Property Types We Secure Across Tonbridge (TN) – Residential, Commercial & Vacant

When you need boarding up in Tonbridge, the type of building matters. A smashed window in a ground-floor flat is very different to a damaged shopfront on a busy parade, and a vacant house between tenancies needs a different level of security again.

We provide boarding up services across Tonbridge and the wider TN postcode area (TN1–TN40) for homeowners, landlords, businesses, and facilities teams. Our technicians are DBS-checked, we’re fully insured, and we’ve been trading for 10+ years—so you can expect a calm, practical response and clear paperwork for your insurer.

Need urgent help? Call 01732 900 178 (out of hours available) or email [email protected].

The property types we work on

Most call-outs fall into three broad categories:

  • Residential properties: houses, flats, maisonettes, blocks of flats
  • Commercial properties: shops, offices, restaurants, light industrial units, schools and community buildings
  • Vacant/void properties: empty homes, repossessions, probate properties, buildings awaiting refurbishment, closed commercial premises

If you’re not sure which category you fit into, don’t worry—tell us what’s happened and what’s damaged, and we’ll guide you to the best way to make safe and secure the property.

For service-specific detail, see our main boarding up services or urgent help on emergency boarding up.

Residential boarding up in Tonbridge (houses, flats & blocks)

Residential call-outs are often stressful: a smashed window, a forced door after a break-in, or storm damage leaving the house exposed. The goal is simple—secure the opening quickly and leave it safe until a glazier or builder can complete the permanent repair.

Common residential situations we attend

  • Board up broken window after burglary or vandalism
  • Board up door where the lock has been forced or the frame has split
  • Storm damage to windows, patio doors, or conservatory panels
  • Accidental impacts (balls, falls, DIY mishaps)

If the incident relates to an event, you may also find these helpful:

How we typically secure residential openings

We choose materials and fixings based on the opening size, access, and whether you need short-term protection overnight or a more robust temporary solution:

  • 18mm exterior-grade plywood is common for larger windows/doors where strength matters
  • OSB (typically 12mm) can be suitable for smaller openings and short-term temporary boarding
  • Anti-tamper fixings where the property will be unattended (important for ground-floor access)
  • Consideration for ventilation and safety—especially after flood or fire-related incidents (we secure the property; remediation is separate)

If the frame is too damaged for a non-destructive approach, we’ll explain the options before proceeding—especially where a permanent repair will follow and you want to avoid unnecessary additional damage.

Flats and blocks: access and coordination

In flats above shops or blocks with shared entrances, access can be the main challenge. If needed, we can:

  • Liaise with a building manager/concierge for entry and permissions
  • Work around communal corridors and minimise disruption
  • Provide photos and a clear work statement for landlords and managing agents

Read more about our domestic approach on boarding up for residential properties.

Commercial boarding up (shops, offices & public buildings)

Commercial sites usually require a faster “make-safe” decision, because the risk of repeat damage and opportunistic entry is higher—especially if glass has failed at street level. We regularly secure:

  • Retail units and kiosks (including shopfront boarded up call-outs)
  • Office doors and ground-floor glazing
  • Restaurant/café frontage, side and rear service doors
  • Community buildings and schools (often needing clear documentation for estates teams)

Typical commercial call-outs in the TN area

  • Shopfront boarding after impact or attempted break-in
  • Out-of-hours security for a shattered pane to prevent stock loss
  • Boarding up side/rear doors following forced entry
  • Temporary closure security when glazing can’t be replaced immediately

For the most relevant service detail, see:

What commercial clients usually need (and what we provide)

Facilities managers and business owners often need more than “a board over the hole”. We aim to provide:

  • Clear, practical method of securing the opening (board size, fixing points, materials used)
  • Time-stamped photos before and after (where possible)
  • Itemised invoice suitable for insurance and internal sign-off
  • A concise work statement describing the make-safe work completed

If RAMS are required for your site, tell us when you call and we’ll confirm what we can provide.

Read more on boarding up for commercial properties.

Vacant and void property boarding up (between tenancies, probate & refurbishment)

Vacant properties can be deceptively vulnerable. Even a small broken window can become a repeated access point if the building looks unattended. The priority is to secure property effectively and reduce the chance of boards being removed from the outside.

When vacant property security is a good fit

  • Between tenants (residential or commercial)
  • Repossession/probate situations
  • Refurbishment projects with intermittent site activity
  • Buildings awaiting sale where you need peace of mind

Security options for longer-term protection

Depending on the risk level and how long the building will be empty, we’ll discuss:

  • Traditional boarding in plywood/OSB with anti-tamper fixings
  • Temporary steel doors where door damage is severe or you need a sturdier access solution
  • Security screens for repeat-risk windows (availability and suitability depend on the opening and site conditions)

If you’re managing multiple voids, we can also help you standardise documentation for handovers and insurer queries.

See boarding up for vacant properties.

Which boarding method is right for your building?

The “right” approach depends on three things:

  1. What’s damaged (window, door, shopfront, rooflight/skylight)
  2. How long you need it secured (overnight vs several weeks)
  3. The risk profile (busy frontage, secluded rear access, vacant/unoccupied)

Where it makes sense, we’ll recommend the most appropriate service page for details:

We’ll always tell you what we’re planning to do before we start—especially if the surrounding frame or brickwork is already compromised.

What to expect when you contact us

Even if you’re not sure what service you need yet, a short call helps us triage properly.

  1. Tell us what’s happened and what’s exposed
    A broken pane, a forced door, or a shopfront hit all have different priorities—especially out of hours.

  2. We ask a few practical questions
    Size of opening (roughly), ground-floor or upper-floor, whether the building is occupied, and whether there are hazards (loose glass, water ingress).

  3. We give a realistic ETA and confirm next steps
    We don’t quote fixed arrival times because conditions vary, but we prioritise urgent calls and we’ll be honest about what’s achievable tonight vs next day.

If it’s safe, take a couple of photos before we arrive. If police attended, keep your incident or crime reference number for your insurer.

Insurance-friendly documentation (especially helpful for landlords and businesses)

We’re not loss adjusters and we can’t advise on the legal side of claims, but we can provide what insurers typically ask for after emergency work:

  • Photos of the damage and the secured opening (where possible)
  • Itemised invoice
  • Work statement describing the make-safe measures taken

For more practical guidance, visit insurance claims support.

Coverage across Tonbridge and TN postcodes

We’re based around Tonbridge and cover TN1–TN40, including Tonbridge itself and surrounding towns and villages across Kent and East Sussex within the TN area.

If you’re looking for a nearby page, start here: areas we cover or see our local page for boarding up in Tonbridge (TN9).

FAQs – Property types and boarding up

Can you board up a flat window on an upper floor?

Yes, in many cases. Access is the key factor—tell us which floor you’re on and whether there’s safe internal access. If specialist access equipment is required, we’ll explain what we can do and what may need a different contractor.

Do you handle shopfronts and commercial glazing?

Yes. We provide shopfront boarding up and can secure large glazed openings using the correct materials and fixings. See shopfront boarding for details.

What if my door frame is split after a break-in?

We can often board up the door area or install a more secure temporary solution depending on the damage. If the frame is too compromised for a non-destructive approach, we’ll talk you through options before proceeding. See door boarding and burglary repairs.

Can you secure a vacant property so the boards aren’t easily removed?

We use anti-tamper fixings where appropriate and can advise on options better suited to longer-term void security. Start with vacant property boarding.

Is boarding up covered by insurance?

Often it is, particularly when it’s necessary to prevent further loss (for example, after a break-in or storm damage). Cover varies by policy, so check with your insurer. We provide photos, an itemised invoice, and a work statement—see insurance claims.

I’m a landlord—can you send documentation for my tenant’s incident?

Yes. We can provide the paperwork landlords and letting agents usually need (photos where possible, invoice, work statement). If the tenant is on-site, we’ll coordinate access and keep disruption to a minimum.

Can you come out out of hours?

We offer out of hours assistance and prioritise urgent situations where the property is exposed. For urgent help, use our 24/7 emergency boarding up page.

How do I know which service I need—window, door, shopfront or roof?

Tell us what’s exposed and we’ll guide you. You can also browse:

Ready to secure your property?

If you’ve had a smashed window, need to board up a broken window, or want to secure a building before it becomes a target, we’ll talk you through the options and help you make the right call for your property type.

Ready to get started? Call 01732 900 178 or email us for a free, no-obligation quote.