Raleigh Board Up Experts provides emergency board up services to homeowners, landlords and businesses throughout the greater Raleigh area. We secure skylights, damaged entry doors, shattered storefront glass and sliding patio panels left exposed by vehicle impacts, fire, vandalism or storms. From a single broken window to a full storefront, we cover every opening to keep out rain, wind, intruders and looters and to protect the property from further damage. Contact us for a free quote today.
Can I Just Nail Plywood Over a Broken Window Myself?
For a single ground-floor pane after a minor break-in, maybe. Most emergency board-ups involve far more than that. Fire, storm, and vehicle-impact damage leave loose shards in the sash, weakened framing, and sometimes compromised headers, none of which a homeowner on a ladder at night can safely assess. A crew clears the remaining glass, checks the framing, and photographs everything before covering it. That photo record gives your insurance adjuster the documentation a rushed DIY job usually skips.
Is Boarding Up a Waste of Money If the Window Is Being Replaced Anyway?
No. Skipping it is often what makes the final bill balloon. An open window or door lets rain soak drywall, insulation, and subflooring within hours, and that water damage can escalate into mold remediation that costs far more than the glass itself. Most homeowner policies also require you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, so leaving an opening exposed can give your insurer grounds to deny follow-on water or theft claims.
Does Nailing Plywood to the Window Trim Hold It Securely?
Not reliably. Trim is thin decorative wood that splits and pulls loose under wind load or a pry bar. A proper board-up uses exterior-grade plywood, typically 5/8-inch or thicker, either screwed into the structural framing or held by 2x4 strongbacks bolted through the opening from inside. Screws also back out cleanly when the glazier arrives. Nails tear up the frame and can turn a simple sash replacement into a full window-and-trim job.
Should I Wait for the Insurance Adjuster Before Boarding Anything Up?
No. After a storm, fire, or widespread break-ins, adjusters routinely take days to arrive. Insurers want the damage documented, not left open, and dated photos and video of the opening, the glass, and the surrounding area taken before covering meet that requirement. Boarding up within the first few hours keeps out weather, animals, and looters, and the adjuster can still inspect the damage behind the plywood or review the crew's photo record.
Does a Cracked Window That's Still in One Piece Need Boarding Up?
Often, yes. A cracked pane has lost most of its strength and can fail completely with a temperature swing, a strong gust, or someone leaning on it. Tempered glass is especially unpredictable because it can shatter all at once, hours after the initial impact. Openings exposed to fire or storms deserve a closer look even when the glass appears intact. Any of these signs means it's time to cover the opening instead of waiting:
- Cracks spreading from the edges or corners of the pane
- Glass shifting or rattling loose in the frame
- Frame warped, charred, or pulling away from the wall
- Door won't latch or lock after a forced entry
- Drafts or water getting in around a pane that looks intact
How Much Does Emergency Board Up Cost?
Emergency board-up typically costs $285 to $1,950 per call-out, which covers glass cleanup, plywood, fasteners, and photo documentation. Price depends most on how many openings need covering and how large they are, whether upper-floor windows call for ladders or a lift, and whether damaged framing has to be braced with strongbacks before the plywood goes up. Expect a premium over the standard daytime rate for after-hours, weekend, and storm-surge calls.
Our Service Area
We serve customers nationwide, including in these cities:
North Carolina
- Aberdeen, NC
- Anderson Creek, NC
- Angier, NC
- Apex, NC
- Archer Lodge, NC
- Barbecue, NC
- Benson, NC
- Briar Chapel, NC
- Buies Creek, NC
- Butner, NC
- Carrboro, NC
- Cary, NC
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Clayton, NC
- Clinton, NC
- Creedmoor, NC
- Dunn, NC
- Durham, NC
- East Rockingham, NC
- Elroy, NC
- Erwin, NC
- Fuquay-Varina, NC
- Garner, NC
- Goldsboro, NC
- Hamlet, NC
- Henderson, NC
- Hillsborough, NC
- Holly Springs, NC
- Kinston, NC
- Knightdale, NC
- Laurinburg, NC
- Lillington, NC
- Louisburg, NC
- Morrisville, NC
- Mount Olive, NC
- Nashville, NC
- Oxford, NC
- Pinehurst, NC
- Pittsboro, NC
- Raleigh, NC
- Red Oak, NC
- Roanoke Rapids, NC
- Rockingham, NC
- Rocky Mount, NC
- Rolesville, NC
- Roxboro, NC
- Sanford, NC
- Selma, NC
- Seven Lakes, NC
- Siler City, NC
- Smithfield, NC
- Southern Pines, NC
- Spout Springs, NC
- Tarboro, NC
- Wake Forest, NC
- Wendell, NC
- Whispering Pines, NC
- Wilson, NC
- Zebulon, NC