Emergency Fire Board Up in Berkeley, MO
To fight the fire, the engine company smashed out windows, pried open a door and opened up the roof. Tonight the house is open to weather, wildlife and whoever comes looking. Call Unify Fire Solutions and a dispatcher will connect you with an independent board-up crew near Berkeley.
- Every opening on the building closed up
- The referral line is free and open 24/7
- Homes, rentals and storefronts
Four Things That Matter in a Board-Up
We're a free referral line, and every crew we dispatch is an independent local company. These are the points our dispatchers weigh before sending anyone your way.
Licensed and Insured Independents
Climbing a fire-weakened roof after dark is risky work, and coverage matters. Ask the independent crew for proof of liability and workers' comp before they set a ladder.
A Written Quote First
The crew should count the openings, measure them and write a line-item estimate before cutting a single sheet. That document goes straight into your claim file.
Dispatch Begins Right Away
A dispatcher starts calling independent crews near Berkeley as soon as you hang up. Timing depends on availability and distance; same-night securing is often possible.
Tools Built for Securing
Expect a truck with sheet goods, 2x4s, carriage bolts, a circular saw, an impact driver, reinforced tarps and portable lights. Everything needed to close the building in one visit.
Closing Up Every Opening the Fire Left
Breaking glass, forcing doors and venting the roof are standard firefighting tactics that leave a building wide open. These are the jobs a board-up crew in our network usually handles.
Broken Windows Covered Solid
The common method is a plywood or OSB panel, 1/2" or 5/8" thick, clamped from inside by 2x4 strongbacks and carriage bolts. Bolts can't be backed out from the street the way exterior screws can.
- Loose glass knocked out of the sash first
- Panel overlaps the opening on every side
- Upper-floor windows reached by ladder or lift
Forced Doors and Access Panels
A door that was kicked or pried open usually won't latch again. The crew can seal it completely or frame a hinged plywood door with a hasp and padlock. Ask for at least one locking access point so adjusters and later crews can get in without tearing boards off.
Covering Roof Vent Holes
Firefighters often cut a square vent hole in the roof deck to let heat and smoke escape. The crew stretches a heavy reinforced tarp well past the hole, wraps the edges around wood battens and fastens the battens down so wind can't get under it. Big openings sometimes get a plywood deck patch before tarping.
Glass and Debris Removal
Broken glass and charred debris spread around the yard and walkways. The crew bags loose glass and debris and sets anything that might be claimable aside for inspection.
Fence Panels and Site Security
Rental fence panels go up when the site is unsafe to approach or when kids and scavengers keep wandering in. Some crews add warning signs and motion lights for extra security. Ask whether fencing is rented weekly so you know how it will show up on the estimate.
Securing a Business Storefront
Wide storefront glass calls for framed panels and extra bracing to cover the span. A locking service door lets you remove inventory, files and cash drawers while the front stays sealed.
The Cost of Leaving It Open Overnight
Almost every property policy includes a duty to protect the property from further loss. Rain through an untarped roof or a looted house can be treated as a separate, avoidable loss. Securing the building is how you meet that obligation, and the reasonable cost is typically covered.
Before any plywood goes up, photograph every broken window, the forced door and the roof hole from the ground. They document exactly what the firefighters opened up.
What You Can Do Before the Crew Arrives
You don't need to climb a ladder or handle broken glass yourself. A few simple things from the ground make the board-up go faster and protect your claim.
- Walk the outside and count every broken window, forced door and vent opening.
- Take photos and video of each opening, the roof from the street and glass on the ground.
- Clear the driveway so the crew can park near the house with their plywood.
- Retrieve medicines, IDs and important papers only when firefighters confirm you can.
- Tell a neighbor the house will be empty tonight and ask them to call if they see a flashlight inside.
- Keep pets away from the yard, where glass and nails are scattered.
Thieves watch for fire-damaged houses, because copper pipe, wiring and tools are easy targets once the family has left. Raccoons, birds and stray cats will move into an open attic within a night or two, and squatters aren't far behind. That's why securing the openings tonight matters more than how they look.
Is the House Open Right Now?
Don't spend the night guarding the driveway. A dispatcher can start finding an independent board-up crew near Berkeley the moment you call.
Call +1-833-336-1630 TonightHow a Board-Up Call Goes
- 1
Phone the Dispatch Line
Tell the dispatcher how many windows are broken, which doors were forced, whether there's a roof hole and how many stories the building has. The crew uses those numbers to stock the truck.
- 2
The Board-Up Crew Arrives
The contractor calls you directly with an arrival window, which depends on availability and how far they're coming. Work lights come out first so they can safely see the damage after dark.
- 3
On-Site Count and Written Estimate
The crew walks the exterior, measures each opening, checks the roof from a ladder and writes up the estimate. Once you sign off, the saws come out.
- 4
Building Secured, Final Walk
When the last panel is bolted and the tarp is battened down, walk the perimeter with the crew. Get the access-door key and ask for after photos to send to your insurer.
How Other Callers Got Secured
The firefighters cut a big hole in our roof and the forecast called for rain by dawn. The crew got a tarp wrapped on battens over it by flashlight, and it held through a hard storm two days later.
The back slider was shattered and the front door was splintered from the forced entry. They bolted panels on with strongbacks inside and built a little plywood door with a padlock so my adjuster could get in. I didn't have to drive over every time someone needed access.
The fire started next door and took out our whole storefront window. The crew boarded the front with braced OSB and gave us a locked door to get our stock and register out. Nobody got in overnight.
Questions About Securing Your Property
Does homeowners insurance pay for emergency board-up after a fire?
In most cases, yes. Policies generally require you to protect the property from further damage, and the reasonable cost of boarding and tarping is normally treated as part of the fire claim. Hold onto the estimate, the final invoice and your photos for the adjuster.
Why do board-up crews use carriage bolts instead of screws?
A thief with a drill can remove exterior screws in a minute. Carriage bolts pass through the panel and a 2x4 strongback inside the opening, with the smooth round head facing out, so there's nothing to grab or unscrew from the street. Screws are still used on some second-story openings where access is limited.
Should I take pictures before the house gets boarded up?
Absolutely, and before any plywood covers the damage. Photograph each broken window, the forced door, the roof hole from the ground and any glass in the yard. Once everything is covered, your adjuster can't see the original damage without removing panels.
How do adjusters and contractors get inside once everything is boarded?
Ask the crew to build at least one hinged access door with a hasp and padlock. Keep the key yourself or use a lockbox so your adjuster and future crews can get in without you. Otherwise, someone has to remove a sealed panel every time access is needed.
How long can plywood and a roof tarp stay up?
A well-installed board-up can stay up for weeks or months while the claim and repairs move forward. Tarps wear out faster under sun and wind, so check the roof cover after every storm. If a panel loosens or the tarp starts flapping, call the crew back before water gets in.
Can a board-up crew keep squatters and animals out of a vacant fire house?
A properly secured shell is your strongest defense. Every ground-floor opening gets bolted, vents and crawlspace holes get screened or covered, and fencing goes around the lot if needed. Drive by when you can, and tell the neighbors to call you if anything looks disturbed.
Securing Buildings in Berkeley, MO
The line connects property owners in Berkeley and nearby neighborhoods with independent board-up crews. Single-family homes, duplexes, apartments, garages, shops and restaurants all get the same approach.
- Broken windows
- Forced-entry doors
- Roof vent holes
- Storefront glass
- Detached garages
- Vacant rentals
An unsecured house invites trouble by morning. Make the call tonight; if the first contractor isn't the right fit, call back and we'll connect you with another one.
