Flood Damage Boarding Up in Luton (LU) – Secure Your Property After Water Damage

Flooding is stressful, messy, and fast-moving. Whether it’s a burst pipe, rising water after heavy rain, or water ingress through a damaged roofline, flood damage can leave your property in Luton exposed—swollen doors that won’t shut, softened timber frames, cracked glazing, or openings that can’t be secured.

If you need flood damage boarding in Luton or you’re trying to secure a property after flood damage, we can help with practical, rapid “make safe” work across LU1–LU7. Our job is to secure the building and reduce the risk of further loss while you arrange drying, repairs, or insurance visits.

Need help now? Call 01582 377 256 for immediate assistance (including out of hours).
Prefer email? [email protected]

When flood damage leads to boarding up (and when it doesn’t)

Not every flooded property needs boarding. But in our experience, boarding up becomes necessary when water has compromised security, weatherproofing, or safe access.

Common triggers include:

• Doors that won’t close or lock after swelling (often timber doors and frames)
• UPVC doors/windows knocked out of alignment, leaving gaps or failed locks
• Broken glazing during the incident or while moving belongings out
• Garage doors or side entrances affected by impact, warping, or failure
• Lower-level shopfront glazing damaged by debris or forced entry attempts after the property is left unattended
• Vacant or temporarily unoccupied properties where drying works mean doors/windows are left open for ventilation (which can increase security risk)

Sometimes, the property is still lockable but you need added protection because the building will be empty, trades will be coming and going, or the insurer requires the premises to be made secure.

If you’re unsure, call us and describe what’s happened. We’ll tell you honestly if boarding is appropriate—or if a simpler, less intrusive option is likely to do the job.

Need 24/7 boarding up in Luton? Call 01582 377 256

The risks after flooding: security, safety, and further damage

Floodwater doesn’t just soak carpets. It changes how a building behaves.

Security risks

• Locks can fail when frames swell or shift.
• Windows may be vulnerable if put under pressure by warped frames.
• A property left visibly damaged can attract opportunists—especially if it’s clearly unoccupied.

Safety risks

• Water can affect electrics, floor stability, and door operation (jamming shut or swinging unpredictably).
• Damaged glazing and wet, softened timber can make the area around openings unsafe.

Further damage risks

• If an opening can’t be closed properly, wind-driven rain can continue to enter.
• Temporary “gaps” can undo drying progress and increase the cost of restoration later.

Our role is to help you secure property quickly with temporary boarding, so you can focus on the next steps (insurer, drying company, repairs).

How we secure properties after flood damage in Luton

Every flood incident is different. Some are simple “board up broken window” jobs; others involve a door that can’t be locked, or a commercial unit that needs the frontage protected while repairs are arranged.

We’ll talk you through options before we start—especially if frames are badly damaged and non-destructive fixing isn’t possible.

Step 1: Quick assessment and “make safe”

When we arrive, we look at:

• Which openings are compromised (windows, doors, shopfronts, rear access points)
• Whether frames are strong enough to take fixings safely
• Any immediate hazards (loose glass, unstable panels, unsafe access)

If glass is shattered or loose, our priority is to make safe the area and prevent injury.

Step 2: Choosing the right material: plywood vs OSB

We typically use:

• 18mm exterior-grade plywood for stronger, higher-risk openings and street-facing elevations
• 12mm OSB for smaller or lower-risk openings where appropriate

Material choice depends on the size of the opening, level of risk, and how long the property is likely to remain secured.

Step 3: Securing windows (including smashed window call-outs)

If you’ve had a smashed window during or after the flood (or glazing has cracked due to frame movement), we can fit boarding to:

• Protect the opening from weather
• Reduce the risk of entry
• Keep the site safe while glazing is replaced

For more detail on this method, see our dedicated page on window boarding in Luton.

Step 4: Securing doors that won’t shut or lock

Flooding often causes doors to bind against the frame or the lock keep to shift. If the door cannot be secured, we may:

• Board up door openings temporarily, or
• Recommend a temporary steel door for a more practical medium-term solution (particularly for vacant properties or repeated access by contractors)

Read more about options on our door boarding service.

Step 5: Shopfront and commercial frontages

Commercial flood incidents can become security incidents quickly—especially when stock is removed and the unit is obviously disrupted. If the frontage is vulnerable, we can arrange shopfront boarded up solutions designed for larger glazed areas and higher footfall locations.

See: shopfront boarding in Luton.

Step 6: Documentation for insurers and landlords

We’re not loss adjusters and we don’t handle the remediation side of flood recovery. What we do provide is the practical documentation insurers typically ask for, such as:

• Time-stamped photos of the boarded openings
• An itemised invoice
• A brief work statement describing what was secured and how

This helps when you’re dealing with claims or property management processes. You can also read our guidance on insurance claims support.

What to expect when you call us (including out of hours)

Flood damage doesn’t always happen 9–5. If you need out of hours help, call anyway—if it’s urgent, we prioritise attendance as quickly as we can.

When you phone, we’ll ask a few practical questions to give you a realistic plan:

• Which postcode district are you in (LU1–LU7)?
• What’s damaged: window, door, shopfront, or multiple openings?
• Is the property occupied right now?
• Are there any immediate hazards (loose glass, unsafe access, electrics affected)?
• Do you need access maintained (e.g., for drying equipment), or full closure?

We don’t quote guaranteed arrival times because conditions and workload vary, but we will give you the most realistic ETA we can on the phone.

Need emergency boarding up in Luton tonight? Call 01582 377 256

Practical steps: what to do right now after a flood

If you’re dealing with post-flood boarding in Luton, these steps can reduce risk and help your claim.

1. Put safety first

   • Avoid touching electrics if water has reached sockets or consumer units.
   • Keep children and pets away from affected rooms and broken glazing.

2. If there’s a break-in risk, call the police

   • If someone has forced entry or attempted to, report it and keep the reference number.

3. Take photos if it’s safe

   • Wide shots of the room and close-ups of damaged openings help later.

4. Call your insurer early

   • Ask what they need from you: photos, invoices, a work description, or contractor details.

5. Call us to secure the opening

   • If a window is broken, if the door won’t lock, or if the unit is exposed, we can arrange emergency boarding up and temporary boarding to reduce further loss.

If drying equipment needs airflow, tell us. We can often secure the building while still allowing controlled access for contractors, depending on the layout and risk level.

Flood damage and security: choosing the right temporary solution

Temporary boarding (fast, effective, versatile)

Best when:

• You need to secure a single window/door opening
• You’re awaiting glazing replacement or door repair
• The property is occupied but temporarily vulnerable

This is typically done using plywood/OSB and robust fixings, with an emphasis on resisting removal from outside.

Temporary steel doors (stronger for longer-term securing)

Best when:

• The door and frame are too swollen/damaged to lock reliably
• The property is vacant or will be unoccupied during drying works
• Multiple visits by trades are expected and you need proper access control

If we think a steel door is more appropriate than boarding (or vice versa), we’ll explain why before proceeding.

Flood-related scenarios we commonly see across LU postcodes

Flood damage can affect any property type, but typical local call-outs include:

• Residential homes where a ground-floor window has been damaged during clear-up, needing “board up broken window” work
• Landlord and letting situations where tenants have moved out temporarily and doors no longer shut correctly
• Commercial properties needing a shopfront boarded up solution until glazing and internal drying are complete
• Vacant properties where a leak has gone unnoticed and the building must be secured while repairs are organised

We cover boarding up LU1, LU2, LU3, LU4, LU5, LU6 and LU7, and can advise on the most sensible temporary security approach for your situation.

FAQs: flood damage boarding up in Luton

Can you secure my property after flood damage even if the door still closes?

Yes. If the door is closing but the lock is unreliable, the frame has shifted, or you’re leaving the property unattended, temporary security can still be worthwhile. Tell us what’s happening and we’ll recommend the least invasive option that achieves proper security.

Do you offer emergency boarding up in Luton out of hours?

Yes. Flooding and water ingress don’t wait for office hours. If you need emergency boarding up or temporary boarding out of hours, call and we’ll prioritise urgent cases and give a realistic ETA.

Will boarding up stop more water getting in?

Boarding up mainly improves security and basic weather protection. It can reduce wind-driven rain through openings, but it’s not a substitute for proper repairs or flood remediation. Our focus is to make safe and secure property.

What if the window frame is too water-damaged to take fixings?

If the frame is too compromised for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain the options before doing anything. In some cases, we can secure to sound surrounding structure; in others, a different temporary approach may be safer.

Can you board up a smashed window after the flood clean-up?

Yes. It’s common for a smashed window to happen during moving furniture, removing wet materials, or as a follow-on incident. We can board up broken window openings and help reduce exposure while you arrange glazing replacement.

Is flood damage boarding up covered by insurance?

Often it can be, but cover depends on your policy and circumstances. We provide photos and invoices that insurers typically request. For practical guidance, see our insurance claims page.

Do you work with landlords and property managers in LU postcodes?

Yes. We regularly help landlords, agents, and facilities teams secure affected properties across LU1–LU7, including providing documentation suitable for maintenance records and insurance communication.

Talk to us about flood damage boarding in Luton

If your property has been flooded and an opening won’t secure properly, don’t leave it overnight. We can arrange emergency boarding up, help make safe, and protect your building with practical temporary boarding across the LU area.

Need help now? Call 01582 377 256 for immediate assistance.
Or email: [email protected]