Boarding Up: The Good The Bad And The Ugly
Boarding Up a Door
Protecting your business or home from damage is achievable by putting up a board on a door. It's a common service during the time of storms.
It's not a good idea for vacant property. Boarded-up vacant houses tend to lose value in the area around them. There are alternatives to plywood boards that could be more appealing and offer the same security.
Preparation
Boarding up a door provides effective protection from damage in the event of natural or severe weather event. However, this process is time-consuming and complicated based on the number of doors and windows to protect. It is essential to plan beforehand to ensure that the boarding process can be accomplished efficiently. A thorough preparation will also ensure that the boards are secure to ensure maximum security and protection.
Start by assessing your property's needs and choosing the appropriate materials and equipment. It is recommended to choose plywood. It is readily available at most hardware stores and is more durable than Oriental Strand board (OSB). It is also essential to use a thicker, more durable material that is able to endure powerful winds. 5/8-inch thickness is the ideal. Cut the plywood using a circular blade. If you can mark the boards using the corresponding window or door openings so that they can easily identified and stored until required.
After the plywood is cut and measured, it is then able to be placed on the window or doors frame and secured by screws. Braces can be used to strengthen and increase the stability of the frame, if needed. Pre-drilling holes for screws is important to avoid splitting and to make insertion simpler. Once the boards are secured, you can apply caulk or weatherstripping to fill in any gaps. This will also improve the protection.
It is recommended that you board up all windows and doors with glass that are on the ground floor of a home or business. This will protect the glass from the elements and debris in severe storms. It will also lower the possibility of vandals and burglars breaking into your home.
Materials
When a building becomes vacant, it is often required to encase the doors and windows to protect against intruders and weather. While the most common solution is plywood, a more secure option is steel security screens. They are wedged in place and secured with anti-tamper screws and cannot be removed using crowbars or any other tools that are commonly used in homes.
The first step is to prepare the area for boarding. Take away all broken glass and debris before placing a piece of plywood on the floor, which will act as the foundation plate. Use screws that are compatible with concrete fasteners, such as Torx to secure the 2"x4" frame to the floor of the door opening. Then using either metal or wood shmming, lift the frame and the lintel until it is at the height of zero on the wall. Repeat this process at least three times and use the lowest measurement for the door's height.
Protection against burglars: An empty structure is an invitation to thieves, vandals, and squatters who will enter and cause damage. A quick and effective emergency boarding up 24/7-up helps to stop burglars from entering and keeps the property safe until the property can be fixed.
Wildlife protection The open structure is also a big invite for squirrels, rats as well as raccoons and other undesirable animals to get inside and cause further damage. A simple boarding-up will keep the pests out until they are dealt to permanently.
It is important to cover a storefront with plywood during hurricanes and strong storms. This is also true in areas where there is civil disturbance or the risk of looting. Plywood boards are a good way to protect windows from flying debris and also serve as a security measure against criminals. An alternative that is more secure is security screens made of steel, which are fixed to windows with anti-tamper screws and are only removed with specialist tools that criminals don't have access to.
Measurement
The boarding up of doors is a crucial step in protecting vacant properties from storms, preventing break-ins, and other security threats. The procedure is simple to follow and requires only a few carpentry skills. To ensure that the boards are secure and provide effective protection, it is crucial to prepare them thoroughly. This includes cleaning the frame and door and examining for any damage, sanding rough areas and drilling pilot holes to stop splitting and facilitate screw insertion.
Use a tape measure to accurately determine the width and height of the door or window. Be sure to make multiple measurements to ensure accuracy, and be sure to include the window framing (but not the trim around or structural framing). This will help you to calculate the number of sheets of plywood you need to purchase.
The importance of boarding up doors isn't just important to protect buildings from extreme weather conditions, but also for vacant house and business security. Without a secure boardup on doors and windows, vandals, squatters, and other intruders can easily get into the doors. A secure boarding system can help to deter burglars as it creates an obstacle that requires more force to overcome.
To board up the door correctly it is necessary to first take off the hardware that is in place and put it in a safe location to be reinstalled in the future. Then clean the door and frame and wipe them clean with a damp cloth to remove dust and debris for better adhesion. After that smooth any rough areas to smooth them out, and then dry the surface using the help of a towel.
Cutting
The process of boarding up a building is the process of covering windows and doors with plywood sheets in order to protect them from further damage. This is often done when the building has been damaged by fire, flood or other natural disasters. It can also be used to protect buildings that are being renovated or repaired. It can prevent unauthorized access as well as break-ins. It can deter further damage during the cleaning and restoration process.
The first step in the process of boarding up company near me up is to evaluate the building and figure out the reason for boarding it up. This will help you select the right materials and methods to complete the task. It is possible to reinforce boards with extra blocks, or build frames made of steel to increase security and stability. You might also have to add tamper proof screws, anti lift plates deadbolts, deadbolts, or window films to increase the security of your home.
Put on your safety gear when you are ready to begin the boarding process. If you are able you can use a ladder reach windows and doors that you want to secure. Begin with a partner. This ensures everyone's safety and helps to move the sheets of plywood. It's also important to note that working with power tools, broken glass, or other debris is risky. It is best to seek out an expert if uncertain about how to safely tackle these tasks.
Once the plywood has been cut to size then it's time to begin installing it. First, you'll need to remove the threshold from the door's bottom opening. Next, you'll want to draw an outline of the marks on the plywood using the threshold as template. After that, you'll need to cut the marks using the aid of a saw (pictures 6, 7 and 8). Make use of a powersaw that has the cut depth that is the same as the thickness the steel sheets for security.
Installation
Boarding up a door is an essential step when a property is empty and requires to be secured against theft, vandalism or other dangers. It also shields the property boarding up from the elements. By boarding up your property, you can help stop water, debris and wind from causing damage to the structure. It also deters squatters, and other uninvited visitors.
When boarding up a door or window, it is important to make sure that the boards are securely in the correct position. Criminals and other squatters could easily remove them if they are not secured. This can be accomplished using various methods. For example, you can use a strong bracket to hold the board. You could also pair 2x4s with a carriage bolt in order to secure the board. This is especially helpful for older homes.
Steel sheets for security are a more durable choice. They are available in a variety of sizes that can be used in the majority of properties. They can be perforated or solid. They are supplied in large sheets that are cut on the spot by the installation team to ensure they accurately fit the window frame or other openings that require boarding up. Steel is typically more expensive than plywood however it offers higher levels of protection and lasts for years.
When boarding up a door with steel security, it's crucial to use anti-tamper screws. They are more expensive than standard screws but offer an increased level of security. They can only be put in with a special tool, which makes them harder to remove. This is a major benefit over plywood that can be easily removed by criminals using ordinary tools.