Accident Damage: Secure Your Property After Impact in Uxbridge (UB Area)

When a vehicle strike, scaffolding collapse, ball strike, or building works mishap smashes a window or damages a door, your priority is to make the property safe and secure. Accident damage can happen at any time—school run collisions on residential streets, delivery van impacts on shopfronts, or wind-blown debris hitting skylights. If you’re in Uxbridge or anywhere across the UB postcodes, we’ll help you stabilise, secure, and document the scene so you can move forward with repairs and insurance.

We provide 24/7 emergency boarding up across UB1–UB18. Call for immediate help and clear guidance on next steps.

Need urgent assistance? Call 01895 696 176 or see our emergency boarding up page.

When Accident Damage Happens

Accidental damage usually comes without warning and creates hazards you can’t ignore:

• Shopfront glazing struck by a vehicle turning too tightly near loading bays
• Patio doors cracked by a garden accident or DIY mishap
• Residential bay windows hit by a football or falling branch
• Office stairwell glazing shattered during internal fit-out works
• Skylights and roof lights damaged by debris in high winds

What’s at stake:

• Safety: Sharp glass, exposed edges, and unstable frames are a risk to people inside and passers-by.
• Security: A broken door or window invites opportunistic entry and weather ingress.
• Continuity: For commercial premises, a smashed shopfront can stop trading until it’s made safe.

We’re practical, calm, and methodical. We won’t promise impossible timings, but we prioritise urgent calls and give you a realistic ETA on the phone.

Our Approach: How We Make Safe and Secure

Every property and impact is different, but our process is consistent and transparent. We’re fully insured with 10+ years’ trading and DBS-checked technicians.

1. Immediate assessment on arrival

• Check for live hazards: loose glazing, unstable frames, exposed wiring, or compromised lintels.
• Decide on safe working methods—internal versus external boarding, and whether access equipment is required.

2. Clear and prepare the opening

• Remove loose shards and trim torn seals where necessary.
• For shopfronts, we often use dust sheets and controlled removal to keep trading areas safe and tidy.

3. Size, cut, and fix boards

• Materials: Typically 18mm exterior-grade plywood for most openings; 12mm OSB can be used for smaller, internal openings. For large spans, we may double-sheet or brace.
• Fixings: Anti-tamper screws/washers where we can fix into the frame; packers and spreader plates to avoid further damage.
• Why it matters: Anti-tamper fixings prevent removal from outside—vital when premises will be unattended.

4. Doors and temporary access

• If a door is damaged beyond lock-up, we can board over the leaf and frame or install a temporary steel door to maintain secure access for occupants, contractors, or insurers.
• We’ll advise on the balance between short-term boarding and medium-term security.

5. Weatherproofing and stability

• External tape, membrane or flashing where appropriate to limit water ingress.
• Additional bracing for large shopfronts or bowed frames impacted by vehicles.

6. Documentation for insurers

• Time-stamped photos of damage before and after boarding.
• Itemised invoice and a brief work statement describing materials, fixings, and location of boards.
• We’re not loss adjusters, but we provide documentation insurers typically request. See our insurance guidance.

If the frame is too damaged for non-destructive methods, we’ll explain options before proceeding. For structural concerns, we may recommend a builder or surveyor before full reinstatement.

Services That Apply to Accident Damage

Depending on what’s been hit and how severely, one or more of these services will typically apply:

• Windows: Window boarding in Uxbridge for cracked panes, shattered double-glazing, and bay windows
• Doors: Door boarding up for forced or warped door sets, including temporary steel doors
• Commercial fronts: Shopfront boarding for large panels and trading continuity
• Overhead openings: Roof and skylight boarding where debris or wind has damaged roof glazing

For urgent call-outs, go to 24-hour emergency boarding up or call 01895 696 176 now.

Typical Accident Scenarios (And What We Do)

• Vehicle strike on a shopfront: Laminated glass bows and cracks, frame misaligned. We clear loose shards, check the mullions, and install external plywood with anti-tamper fixings and internal bracing where needed. If access is required, we create a controlled entry point or fit a temporary steel door.
• Patio doors shattered by impact: We remove fragments, secure the opening with 18mm ply from the inside to protect the surround, and add external weather tape if exposed to weather.
• Office internal glazing breakage: For safety and continuity, we isolate the area, remove loose shards, and install neat internal boarding with fixings designed not to damage finished walls.
• Rooflight damaged by debris: We install temporary boarding or a weatherproof cover, assessing safe access routes and fall protection. If specialist access is needed, we’ll advise and coordinate.

Materials and Methods: Why They Work

• 18mm exterior-grade plywood: Strong, durable, and suitable for external exposure while permanent repairs are arranged.
• 12mm OSB: Suitable for smaller internal openings or where lighter panels are preferable.
• Anti-tamper fixings: Prevent removal from outside—essential for vacant periods or overnight security.
• Frame-friendly installation: We use packers and spreaders to avoid crushing frames, especially on uPVC and aluminium.
• Temporary steel doors: Ideal after severe door damage or break-ins that leave you without a lockable entrance.

If we believe a different approach is safer—such as internal boarding to protect heritage frames—we’ll explain why and agree the method with you.

What You Get From Us

• Rapid, practical make-safe work that protects people and property
• A clear explanation of options and costs before we start
• Time-stamped photos (before and after)
• An itemised invoice and brief work statement for insurers
• Sensible advice about the next steps for permanent glazing or joinery repair
• Respect for your premises—tidy, careful working and discreet presence, day or night

For pricing variables (materials, access, time of day), see our honest overview: Pricing.

What To Do Right Now If You’ve Had Accident Damage

• Keep people away from the damaged area. Don’t touch or move glass unless it’s an immediate safety issue.
• If a vehicle is involved and police have attended, keep your incident or reference number for your insurer.
• Take photos of the damage from a safe distance (inside and outside).
• Call your insurer early to log the incident and ask what they need.
• Call us to make safe with emergency boarding up—we’ll give a realistic ETA and bring the right materials.
• If you suspect structural damage (cracked lintel, distorted frame), mention it when you call.

If safe, turn off nearby electrics where water or broken glass may have reached sockets or displays.

Residential vs Commercial Considerations

Residential (houses, flats, maisonettes)

• Priority is safety and weatherproofing
• Internal boarding often preferred for minimal visual impact
• Landlords: we liaise with tenants where needed; see residential property boarding

Commercial (shops, offices, hospitality)

• Trading continuity and public safety are key
• Larger spans may need braced boarding, hoarding, or a lockable temporary door
• RAMS can be provided when required; see commercial property boarding

Vacant/void properties

• For medium-term security after impact, temporary steel doors or security screens may be appropriate. Learn more under vacant property solutions.

Insurance and Documentation

We work with policyholders, landlords, managing agents, and facilities teams across the UB area. While we don’t handle claims on your behalf, we provide what insurers typically need:

• Time-stamped photos (pre- and post-boarding)
• Itemised invoice with materials and labour
• A brief statement of what was secured and how
• On request, we can note suspected causes (e.g., vehicle impact) as described by you or observed on site

For more guidance, visit our insurance claims support.

When Accident Damage Overlaps With Other Incidents

Sometimes accidents coincide with other risks:

• Storms: Flying debris and water ingress—see storm damage support
• Fire service entry: Doors forced during response—see fire damage securing
• Flooding after impact: Swollen frames and ventilation issues—see flood damage guidance

If it’s a suspected break-in rather than accidental damage, head to burglary repairs and securing.

FAQs: Accident Damage in Uxbridge and UB Postcodes

Can you attend out of hours if my shopfront has been hit tonight?

Yes. We operate 24/7 emergency boarding up for the UB area. Call 01895 696 176 and we’ll prioritise your call and give a realistic ETA.

Will boarding make my premises look closed?

We aim for neat, professional temporary boarding. If you need to keep trading, we can create a secure access point or fit a temporary steel door. For the fastest stabilisation, see shopfront boarding.

What materials do you use for large windows on the high street?

Typically 18mm exterior-grade plywood with anti-tamper fixings. For wider spans, we may add internal bracing. We’ll explain the method on site.

I’m in UB8—can you board from inside so it’s less noticeable?

Often yes. Internal boarding protects frames and reduces street visibility. We’ll assess on arrival and agree the best approach.

The door won’t lock after the impact. Can you still secure it?

Yes. We can board the doorway or install a temporary steel door so you can lock up securely. See door boarding up.

Do you provide paperwork for my insurer?

Yes. You’ll receive time-stamped photos, an itemised invoice, and a short work statement. More info: insurance claims.

There’s glass over the pavement—what should I do until you arrive?

Keep people away and, if safe, cordon the area with tape, chairs, or signage. Do not handle large shards. We’ll clear loose hazards as part of making safe.

How long does the boarding need to stay in place?

Until permanent repairs are ready. For short gaps, plywood is fine; for longer periods or vacant sites, we may recommend a temporary steel door or security screens.

Related Services and Next Steps

• Need windows made safe now? Visit window boarding in Uxbridge.
• Door compromised? Go to door boarding up.
• For commercial impacts, see shopfront boarding.
• Overhead damage? Learn about roof and skylight boarding.
• If this is urgent, head straight to 24-hour emergency boarding up.

We cover the whole UB area, including Uxbridge, Hillingdon, Hayes, West Drayton, Yiewsley, and beyond. Typical attendance varies by time of day and workload—call for a realistic ETA.

Need Help Now?

Need to make safe after an impact? Call 01895 696 176 for immediate assistance, or visit our 24-hour emergency boarding up page. Prefer email? Contact [email protected].