to wind uplift and standing water. Using exterior-grade boards, wide washers and solid fixing points reduces the risk of board movement. Sealed perimeters and correctly overlapped sheeting limit water tracking under temporary coverings.

How Roof Boarding Works: Step by Step

1. Call us on 01293 699 986 or use our contact form. We’ll ask a few quick questions (location in RH10 or RH11, roof type, access, cause of damage).
2. We provide a realistic ETA based on current workload and the weather. For urgent jobs, we prioritise attendance.
3. On arrival, we complete a dynamic risk assessment and plan safe access. If access equipment is required beyond our standard kit, we’ll explain options and timescales.
4. We make safe internally if needed—protecting floors and electrics from immediate water ingress.
5. We size and cut boards to fit, locate sound fixings (rafters, trusses, joists or solid curb around a skylight) and secure with appropriate fixings.
6. We add perimeter sealing, flashings or sheeting to reduce wind-driven water entry.
7. We provide time-stamped photos and an itemised invoice/work statement. Useful for insurance claims.

If conditions are unsafe (e.g., severe winds, unstable structure, live electrics near the access route), we’ll discuss interim measures from inside the property until external work can be done safely.

Emergency Use-Cases: What We Can Do Tonight

• Board a broken skylight or rooflight curb to make safe and weatherproof
• Span a storm-created hole on a pitched roof with 18mm ply and battens
• Install heavy-duty sheeting with secure fixings where boarding isn’t immediately possible
• Provide temporary sealing over cracked or missing tiles to reduce ingress
• Secure suspected access points after a break-in attempt on a flat roof
• Create a short-term access panel for insurer or contractor inspections

For immediate action, visit our emergency boarding up page or call 01293 699 986.

Access & Safety Considerations

Roof work demands careful planning. We arrive equipped for most domestic and light commercial scenarios, but we’ll never compromise safety.

• Access: roof ladders, internal loft access, or mobile towers where feasible
• Weather: high winds, ice or lightning may pause external works—if so, we’ll implement internal protection and return as soon as safe
• Heights and edges: we use harness points or standoff systems where appropriate
• Fragile roofs: old asbestos sheets or brittle panels require non-walking access methods; we’ll advise on the safest approach
• Commercial sites: we can provide RAMS on request; see property types – commercial

If the job requires specialist access (e.g., long-reach MEWP), we’ll coordinate options and timings with you transparently.

What You Get From Us

• 24/7 response for Crawley RH10 and RH11
• Clear ETA on the phone and honest updates
• Experienced technicians using proven, insurer‑friendly methods
• Time-stamped before/after photos
• Itemised invoice and work statement for your claim
• Fully insured service; DBS-checked team
• Practical advice on next steps and permanent repair readiness

See what local customers say on our reviews page, and check our FAQs for common questions.

Roof Boarding vs Other Secure Options

• Window or door damage too? We also provide window boarding in Crawley and door boarding so the whole property is secure.
• Commercial frontage affected by falling debris? Our shopfront boarding covers large panes and shutter failures.
• Perimeter compromised after a storm or fire? Temporary barriers may help—see our temporary fencing.

We’ll advise the right mix based on your property and the incident.

Insurance and Documentation

We’re not loss adjusters, but we know what insurers typically need:

• Photos (before/after)
• Clear description of cause and work undertaken
• Materials list (e.g., 18mm plywood, anti-tamper fixings)
• Time/date stamps and technician details

Our insurance claims page explains the process and how we can help. Keep your police reference number if applicable, and call your insurer early to log the incident.

Honest Limitations

• We don’t guarantee fixed arrival times; conditions and workload vary. We’ll give a realistic ETA when you call.
• In extreme weather or unsafe conditions, external boarding may be delayed; we’ll implement interim internal protection where possible.
• We secure and make safe; permanent roof repairs and smoke/odour remediation after fire sit outside our scope. We’ll leave the site ready for your roofer to assess.

FAQs: Roof Boarding in Crawley

How quickly can you make my roof watertight?

Typical attendance varies by time of day and workload. We prioritise urgent calls and aim to make safe on our first visit. Call 01293 699 986 and we’ll give you a realistic ETA.

Do you board both pitched and flat roofs?

Yes. We secure openings on pitched and flat roofs, including skylights and rooflights. Methods and materials vary—18mm exterior ply and perimeter sealing are common.

What if the weather is too severe to work on the roof?

Safety first. If winds or lightning make roof access unsafe, we’ll install internal protection (e.g., polythene sheeting, drip management) and return to complete external boarding as soon as it’s safe.

Will roof boarding damage my roof further?

We fix into sound timbers or curbs using appropriate fasteners and wide washers to spread load. Where fabric is fragile, we’ll discuss options such as spanning to stronger members or combining with sheeting to minimise further disturbance.

Can you board over a broken skylight the same night?

In most cases, yes. We’ll secure the opening with sized boards and seal the perimeter. If the curb is compromised, we may add bracing or a combined board-and-sheet solution.

Is roof boarding covered by insurance?

Often, yes—insurers commonly cover emergency make-safe works after insured events. We provide photos and itemised invoices to support claims. See our insurance claims guide.

Do you work across all of RH10 and RH11?

Yes—Crawley and surrounding RH10/RH11 areas. For urgent attendance, visit emergency boarding up or call us directly.

What should I do while waiting for you to arrive?

If safe, move valuables, cover electrics below the leak, place containers under active drips, and turn off affected lighting circuits. Take photos for your insurer, then wait in a safe area.

Our Process In Practice: A Typical Scenario

A common out-of-hours call in RH10: strong winds dislodge tiles above a loft conversion, cracking a rooflight. We receive the call around 10:30pm. On arrival, we assess from ground and the loft hatch, isolate power to a damp light circuit, and lay internal protection. Externally, we access via roof ladder, remove loose fragments, and span the rooflight opening with 18mm exterior plywood fixed into the existing curb, adding battens for stiffness. We seal the perimeter and overlay with reinforced sheeting on the windward side to prevent driven rain. The property is left watertight, and we provide before/after photos and an itemised invoice for the insurer.

Ready To Secure Your Roof?

Need emergency roof boarding now? Call 01293 699 986 for immediate assistance. Prefer a call-back? Send a message via our contact page—include RH10/RH11 location, roof type, and a brief description of the damage.

• 24/7 boarding up across Crawley
• Fully insured, DBS-checked technicians
• Clear documentation for insurers

Still comparing options? Learn more about our wider services on services and check general guidance at what is boarding up.