Boarding Up Door Isn't As Tough As You Think
Why Boarding Up a Doorway Is a Good Idea
Guard your windows and doors from the elements by boarding them up. It also helps keep out vandals and curious animals.
Start at the top of your window before you are boarding it up. This way, you can utilize gravity to your advantage.
Protection from vandals
When a building is left empty it opens up an for vandals, thieves and squatters looking for easy access. The boarding up of the windows and doors of the building is the initial step to reduce the risk. By boarding up the building, it not only protects it from burglars, but also from weather damage and curious visitors.
It is crucial to secure all entry points when you are boarding up a vacant property and even those that aren't traditional entry points, such as basements and skylights. These areas can be used as a place to conceal or escape during a break in. These areas can be boarded to ensure the safety and security of all occupants, including pets and children.
The most common way to secure a vacant home is using plywood boards, that are secured with nails. While this is a viable option in the short term but it's not ideal if you want to offer the most protection to your property. Plywood is easily removed with a simple tool, which makes it a weak deterrent for criminals. Steel security screens are available, which are fixed with anti-tampering fixings. They are designed to be difficult to remove and require the use of sophisticated tools that petty criminals will not have.
In addition to being more resistant to damage, steel security screens are a more appealing option than typical timber or uPVC boards that are commonly employed. They can be used on a wide range of residential and commercial structures, including showrooms, retail stores and glazed areas in offices. Steel is also available in a variety of finishes, which means it can be used to complement the existing aesthetic of the building and improve its curb appeal.
Contact a professional emergency boards service if you need to board a window or a door in the event of an emergency. They will be able to provide a rapid response and secure your home while it is being repaired. They will take the time to assess your property and devise a plan of action to prevent further damage.
Animal protection
In some cases the reason why the property that is vacant needs to be fenced off is not to stop vandalism, but to protect animals and the people who live there. Animals are attracted to vacant homes for a variety of reasons such as shelter, food and curiosity. If animals are allowed to enter a house or business, they could cause a lot of damage and create danger to those living within. This can be prevented by boarding up the ground floor entrances, and at least one window on the upper floor. If the windows are located above the first floor and don't pass this test the openings should be secured, not boarded.
Protection from fire
A doorway that is sandblasted can protect against fire. This is especially the case in the event of lots of soot and smoke accumulation. It can also stop the spread of fire to other areas of the home or business. Boarding up a doorway or window can also prevent rain and other elements harming the structure.
Following a fire, or other catastrophe the property is left empty and vulnerable. The process isn't always straightforward but it is necessary to safeguard the building and minimize further damage. Emergency boarding can be arranged by professional firms, or homeowners can do it themselves. It is crucial to follow the proper steps and procedures to complete the task properly.
It is vital to prepare for a storm before it happens however, not all home and business owners have the time. Placing boards on windows and doors can reduce the damage caused by wind and flying debris in severe storms. Specialized boarding solutions, such as shutters or hurricane panels can provide additional protection.
These boards are designed to withstand high winds and are attached to windows or doors with carriage bolts. If the building is constructed of masonry, the bolts may be secured using screws or a masonry anchor. The boarding must be cautiously installed to ensure that it does not sag or loosen over time. After the boarding is installed, it must be checked on a regular basis to ensure that it is safe.
The boards that are on a property secure will aid in keeping vermin and pests away from the site. A damaged or unfinished structure could invite rodents, mice and squirrels as well as other undesirable guests. Boarding up the structure can help keep these undesirable creatures from invading the property, and also protect occupants from the health risks they pose to health.
Boarding up boarding up property is a labor intensive and time-consuming procedure. It is a great idea to prepare the materials in advance to ensure they are readily available at the time of need. This will save valuable time and effort, and will ensure that the job is completed correctly. Label each piece of plywood and then store it in a safe location until you need it.
Protection from pests
Windows and doors on a vacant home are an invitation to all kinds of unwanted creatures. Broken windows can offer the possibility of burglars to use the building as an area to hide, scavengers that can cause further damage and cause liabilities, or even squatters who will seek shelter or food, or an area to live. Boarding up doors and windows can stop them from entering and shield a home from further damage.
In addition to stopping the entry of pests into a structure by boarding doors and windows can also aid in insulating it from the elements. This will reduce the amount of water that can enter a building which could damage interior finishes and increase the chance of a fire. In addition, the insulation will provide a buffer against noise that could be emanating from the outside.
Lastly, a boarding up service can help prevent the spread of harmful microorganisms that could result from a vacant building. These microorganisms can include bacteria, viruses and molds as well as fungi. These microorganisms may damage or contaminate materials such as wood, concrete and even metal. They can also cause illness or death in animals and humans.
One of the best ways to safeguard a vacant investment property from such threats is to secure all windows and doors. In certain situations, it could be necessary to cover other entrances like the windows in the basement of commercial properties or the skylights in residential buildings. In any case, it's essential to ensure that the material used to boarding up the entrance is correctly labeled so that it can be easily identified and stored for future use.
In most instances, plywood can be purchased at any large hardware store. However, it is advised that you buy the highest quality plywood available so that it will last for as long as is possible and will not need to be replaced. Select a clear caulking for the the frame of the door. This will also help protect the quality of the threshold, preventing bugs from crawling under the door. Installing a door sweep is a simple and inexpensive method of covering the space between the threshold and the floor. It is best to use the use of a nylon brush since it's more effective that vinyl or neoprene.