Door Boarding in St Albans (AL1–AL10)
A damaged or forced door is one of the quickest ways for a property to become vulnerable again—whether that’s opportunistic theft, weather getting in, or an insurer questioning what was done to secure the property after an incident. If you need door boarding in St Albans after a break-in, accident, or storm damage, we can attend and make safe with the right materials and fixings for the job.
Need help now? Call 01727 326 204 for urgent emergency boarding up. If it’s out of hours, call anyway—we prioritise the most vulnerable situations and we’ll give you a realistic ETA on the phone.
Email option: info@boarding-up-stalbans.co.uk
We cover St Albans and the AL postcode area (AL1–AL10) with fully insured, DBS-checked technicians and 10+ years of on-the-ground experience securing doors after forced entry and impact damage.
When you might need an emergency door boarded up
People usually find us when something has already happened. If any of the below applies, door boarding (or a temporary steel door) is often the fastest way to stabilise the situation:
- Burglary or attempted break-in: splintered timber doors, damaged locks, snapped handles, kicked-in panels
- A smashed or forced communal entrance (flats/maisonettes) where residents need the building secured the same day
- Commercial rear/service door damage that leaves stock, tools, or equipment exposed
- Accident/impact damage (e.g., vehicle strike to an entrance area)
- Storm damage causing the door to pull away from the frame or the frame to shift
- Fire attendance where doors have been removed or compromised (we secure the opening; remediation is separate)
If you’ve got a door that won’t close, a frame that’s loose, or a latch that no longer catches, it’s not just a convenience problem—it’s a security problem. Even a short delay can lead to repeat entry.
If your main issue is glazing rather than the door leaf itself, see window boarding in St Albans or shopfront boarding for larger commercial frontage.
Door boarding vs a temporary steel door: what’s the right option?
Not every doorway should be secured the same way. When you call, we’ll ask a few practical questions (property type, damage level, whether the building is occupied, and whether you need access afterwards).
Door boarding (plywood/OSB) — best for rapid make-safe
Door boarding is usually the quickest way to board up a door after forced entry, especially when:
- the property will be left unattended overnight
- the door and frame are too damaged to lock
- the opening needs weather protection as well as security
- you’re waiting for a locksmith, joiner, or full door replacement
Temporary steel door — best for medium-term access and security
If the property needs controlled access (landlords, managing agents, trades coming and going), a temporary steel door can be a better fit than boarding, because you can lock/unlock it like a normal door.
This is especially common for:
- vacant properties between tenancies
- fire-damaged buildings after the initial securing
- commercial units awaiting repairs or new doors
If you’re unsure, don’t worry—we’ll explain the options before we start, including any trade-offs around access, cost, and appearance.
How we secure a damaged door (our method)
A good boarding job isn’t just “put a sheet over it”. The goal is to make safe, prevent removal from outside, and avoid causing unnecessary additional damage.
Typical approach on arrival:
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Safety and quick assessment
We check for hazards (loose glass nearby, unstable frames, exposed fixings). If police have attended, we’ll work around any instructions they’ve left. -
Measure the opening and choose the right sheet material
We select suitable board thickness and type based on span, exposure, and risk level. -
Fit using appropriate fixing method
We aim for secure fixings that cannot be easily removed from the outside. Where possible we use anti-tamper fixings because they reduce the risk of the board being prised off. -
Edge sealing and weather considerations (where required)
If the opening is exposed, we consider water ingress and draughts. Boarding is primarily a security measure, but we can also help reduce rain penetration when the structure allows. -
Document the work
We can provide time-stamped photos, an itemised invoice, and a short work statement—useful for landlords, facilities teams, and insurance claims.
For urgent scenarios, you may also want our dedicated emergency page: emergency boarding up.
Materials we use (and why)
We carry materials suitable for different door types and risk levels. The exact choice depends on the opening size, whether the door is recessed, and how long the boarding needs to stay in place.
Plywood (commonly 18mm exterior-grade)
- Strong, stable, and reliable for doorways
- Better resistance to flexing and leverage attempts than thinner boards
- Suitable for most emergency boarding up of entrances
OSB (often 12mm for smaller openings, thicker where needed)
- A cost-effective option in some situations
- Useful for smaller or less exposed openings where appropriate
Fixings and security hardware
- Anti-tamper fixings where suitable, so boards can’t be removed easily from outside
- Coach bolts / through-bolting methods (when structure allows) for strong hold
- Timber battens/spreaders to distribute load and reduce splitting
- Careful fixing placement to reduce further damage to already compromised frames
If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll talk you through the options before proceeding. Sometimes “perfectly neat” isn’t possible after a forced entry—our focus is security first, then minimising additional harm.
Common door damage we see in St Albans and the AL area
Across AL1–AL10, we’re often called to:
- Older timber doors where panels have been kicked through or locks ripped out
- uPVC and composite doors where the multi-point lock fails after a forced attempt, leaving the door unable to secure
- Communal entrances where repeated footfall and forced entry attempts damage hinges/frames
- Rear/side doors to shops and small commercial units where attackers aim for a quieter entry point
If your door damage sits alongside broken glazing, it may be faster and cleaner to secure both at once (door opening plus nearby window). We can advise on the call.
What to do right now if your door has been forced or damaged
If you’re dealing with a break-in, attempted break-in, or an unsafe entrance, use this as a quick checklist.
-
If there’s any immediate danger, call 999
Don’t go inside if you think someone may still be in the building. -
If a crime has occurred, get a police reference number
Keep it handy—your insurer may ask for it. -
Take photos if it’s safe
Quick, clear pictures of the door, frame, lock area, and any tool marks can help later. -
Call us to make the property safe
Need a door boarded up tonight or out of hours? Call 01727 326 204. We’ll ask what’s happened and give a realistic ETA based on workload and travel. -
Speak to your insurer early
We’re not loss adjusters, but we can provide documentation insurers typically request. See: insurance claims support.
If you’re dealing with a full break-in scenario, you may also find this useful: burglary repairs and boarding.
Door boarding for different property types
Door security needs change depending on who uses the building and how quickly full repairs can happen.
Residential homes and flats
If your front door has been forced, you usually need a solution that:
- secures the opening properly
- reduces visibility into the property
- can stay in place until a replacement door/lock is fitted
For related information, see residential boarding.
Commercial properties (shops, offices, sites)
Commercial door boarding often involves:
- coordinating with keyholders or facilities teams
- securing staff entrances and rear access points
- providing paperwork for incident logs and insurers
For more detail, see commercial boarding.
Vacant and void properties
If a property is unoccupied, the priority is often robust, longer-term security and deterrence—sometimes beyond a simple board. See: vacant property boarding.
What you get from our door boarding service
We keep the process straightforward, especially when you’re stressed and trying to manage a situation quickly.
- A clear explanation of the options (board-up vs temporary steel door where relevant)
- Professional installation using suitable materials and fixings
- A boarded opening that’s designed to resist removal from outside
- Time-stamped photos on request
- Itemised invoice and work statement suitable for records and insurance
If you want to understand the basics (and what counts as “boarding up” in practical terms), see: what is boarding up?
FAQs — Door boarding in St Albans (AL1–AL10)
How quickly can you board up a door in St Albans?
We prioritise urgent calls and aim to attend as quickly as possible, including out of hours. We don’t promise fixed arrival times because workload and conditions vary, but if you call we’ll give you a realistic ETA based on where our team is and what’s already in progress.
Can you board up a door and still let me get in and out?
Boarding is usually intended to prevent entry, so it often restricts access. If you need ongoing access (for residents, trades, or managing agents), a temporary steel door may be a better solution. We’ll talk through this before we start.
My door frame is split—can you still secure it?
Often yes. If the frame is too compromised for standard fixings, we may use alternative methods (e.g., strengthened battening or through-fixings where appropriate). If the damage is severe, we’ll explain the safest option before proceeding.
Do you cover all AL postcodes?
Yes—our coverage includes St Albans and AL1 through AL10. If you’re unsure whether you fall within our area, call and we’ll confirm.
Is door boarding covered by insurance?
It can be, depending on your policy and circumstances (burglary, vandalism, storm damage, etc.). We’re not insurers or loss adjusters, but we can provide the kind of documentation insurers typically request. See: insurance claims support.
What if it’s a communal entrance to flats?
We regularly help secure communal doors where the lock or frame has failed and the building can’t be secured. If you’re a tenant, try to contact the managing agent/freeholder as soon as possible—but if the entrance is unsafe right now, call us and we can help you make safe.
Can you board up after vandalism as well as burglary?
Yes. Whether it’s an attempted forced entry or deliberate damage, the aim is the same: secure property quickly to prevent escalation. You can also read: vandalism repair and boarding.
What’s the difference between boarding a door and changing the lock?
A lock change is ideal when the door and frame are intact. Boarding is used when the door can’t reliably lock (broken frame, missing sections, warped leaf, severe damage). Sometimes both are needed—boarding now, full repair and lock replacement next.
Related situations we often respond to
Door damage rarely happens in isolation. If your call-out relates to a wider incident, these pages may help:
- After forced entry: burglary repairs and boarding
- After criminal damage: vandalism repair and boarding
- After severe weather: storm damage boarding
- After an impact: accident damage boarding
Ready to secure your door?
If your door has been forced, won’t lock, or the frame is damaged, don’t leave the property exposed overnight.
Need help now? Call 01727 326 204 for emergency door boarding in St Albans and across AL1–AL10.
Prefer email? info@boarding-up-stalbans.co.uk
