Property Types We Board Up in Harrow (HA0–HA9)

If you’re dealing with a smashed window, a forced door, or a building that can’t be left open to the elements, the next step is the same: make it secure and weather-tight as quickly as possible. We provide boarding up in Harrow across the HA postcodes, and we tailor the method to the type of property—because securing a ground-floor maisonette off Uxbridge Road isn’t the same as securing a shopfront near St George’s Shopping Centre or a vacant house between tenancies in Harrow Weald.

This page explains the property types we work on most often, what tends to go wrong, and what we usually recommend. If you need urgent help, go straight to emergency boarding up or call 020 4634 5472.

The property types we cover across Harrow & the HA postcodes

Harrow is a mix of busy town-centre commercial premises (around Harrow-on-the-Hill station and College Road), post-war estates, 1930s semis, mansion blocks and converted flats, plus quieter residential streets out towards Pinner, Northwood and Stanmore. That variety affects:

  • Access (rear alleys, above-shop flats, gated developments)
  • The opening type (timber sash windows, uPVC casements, aluminium shopfront frames)
  • The best securing method (plywood/OSB boarding, temporary steel doors, or security screens)

We mainly work across:

  • Residential properties (houses, flats, maisonettes)
  • Commercial properties (shops, offices, restaurants, schools and community buildings)
  • Vacant or void properties (empty, probate, between tenancies or awaiting works)

If you’re unsure where your property fits, call us on 020 4634 5472 and we’ll talk it through based on what’s damaged and how long the building needs to stay secure.

Residential boarding up (houses, flats & maisonettes)

Residential call-outs in Harrow are often urgent and stressful—particularly after a break-in or impact damage—because you need to protect your home, your belongings, and your family’s safety.

Typical residential scenarios we attend include:

  • Broken glazing from attempted burglary or vandalism
  • Forced doors where the lock/door edge has been split
  • Accidental impacts (football through a pane; a slip into patio doors)
  • Storm damage to windows, rooflights, or garage side doors

For homes, we commonly provide window boarding in Harrow and door boarding, choosing fixings that suit the frame and reduce further damage where possible.

Common Harrow housing features we plan for

Many streets around Harrow, Wealdstone, North Harrow and Rayners Lane have a lot of 1930s semis with bay windows, plus a mix of purpose-built flats near transport links like Harrow-on-the-Hill, West Harrow and Northwick Park. In practice, that means:

  • Bay windows may need multiple boards cut and joined cleanly, especially on curved fronts.
  • Above-ground-floor flats can involve safe access planning (communal areas, restricted parking, stair access).
  • Converted flats sometimes have older timber frames; we’ll explain options if the frame is already rotten or split.

If a window frame is too compromised to take secure fixings, we’ll tell you before proceeding and discuss alternatives—our aim is to secure the opening without turning a bad situation into a bigger repair.

After a burglary at home: what we can do (and what to do first)

If you’ve had a break-in, your priority is safety. If police attendance is required, let that happen first.

When you’re ready for the property to be secured, we can:

  • board and secure damaged windows and doors
  • help reduce the chance of re-entry by using anti-tamper fixings where appropriate
  • provide time-stamped photos and an itemised invoice for your records/insurer

For step-by-step guidance, see burglary repairs and boarding up. For insurance documentation expectations, visit insurance claims support.

If you need your home secured tonight, use 24 hour boarding up in Harrow.

Commercial boarding up (shops, offices & sites)

Commercial properties in Harrow often have larger openings, more public exposure, and higher risk if left insecure—especially on busy routes like the A4090 (Harrow Road), around Station Road in Harrow town centre, or close to Wembley event days in HA9.

We regularly secure:

  • Shopfront glazing and entrances
  • Office doors and ground-floor windows
  • Restaurants and takeaways with double-fronted glazing and frequent footfall
  • Schools/community buildings where safety and safeguarding are priorities

For businesses, we commonly recommend shopfront boarding because it’s designed for larger glass panels and higher-risk street-facing frontages.

What’s different about commercial boarding up?

Commercial boarding up needs to balance security with practicality:

  • Maintaining access: If you need authorised access while repairs are arranged, a full board-up might not be the best solution for every entrance.
  • Safer, cleaner finishes: We cut boards neatly, reduce sharp edges, and aim for a secure, professional result—important for public-facing premises.
  • Out-of-hours logistics: Many jobs happen evenings/weekends. We can’t guarantee a fixed arrival time, but we prioritise urgent calls and keep you updated.

If your premises needs a more robust solution than timber boarding—especially after repeated attacks—ask about security screens and door options via our door boarding service route.

Post-vandalism or smashed shop window: practical next steps

If your shop window has been smashed, the key is to secure the opening and reduce risk to staff and the public.

  1. If there’s an immediate danger, keep people away and call emergency services if needed.
  2. Take photos if it’s safe (useful for your insurer and landlord/freeholder).
  3. Call us for securing work: 020 4634 5472.
  4. Arrange glazing replacement separately (we can’t supply new glass; we secure the site).

For more on these scenarios, see vandalism repair and boarding up and accident damage boarding up.

Vacant and void property boarding up (between tenancies, probate, repossessions)

Void properties are common across HA postcodes—especially when a property is between tenants, undergoing renovation, in probate, or waiting for sale. These properties are higher risk because they’re visibly unoccupied and small signs of damage can quickly escalate.

We secure vacant properties for:

  • Landlords and letting agents
  • Property management companies and housing associations
  • Facilities teams
  • Homeowners who have moved out while works are ongoing

For longer periods, boarding alone isn’t always the best option. Depending on risk and duration, we may recommend more durable solutions like screens or enhanced door security. This is covered under our vacant property boarding up page.

Typical risks for empty buildings in Harrow

In practice, void properties can attract:

  • opportunistic entry through a single broken pane
  • repeated vandalism once an opening is found
  • weather damage through unsecured doors, windows or rooflights

Where the building needs to remain secure for weeks or months, we’ll discuss options and the pros/cons of each approach—cost, access, and how easy it is to remove later for planned works.

Which service is right for your property?

Most jobs fall into one (or a combination) of these:

If you’re reading this because something has just happened, our situation guides may be more helpful first:

What to expect when you call us

When you call 020 4634 5472, we’ll ask a few quick questions so we can bring the right materials and fixings:

  • What type of property is it (home/shop/office/void)?
  • What’s damaged (window/door/shopfront/rooflight)?
  • Is the building occupied right now?
  • Is it ground floor or upper floor? Any access restrictions?
  • Do you have a police incident number (if relevant)?

On completion, we can provide:

  • time-stamped photos of the secured openings
  • an itemised invoice and a brief work statement (useful for landlords, managing agents, and insurers)
  • clear notes if we think a frame or surrounding structure needs a builder/glazier before it can be permanently repaired

We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisers, but we’re used to providing the documentation insurers typically ask for. See insurance claims support for guidance on what to keep and what to send.

FAQs about property type boarding up in Harrow

Do you board up flats and maisonettes in Harrow town centre?

Yes. We regularly secure flats around transport hubs and busy areas. Access can take a little longer (communal doors, stairs, parking restrictions), so it helps if you can tell us the floor level and any entry instructions when you call.

I’m a landlord—can you secure a property between tenants?

Yes. We secure void properties across HA0–HA9 and can advise whether straightforward boarding is sufficient or whether a longer-term approach is more suitable. See vacant property boarding up.

Can you secure a shopfront without permanently damaging the frame?

We aim to secure openings using methods appropriate to the frame type and condition. If the frame is already badly damaged, we’ll explain the options before proceeding. For shopfronts, start with shopfront boarding.

Is boarding up covered by insurance?

Often it can be, especially after burglary, vandalism, storm or fire—depending on your policy. We provide photos and invoices that typically help support a claim. More detail is on our insurance claims support page.

I’m not sure what I need—boarding, a temporary door, or something else?

Call us and describe what’s happened. We’ll recommend the safest, most practical option based on the damage, the risk of re-entry, and how long the property will be unattended. If it’s urgent, go to emergency boarding up.

Areas we cover (HA0–HA9)

We cover Harrow and the wider HA postcode area, including residential streets, high streets and trading estates across:

  • Harrow (HA1), Harrow Weald & Wealdstone (HA3)
  • South Harrow, Rayners Lane & Headstone (HA2)
  • Pinner & Hatch End (HA5)
  • Northwood & Northwood Hills (HA6)
  • Stanmore (HA7)
  • Edgware, Burnt Oak, Queensbury & Canons Park (HA8)
  • Wembley & Alperton (HA0/HA9)

You can browse specific local pages on our areas we cover section.

Ready to get started? Call 020 4634 5472 or email us for a free, no-obligation quote.