Shopfront Boarding in Harrow (Emergency & Planned Security Across HA Postcodes)

A smashed shop window is more than an inconvenience — it’s a security risk, a safety issue for the public, and a fast route to further theft or damage if the premises is left open. Our shopfront boarding in Harrow is designed to secure commercial glazing quickly and professionally across the HA postcode area (HA0–HA9), whether you’ve had a break-in, vandalism, an accident, or storm damage.

If you need urgent help, call us now: Call 020 4634 5472. If you’d rather send details and photos, email [email protected].

We regularly secure shopfronts around busy areas such as Station Road and St Ann’s Road in Harrow, the parades by Wealdstone High Street, and the retail stretches near Kenton Road and Rayners Lane — places where footfall is high and leaving a frontage exposed overnight isn’t an option.

When shopfront boarding is the right call (and when it isn’t)

Shopfront boarding is usually needed when:

Toughened or laminated glazing has shattered or “spider-webbed” and can’t be made safe
The glazing is missing entirely after a burglary or impact
Frames are bent or compromised and the unit can’t be locked
There’s a risk of injury from loose glass or a sharp edge at pavement level
The premises will be unattended (overnight, weekends, or while you wait for new glass)

It may not be the best solution if you need medium-term access while keeping the frontage secure — in those cases, a temporary steel door or steel security screens can be a better fit. We’ll talk you through options on the phone and recommend what’s practical for your premises.

If the situation is urgent outside normal hours, use our dedicated urgent help page: emergency boarding up.

Common emergency use-cases we handle in Harrow & HA

Break-ins and attempted break-ins

We often see “snatch and grab” style attacks on front glazing where offenders want quick access or a fast exit route. Even if stock hasn’t been taken, a broken shopfront invites repeat attempts.

If you’re dealing with a crime scene, keep safety and police instructions first. Once you’re cleared to secure the premises, we can board up and help you document the damage for your insurer. Related guidance: burglary repairs and boarding.

Vandalism and deliberate damage

Stone impacts, kicked panels, and damage around shutters/doors can leave a frontage unstable. If your premises is on a parade or near transport links, exposure can turn into repeat vandalism quickly.

See also: vandalism repair and boarding.

Accidents and vehicle impact

A low-speed collision into a shopfront, bollards, or a corner frame can twist aluminium sections and pop glazing out of its gasket. Boarding isn’t just to stop entry — it can prevent further collapse of cracked panels.

More on this: accident and impact damage boarding.

Storm damage

High winds can loosen signage, dislodge panels, and break older glazing — especially where frames are already tired. Boarding provides immediate weatherproofing while you arrange replacements.

More on this: storm damage boarding.

Fire and smoke incidents (securing only)

After a fire, glazing can craze and frames can be unsafe. We’re not a fire restoration company, but we can secure exposed openings once the building is safe to enter.

See: fire damage property securing.

How our shopfront boarding works (what we actually do on site)

No two shopfronts are identical — you might have aluminium framing, timber surrounds, side panels, double doors, or a fully glazed frontage. Our approach is to secure the site without creating unnecessary damage, but we’ll be straight with you if the frame condition means we can’t use non-destructive methods.

Typical steps:

Initial safety check and making safe
- Identify loose glass, unstable frames, and sharp edges
- If safe and appropriate, we clear dangerous shards around the working area (especially important on pavement-front premises)
Measure, plan fixing points, and select boards
- We size panels to cover the full vulnerable area
- Where possible, we avoid fixing through visible decorative features or signage
Fit boards using secure fixings
- For many shopfronts, we use anti-tamper fixings and robust methods designed to resist removal from outside
- We aim for a close, clean fit to reduce leverage points and draught ingress
Check security and handover
- Confirm doors/secondary entrances remain usable (if required)
- Provide time-stamped photos, plus a clear work description for records and insurance

If we find the frame is too damaged to safely board to (e.g., the surrounding structure is loose), we’ll explain the issue before proceeding and discuss alternatives.

Materials we use for shopfront boarding (and why)

For commercial boarding, the material choice matters: it affects strength, resistance to tampering, and how well the premises is protected from weather.

We commonly use:

18mm exterior-grade plywood for strong, reliable protection on larger openings
- Better resistance to impact and flex than thinner sheet
- Suitable for most shopfront window apertures and door-adjacent panels
OSB (typically 12mm for smaller sections) where appropriate
- Useful for certain sizes and internal boarding requirements
- Not always the best choice for large, street-facing frontages, so we’ll recommend plywood when needed
Anti-tamper fixings and coach screws/bolts (as appropriate)
- The goal is to prevent boards being “peeled off” from the street side
- Fixing method depends on frame type (timber surround vs aluminium vs masonry reveals)

Where a property is likely to remain vacant for longer, we may recommend stepped-up security options (depending on the building and access requirements), such as steel security screens or a temporary steel door rather than repeated re-boarding after further attempts. If that’s relevant, we’ll discuss it openly.

Related services:

door boarding in Harrow (if your entrance door has been forced)
window boarding in Harrow (for side windows, offices, and upper floors)

Minimising disruption for trading premises

Many Harrow businesses can’t simply “shut for the week” — especially convenience stores, barbers, takeaways, and small retail units. When the layout allows, we can board only the damaged panels while keeping a safe, lockable entrance available.

If you need the premises secured but also need staff access for stock removal or clean-down, tell us on the call — we’ll plan the boarding to suit.

A note on signage and branding: boarding is primarily a security measure. We aim to keep boards neat and aligned, but we don’t provide decorative hoarding or printed panels. If you need a more “presentation-friendly” solution for a longer period, security screens are often a better route.

What you’ll receive after we board up your shopfront

To make the next steps easier (especially if you’re dealing with a landlord, insurer, managing agent, or facilities team), we can provide:

Time-stamped photos of the damage and the completed boarding
An itemised invoice and written description of the works carried out
Notes on any additional vulnerabilities spotted (rear doors, side alleys, shared access routes)

We’re not loss adjusters or legal advisers, but we’re used to the documentation insurers typically ask for. More guidance here: insurance claims support.

Shopfront boarding across Harrow & HA (where we work)

We cover Harrow and the full HA postcode area (HA0–HA9). That includes securing shopfronts in and around:

Harrow (HA1) including Harrow town centre routes near Harrow-on-the-Hill Station
Wealdstone and Kenton (HA3) where there are long retail parades and busy evening footfall
Rayners Lane and South Harrow (HA2) with mixed parades and restaurant/takeaway frontage
Wembley areas (HA0/HA9) where high-traffic locations can be vulnerable after incidents

If you’re looking for a local page for your area, start here: areas we cover.

A realistic example: late-night shopfront damage near Harrow town centre

A small retail unit just off Station Road reported a shattered front pane late evening after an attempted break-in. Police attended first, and once the scene was released the priority was stopping access from the pavement and making the frontage safe for neighbouring units.

We attended, measured the opening, and installed 18mm exterior-grade plywood fixed with anti-tamper fixings to reduce the chance of removal overnight. The customer received time-stamped photos and a clear invoice description so they could forward it to their insurer and the managing agent the next morning.

FAQs about shopfront boarding in Harrow

How quickly can you board up a smashed shop window in Harrow?

We prioritise urgent, security-critical calls, especially where the frontage is open to the street. We can’t guarantee fixed arrival times because traffic, access, and the nature of the damage varies — but if you call 020 4634 5472 we’ll assess urgency and give you a realistic expectation.

If it’s out-of-hours, use emergency boarding up.

Is boarding up covered by insurance for commercial premises?

Often it can be, depending on your policy and circumstances. We’re not your insurer, but we can provide the documentation they usually request (photos, work summary, invoice). See insurance claims support for practical guidance.

Will boarding damage my shopfront frame?

We aim to use methods that are secure and sensible for the structure. On many shopfronts we can fix into suitable surrounds and avoid unnecessary damage. If the frame is already compromised (twisted aluminium, rotten timber, loose masonry), we’ll explain the safest option before proceeding.

Can you board up just part of the frontage so we can still access the shop?

Where the layout allows, yes. Many premises need staff access for stock, cleaning, or temporary operation. Tell us what you need when you call and we’ll plan the boarding accordingly.

Do you cover Wembley and surrounding HA postcodes as well as Harrow?

Yes — we work across HA0 to HA9, including Wembley areas and the wider Harrow borough. For local coverage, see areas we cover.

What to do right now if your shopfront is broken

If you’re dealing with a fresh incident:

Make the area safe (keep staff/public away from broken glass)
Call the police if it’s a crime or there’s risk to the public
Take photos if safe to do so (helps with insurance and records)
Call us to secure the opening — especially before nightfall

For burglary-specific steps, see burglary repairs and boarding.

Helpful Links

Get your shopfront secured

If your premises is exposed, don’t leave it overnight.

Need help now? Call 020 4634 5472 for immediate assistance.

For non-urgent enquiries and planned security, email us and include the address, a description of the damage, and any photos you can safely take.

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