When Does a Damaged Building Need an Emergency Board Up?
Any door, window, or wall section that's open to the weather or to passersby needs to be covered the same day. A break-in, a car through the storefront, fire crews venting windows, a tree limb through a slider: each leaves an opening that rain, looters, and animals will find overnight. Most insurance policies also require you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, so leaving a hole open can complicate your claim for anything that happens afterward.
What Does an Emergency Board Up Crew Actually Install?
The standard job is exterior-grade plywood, usually 1/2" to 3/4" CDX or OSB, cut to fit the opening and screwed into the framing, not nailed into the trim. Before any board goes up, we clear loose glass from the frame. Roof holes get a tarp battened down with furring strips. When the frame won't take fasteners, we run carriage bolts through a strongback on the inside.
- Plywood or OSB panels
- Glass removal from frames
- Tarps and furring strips
- Interior strongback bracing
Why Is Water Still Getting In Around My Boarded Window?
Usually the board sits flush against the face of the trim with nothing sealing the gap, so wind-driven rain runs down behind it. With no drip edge, the bottom of the board traps water against the sill. Run a bead of exterior caulk along the gap, or tape a strip of poly over the top edge, lapped like siding, and the leak usually stops.
Can I Board Up the Opening Myself Instead of Calling a Crew?
For a single small window, yes, as long as you have plywood, a circular saw, and screws long enough to bite into the framing. Large storefront glass, second-story openings, and anything after a fire are another matter. Hanging glass shards, weakened headers, and possible structural damage make those openings dangerous to work around without the right equipment. A professional crew also photographs the damage before covering it, and your adjuster will want those photos.
How Much Does Emergency Board Up Cost in Brea, CA?
Emergency board up in Brea, CA typically costs $302 to $2,268 per visit, and most residential jobs fall in the lower half of that range. The price comes down to how many openings need covering, how big they are, and whether the crew needs a ladder or lift to reach second-story glass. After-hours calls, heavy glass cleanup at a storefront, and roof tarping secured with furring strips all raise the total.