Shopfront Boarding in Dartford (Emergency & Planned Security)

A smashed shop window is more than an inconvenience — it puts your stock, staff areas and premises at immediate risk. If you need shopfront boarding in Dartford, we can attend to make safe, secure the opening, and help you get back to trading (or safely close until glazing is replaced).

For urgent call-outs, use our emergency line: Call 01322 952 450. If you can’t stay on the phone, tell us and we’ll call you back.

We cover Dartford and the wider DA postcode area (DA1–DA18) with fully insured, DBS-checked technicians and over 10 years of boarding-up experience.

If you need help right now, see: emergency boarding up.

When shopfront boarding is the right call

Shopfront glazing is often large, close to public footfall, and expensive to replace quickly. Boarding is a fast way to reduce risk, control access, and protect your premises while you arrange a glazier, locksmith, or insurer approval.

Common reasons businesses call us include:

Smashed window after vandalism or attempted theft
Shopfront boarded up after a break-in (door and frame damage as well as glazing)
Accidental impact damage (trolleys, vehicles, deliveries)
Storm damage to fixed panes or side screens
Vacant commercial units needing temporary boarding until a new tenant moves in

If you’re dealing with an incident right now, you may also find these helpful:

Emergency shopfront boarding: what we prioritise first

In an urgent situation, the goal is simple: secure property and reduce further loss.

On arrival we’ll usually prioritise:

Make safe the opening (remove immediate hazards and secure access)
Protect against weather ingress where possible (wind-driven rain becomes a bigger problem overnight)
Fit boarding using fixings suited to the frame and location
Leave you with clear documentation for your records/insurer

We don’t promise fixed arrival times because call-outs vary, especially out of hours. When you call, we’ll give you a realistic ETA based on current workload and travel.

Need help now? Call 01322 952 450 for immediate assistance.

How we board up shopfronts (materials & methods)

Shopfronts aren’t the same as small domestic window openings. They often involve large panes, aluminium frames, toughened glass remnants, and public-facing locations where the boarding must be secure and difficult to tamper with.

Materials we use (and why)

We select materials based on the opening size, exposure, and how long you need it secured:

18mm exterior-grade plywood for most shopfront openings
- Strong, stable, and suitable for larger spans
- Better resistance to impact than thinner sheet
OSB (typically 12mm) for smaller panels or short-term internal boarding
- Cost-effective where the risk profile allows
- Not always appropriate for high-risk, street-facing elevations

If you’re unsure what you need, we’ll explain the options clearly on site before we proceed.

For other types of openings (doors, upper floors, roofs), you may prefer:

Fixings and fitting approach

We fit boards to be secure against removal from the outside and to reduce further damage to the frame where possible.

Depending on the shopfront construction, we may use:

Anti-tamper fixings (important when the property will be unattended)
Through-bolting with spreader plates/timber backing where safe and appropriate
Non-destructive methods when the frame condition allows
A practical approach if the frame is already damaged (for example, after a forced entry)

If the surrounding frame, mullions, or door set is too compromised for a clean fix, we’ll talk you through what’s achievable and what isn’t before we continue. We can secure the site, but we’re not structural engineers — if there are signs of structural movement or unsafe masonry, we’ll advise you to involve the relevant trades.

Security and access considerations for commercial premises

Shopfront boarding often needs extra planning because of:

High-footfall areas and public safety
Roller shutters or alarmed entrances that need to remain operable
Rear access for staff or deliveries (where you may need a temporary “safe route”)
Mixed-use buildings (flats above shops) where communal access must remain clear

Tell us if you need to keep part of the frontage accessible, or if you have specific lock-up procedures. We’ll work with what you need while keeping the premises secure.

What you get (including insurance-friendly documentation)

When your shopfront is damaged, paperwork matters — especially if you’re claiming for glazing, stolen stock, or forced-entry repairs.

After the job, we can provide:

Time-stamped photos of the damage and the completed boarding
An itemised invoice
A clear work statement describing what was secured and how

We’re not loss adjusters and can’t advise on policy coverage, but we regularly support customers with the documentation insurers typically request. See more guidance here: insurance claims support.

Planned (non-emergency) shopfront boarding

Not every job is a crisis. We also board shopfronts when:

A unit is going vacant between tenants
You’re waiting on fabrication lead times for new glazing/frames
There’s repeated nuisance damage and you need a stronger short-term deterrent
You’re refurbishing and want to reduce risk overnight

For longer-term vacant units, you may want to compare options on: vacant property boarding solutions.

Temporary doors and alternatives for repeated incidents

If the glazing is secure but the entrance door has been forced or won’t lock, boarding the door isn’t always the best solution for a business premises. In some cases, a temporary steel door gives better medium-term security and safer authorised access.

We’ll recommend the most sensible approach based on:

Whether the premises must remain accessible (keyholders, staff, contractors)
How long you expect repairs to take
The risk level of the location and recent incidents

If you’re not sure which service fits, start with our overview: what is boarding up?.

Common call-outs we get for shopfronts in the DA area

Every site is different, but the most common scenarios include:

“We need to board up broken window glass before nightfall”
“Our front panel is a smashed window and people can reach in”
“We need the shopfront boarded up and the site made safe for staff”
“Can you board up door after a forced entry?”
“We need temporary boarding until the glazier can attend”
“We’ve had vandalism out of hours and need to secure property now”
“We need emergency boarding up after an impact incident”
“Do you offer 24/7 boarding up for commercial units?”

If any of the above matches your situation, call now: 01322 952 450.

What happens when you call (simple 3-step process)

Call and tell us what’s happened
Let us know whether it’s front glazing, side panels, doors, or multiple openings. If it’s safe, send photos by phone when requested.
We confirm a realistic ETA and approach
We’ll prioritise urgent jobs and explain what we can do immediately (and what may require follow-on trades like glazing or locksmithing).
We attend, make safe, and secure the opening
We complete boarding, check stability, and provide photos and paperwork for your records/insurer.

Shopfront boarding for different property types

We work across a mix of commercial premises in Dartford and the DA area, including:

High-street retail units and small parades
Offices with glazed entrances
Restaurants and takeaways with large front panes
Mixed-use buildings (commercial below, residential above)
Empty units being prepared for re-let

If you manage multiple sites or need a consistent process for call-outs and invoicing, see: commercial boarding up.

Coverage: shopfront boarding across Dartford and DA postcodes

We provide shopfront boarding across Dartford and the surrounding DA districts, including DA1 through DA18.

If you’re nearby, you may also be looking for local pages such as:

Not sure if you’re in range? Use our coverage overview: areas we cover.

Practical steps you can take before we arrive

If you’ve had a break-in or damage and you’re waiting for us:

If a crime has occurred, call the police and keep your crime reference number
Take photos only if it’s safe (avoid handling broken glass)
Move valuable items away from the damaged frontage
If you have staff on site, keep the area cordoned off and prevent public access
Contact your insurer early if you intend to claim (they may ask for immediate mitigation steps)

If there’s any risk to life or the public (loose glass, unstable frames), step back and call: Call 01322 952 450.

FAQs – Shopfront Boarding in Dartford

How quickly can you board up a shopfront?

We aim to attend as quickly as possible, especially for exposed shopfronts and high-risk openings. We don’t guarantee fixed response times, but when you call we’ll give you a realistic ETA based on current workload and travel conditions.

Can you board up a shop window tonight (out of hours)?

Yes — we handle out of hours and urgent call-outs. If you need 24/7 boarding up, call 01322 952 450 and we’ll advise the best next step.

Will the boarding damage my shopfront frame?

We use fixing methods suited to the frame type and condition, and we’ll avoid unnecessary damage where possible. If the frame is already compromised (common after forced entry), we’ll explain the options before proceeding.

Do you only board the glazing, or can you board the door as well?

We can secure both. If you need to board up door after a forced entry, we’ll assess whether boarding is appropriate or whether a more secure temporary solution is needed. See: door boarding in Dartford.

What boards do you use for shopfronts?

Most shopfronts are boarded using 18mm exterior-grade plywood for strength and stability. OSB can be used for smaller openings or lower-risk situations. We’ll choose the best option based on size, exposure, and security needs.

Is shopfront boarding covered by insurance?

Often it can be, especially when it’s necessary to prevent further damage or theft — but policy terms vary. We’re not loss adjusters, but we provide photos, an itemised invoice, and a work statement that insurers commonly request. See: insurance claims support.

Can you help if the shopfront has been vandalised?

Yes. Vandalism often involves a smashed window or repeated damage. We can make safe and provide temporary boarding to secure the premises quickly. More detail here: vandalism repair and boarding.

Do you cover my part of Dartford and the DA postcodes?

Yes — we cover Dartford and the full DA area (DA1–DA18). If you want a location-specific page, start at areas we cover.

What if the opening is very large (full-height glazing)?

Large openings are common with shopfronts. We size and fix boards appropriately for the span, and we’ll advise if additional measures are sensible. If the surrounding structure looks unsafe, we’ll recommend involving the right trade before anyone works in the area.

Helpful links

Get shopfront boarding help in Dartford

If your premises has been damaged and you need to secure it quickly, we’re ready to help with practical advice and a clear plan.

Need help now? Call 01322 952 450 for immediate assistance.
Prefer email for planned work? info@boarding-up-dartford.co.uk.

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