Emergency Board Up Services After Storm Damage

Emergency board-up is the process of securing a property after storm damage has compromised its external envelope — broken windows, damaged doors, holes in roofing, or collapsed wall sections. The purpose is to prevent further damage from weather exposure, deter unauthorised entry, and stabilise the building until permanent repairs can be completed.

• Window and door boarding: Broken or shattered windows and damaged doors are covered with structural-grade plywood or polycarbonate sheeting, secured with screws into the frame or surrounding brickwork. This prevents rain ingress, wind damage to interiors, and unauthorised access.
• Roof securing: Damaged or missing roof sections are covered with heavy-duty tarpaulins, secured with battens, screws, or weighted anchors. For larger openings, temporary timber framing may be installed to support the tarp against wind loads.
• Structural bracing: If walls, fencing, or structural elements are compromised, temporary bracing or propping may be installed to prevent collapse and protect adjacent areas.
• Debris removal: Loose debris that poses a safety hazard — broken glass, fallen branches, displaced roofing materials — is cleared from the immediate area to allow safe access for occupants and tradespeople.

Not every storm damage situation requires full board-up. Understanding the difference helps you communicate clearly with your contractor and ensures the right response:

• Temporary tarping is suitable when: The damage is limited to roofing (missing tiles, ridge capping, or small sections of sheeting) and the walls, windows, and doors remain intact. A heavy-duty tarp secured with battens provides effective short-term waterproofing until the roofer can make permanent repairs.
• Board-up is required when: Windows are broken or blown out, doors are damaged or missing, wall sections are compromised, or the property cannot be secured against weather or intruders with a tarp alone. Board-up provides structural rigidity that tarping cannot.
• Both may be needed: In severe storm events, a property may require roof tarping and window boarding simultaneously. Your contractor will assess the full scope on arrival and address all openings.

In all cases, the goal is the same: prevent further damage to the property's interior from rain, wind, and exposure while permanent repairs are scoped and scheduled.

Under Australian insurance law, policyholders have a duty to take reasonable steps to prevent or minimise further loss after an insured event. This is commonly referred to as the "duty to mitigate." Emergency board-up after storm damage is one of the clearest examples of this obligation in practice.

If a storm breaks your windows and you do not board them up, rain continues to enter the property for days, and your carpet, furniture, and plasterboard suffer water damage that could have been prevented — your insurer may reduce or deny the secondary damage portion of your claim. The original storm damage is covered, but the preventable water damage may not be.

This is why acting quickly matters. Through Disaster Recovery, we bill you directly so emergency board-up begins immediately — you do not need to wait for insurer approval to fulfil your duty to mitigate. Your contractor documents the storm damage before boarding up, providing full claims documentation including photos, scope of works, and a written assessment to support your insurance reimbursement.

After the emergency make-safe (including board-up), your contractor provides a formal contract with terms and conditions for the full repair and restoration scope. Payment plans are available through Equipped Commercial Finance to help manage costs while you await your insurance outcome.

Thorough documentation before any make-safe work begins is essential for your insurance claim. Once a property is boarded up, the original damage is concealed — so capturing evidence beforehand is critical.

• Before board-up — external damage: Photograph all damaged windows, doors, roof sections, and walls from multiple angles. Include wide shots showing the extent of damage and close-ups showing specific details (e.g. shattered glass, displaced roofing, cracked frames). Photograph the cause if visible — fallen tree, hail impact marks, or debris that struck the property.
• Before board-up — internal damage: Photograph any water ingress, wet floors, damaged contents, and affected rooms. If rain has entered through broken windows, document the waterline, wet carpet, and any items damaged by the exposure.
• During board-up: Your contractor will document the make-safe process — materials used, openings secured, and the condition of the property once stabilised. This forms part of your claims documentation pack.
• Keep a written record: Note the date and time the storm occurred, when you discovered the damage, what actions you took to mitigate, and when the contractor arrived. This timeline demonstrates your compliance with the duty to mitigate.

Your Disaster Recovery contractor provides professional documentation as standard, but the photos you take before they arrive establish the baseline condition that supports everything else.

Storm damage rarely affects just one property. After a major weather event, demand for emergency services surges — and the companies that respond fastest make the biggest difference. Here is how the Disaster Recovery network handles emergency board-up:

• 24/7 claim submission: Submit your claim online at any time. There are no phone queues, no voicemail, and no waiting for business hours. The platform accepts claims around the clock, including during active storm events.
• Location-based matching: The system matches you with an IICRC-certified contractor in your area who has the equipment and availability for emergency board-up and tarping. Matching considers proximity, current workload, and the specific type of damage reported.
• Rapid dispatch: Your contractor is notified and dispatched to your property. They arrive with plywood, tarpaulins, fasteners, and safety equipment ready to secure the building envelope.
• Transparent billing: We bill you directly — the client, not your insurer. This means work starts immediately without waiting for insurer approval or scope negotiations. You control the process and receive full claims documentation to support your insurance reimbursement.
• National coverage: From inner-city terrace houses to rural properties and coastal homes, the Disaster Recovery network covers metropolitan, regional, and remote Australia. Wherever the storm hits, we have contractors ready to respond.