Shopfront Boarding in Crawley (RH10 & RH11)

When your shop window is smashed or a door is forced, you need to secure the premises quickly and safely. Our shopfront boarding service covers Crawley and the RH10 and RH11 postcode districts, providing emergency make-safe and temporary protection for retail units, hospitality venues, offices, and commercial sites. We handle everything from single shattered panes to full-width glazing and roller shutter damage.

If you need urgent help tonight or out of hours, call us now. We’re a local team with 10+ years’ trading, fully insured, and our technicians are DBS-checked. We prioritise emergencies and aim to attend as quickly as possible. For immediate assistance: Call 01293 699 986 or visit our emergency boarding up page.

When You Need Shopfront Boarding

Shopfront boarding is the right choice when glazing or access points at a commercial property are broken, weakened, or cannot be secured by normal means. Typical scenarios include:

• Smashed display windows from impact, vandalism, or attempted burglary
• Forced entry to aluminium or timber doors with glass panels
• Damage to toughened or laminated storefront glass
• Cracked or bowing panes that are unsafe but still in place
• Roller shutters that have been rammed, leaving exposed openings
• Fire or storm damage that leaves frontage compromised

Your priority is to make safe and secure property quickly to protect stock, equipment, and staff. Our team provides short-term measures that hold until permanent glazing or door repairs are completed. For immediate call-outs: Call 01293 699 986.

Our Emergency Process: What Happens When You Call

We keep the process clear and practical, especially in the middle of the night:

1. Phone triage and ETA

   • We’ll ask what’s happened, the opening size, frame material (aluminium, timber, uPVC, steel), and your exact RH10 or RH11 location.
   • We’ll give a realistic ETA based on workload and conditions. We don’t promise fixed times, but we prioritise urgent calls.

2. On-site safety check

   • We isolate the area, assess glass stability, and remove loose, hanging shards where safe to do so.
   • If the frame is distorted or structural elements are compromised, we’ll explain options before proceeding.

3. Measure and specify

   • We measure the aperture and select appropriate materials: typically 18mm exterior-grade plywood for large shopfront spans, with 12mm OSB reserved for small internal infills where suitable.

4. Install temporary security

   • We fit boards using anti-tamper fixings and, where frames permit, through-bolting to internal spreader plates to avoid damaging decorative fascias.
   • If you need access, we can fit a temporary steel door within the opening so you can trade or attend the site securely.

5. Weatherproof and finish

   • We add perimeter sealing where exposure to wind-driven rain is likely, and safety-edge exposed areas.
   • We ensure emergency exits aren’t obstructed and signage remains visible where possible.

6. Handover and documentation

   • You’ll receive time-stamped photos, a work statement, and an itemised invoice—documents insurers typically request. See more about claims on our insurance guidance.

If you need immediate help to board up a smashed window or shopfront in Crawley, please call 01293 699 986.

Materials & Methods: What We Use and Why

Choosing the right materials matters for safety, deterrence, and insurance compliance. We carry stocked sheets and fixings suitable for most shopfronts in RH10 and RH11.

• Exterior-grade plywood (18mm)
  • Our default for large commercial glazing. It resists flexing and provides strong impact resistance.
• OSB3 (12mm)
  • Used for smaller apertures, internal screens, or secondary reinforcement. It’s moisture-resistant and tidy for short-term protection.
• Anti-tamper fixings
  • These prevent removal from outside—essential if the property will be unattended overnight or longer.
• Through-bolting with internal spreaders
  • Where frames allow, we bolt through with backing plates to distribute load without crushing the frame or cladding. This is especially useful on aluminium shopfronts.
• Timber bracing and battens
  • Used to span wide openings or anchor where existing frames are compromised.
• Perimeter sealing and weatherproofing
  • Applied where exposure is significant or when boarding will remain for more than a day or two.

For doorways that must remain in use, we can install temporary steel doors or integrate a lockable panel. If you’re unsure what you need, we’ll explain the pros and cons on site so you can choose the right level of protection.

Access Challenges and How We Handle Them

Shopfronts vary—not every opening is simple. We’re set up for:

• Oversized panes and full-width glazing
  • We use large-format boards and sectional installs with supportive bracing to avoid mid-span movement.
• Canopies, signage, and fascias
  • We avoid damaging storefront branding by using existing structural points or internal spreads.
• Uneven or damaged frames
  • If frames are warped after an impact, we’ll use adjustable packing, bracing, or internal bearers to create a secure fixing surface.
• Shared entrances and fire exits
  • We always preserve fire escape routes and will create controlled access where required.
• Upper-level shopfronts or atrium glazing
  • For first-floor retail or office frontages, we can provide safe access solutions compatible with short-notice work. If specialist equipment is needed, we’ll discuss lead-times clearly.

If any method would permanently damage heritage or specialist frames, we’ll explain alternatives first. We don’t proceed without your authorisation.

What You Get With Our Service

• Rapid make-safe response for RH10 and RH11
• Clear on-site explanation of options and costs before work begins
• Strong, deterrent-grade boarding using 18mm plywood for main spans
• Anti-tamper fixings and through-bolting where frames allow
• Temporary steel door options for secure access
• Time-stamped photos, itemised invoices, and a work statement—useful for insurers
• Fully insured, DBS-checked technicians with 10+ years’ local experience

Want to see our broader capabilities? Explore shopfront boarding in Crawley, window boarding in Crawley, and our situations we handle hub.

Trading Continuity: Boarding That Lets You Operate

If you can’t get immediate reglazing, we can board in a way that:

• Preserves access for staff and deliveries via a lockable temporary door
• Leaves display areas tidy and presentable from the outside
• Maintains visibility of safety signage and opening hours where possible
• Minimises disruption to neighbouring units and shared walkways

For hospitality and retail, we’ll coordinate board lines to keep the frontage neat. If you’ve got events or peak trading coming up, tell us and we’ll plan a solution that balances security and appearance.

Insurance and Documentation

We’re not loss adjusters, but we know what insurers typically want after a smashed shop window or forced entry:

• Time-stamped before/after photos (where safe to take)
• Work statement describing cause and steps taken to make safe
• Itemised invoice showing materials and labour
• Notes on police incident references (you provide), shutter/glazing condition, and any temporary access added

If you’re making a claim, contact your insurer early and keep your reference number handy. More details are on our insurance claims page. If you need additional notes for a claim handler, ask—we’re happy to help.

Health & Safety and Compliance

• We secure work zones to protect staff, customers, and passers-by—especially important on busy pavements in RH10 and RH11.
• We remove loose shards where safe to do so and can arrange controlled glass clearance.
• For multi-tenant sites or centres, we can provide RAMS on request and coordinate with facilities teams.
• Fire exits will not be blocked. Where an exit is impacted, we’ll create a compliant temporary route or signage as instructed by site management.

Aftercare and Next Steps

Boarding is a temporary solution. We’ll discuss:

• How long the boarding should remain in place based on risk and weather exposure
• Whether a temporary steel door is advisable if reglazing is delayed
• Any follow-up visits for adjustments or partial removal once permanent works start
• Coordination with your chosen glazier, shopfitter, or contractor

If you don’t have a repair contractor yet, we can provide a neutral overview of what to ask for (laminated vs toughened, lead times, and measuring requirements), but we don’t endorse specific firms.

Common Shopfront Scenarios We Attend in Crawley

• Late-night smashed window on a town-centre retail unit needing full-width 18mm boarding with anti-tamper fixings and a small lockable access panel
• Daytime impact crack on a café frontage requiring partial boarding to make safe while keeping the door operational
• Forced rear service door with broken glass insert—secured with a reinforced panel and recommendation for a temporary steel door if the frame is distorted
• Storm-blown debris through a salon window—boarded with sealed perimeters to keep wind-driven rain out until glazing arrives

For urgent help with any of the above, use our 24/7 boarding up line: 01293 699 986.

FAQs: Shopfront Boarding in RH10 and RH11

Can you attend out of hours to board up a smashed shop window?

Yes. We handle out of hours and overnight emergencies across Crawley. Call us on 01293 699 986 and we’ll give a realistic ETA based on current workload.

Will boarding damage my aluminium shopfront frame?

We aim for non-destructive methods. Where possible we use through-bolting with internal spreader plates or existing structural points. If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive fixing, we’ll explain options before proceeding.

Can customers still enter if my frontage is boarded?

Yes—if needed, we can install a lockable temporary access panel or a temporary steel door within the opening so you can operate safely while waiting for reglazing.

What thickness of board do you use for large shop windows?

For most large commercial openings we use 18mm exterior-grade plywood. For smaller infills or internal screens, 12mm OSB3 may be appropriate.

Do you cover all RH10 and RH11 areas the same day?

We prioritise urgent calls and attend as quickly as possible across RH10 and RH11. Typical attendance varies by time of day and workload; we’ll confirm an ETA when you call.

Can you provide photos and paperwork for my insurer?

Yes. We provide time-stamped photos, an itemised invoice, and a brief work statement—documentation insurers commonly request. See our insurance claims page for more.

My roller shutter was rammed—can you secure behind it?

Often, yes. We can board internal openings or fabricate braced panels behind damaged shutters to secure property until shutter repairs are arranged.

How long should boarding stay up?

It’s a temporary measure. For busy RH10 and RH11 locations, we recommend replacing glazing as soon as practical. We’ll advise based on exposure, footfall, and risk.

How We Work With Your Business

• Single shops to multi-site portfolios—clear contact, single invoice, photos for audit
• Facilities teams and centre management—RAMS available on request
• Landlords and managing agents—void unit security with boarding and vacant property options if needed

If you’re comparing solutions or planning ahead for refurbishments, we can talk through temporary security strategies that won’t obstruct future works.

What To Do Now

If your shopfront is damaged, stay safe, clear people from the hazard area, and call us. If a crime has occurred, obtain a police reference. Take photos if it’s safe, and contact your insurer early.

• For immediate help: Call 01293 699 986
• For non-urgent questions: See our FAQs or read about pricing factors
• Need a different solution? Explore window boarding and our emergency boarding up service

Ready To Secure Your Shopfront?

Need emergency shopfront boarding in Crawley now? We’re here 24/7 to make safe and secure property.

Need help now? Call 01293 699 986 for immediate assistance. Or, if it’s not urgent, email us for a quick call-back and guidance.