Emergency Fire Board Up in Pendleton, IN
Firefighters had to break the front window, force the back door and cut a hole in the roof to vent the smoke. Now it's night, and your house is wide open to rain, raccoons and anyone walking past. Call Unify Fire Solutions and a dispatcher will connect you with an independent board-up crew near Pendleton.
- Windows, doors and roof openings covered
- The referral line is free and open 24/7
- Residential and commercial buildings
What to Expect From the Crew You Get
Unify Fire Solutions is a free referral service; the board-up crew is an independent local business. Here's what our dispatchers look for when they line one up.
Independent, Licensed and Insured
Climbing a fire-weakened roof after dark is risky work, and coverage matters. Ask the independent crew for proof of liability and workers' comp before they set a ladder.
Upfront Written Estimates
The crew should count the openings, measure them and write a line-item estimate before cutting a single sheet. That document goes straight into your claim file.
Dispatch Begins Right Away
A dispatcher starts calling independent crews near Pendleton as soon as you hang up. Arrival depends on who's free and how far they're driving, but same-night work is common.
The Right Board-Up Gear
A properly stocked truck carries plywood or OSB, lumber, bolts, saws, impact drivers, heavy tarps and work lights. No guesswork, no trip back to the store at midnight.
Closing Up Every Opening the Fire Left
Ventilation and forced entry are how firefighters save a building, and they leave it full of holes. These are the jobs a board-up crew in our network usually handles.
Broken Windows Covered Solid
Most crews cut 1/2" or 5/8" plywood or OSB to overlap the frame and hold it with 2x4 strongbacks inside, tied through with carriage bolts. Bolts can't be backed out from the street the way exterior screws can.
- Loose glass knocked out of the sash first
- Panel overlaps the opening on every side
- Upper-floor windows reached by ladder or lift
Doors Rebuilt as Locked Access
Forced-entry doors rarely close properly afterward. Crews either bolt a solid panel over it or build a plywood access door on hinges with a hasp and padlock. Ask for at least one locking access point so adjusters and later crews can get in without tearing boards off.
Covering Roof Vent Holes
Vertical ventilation means a saw-cut hole in your roof, often several feet across. The crew stretches a heavy reinforced tarp well past the hole, wraps the edges around wood battens and fastens the battens down so wind can't get under it. Big openings sometimes get a plywood deck patch before tarping.
Glass and Debris Removal
Broken glass and charred debris spread around the yard and walkways. The crew bags loose glass and debris and sets anything that might be claimable aside for inspection.
Fence Panels and Site Security
When a structure has collapsed sections or the whole lot is a hazard, temporary chain-link fence panels keep people out. Some crews add warning signs and motion lights for extra security. Fence panels are usually rented by the week, so ask how that's listed on the estimate.
Securing a Business Storefront
Wide storefront glass calls for framed panels and extra bracing to cover the span. A locking service door lets you remove inventory, files and cash drawers while the front stays sealed.
Why Boarding Up Can't Wait Until Morning
Almost every property policy includes a duty to protect the property from further loss. Rain through an untarped roof or a looted house can be treated as a separate, avoidable loss. Securing the building is how you meet that obligation, and the reasonable cost is typically covered.
Take photos of every opening before it's covered, since the adjuster may not see the house until it's boarded. They document exactly what the firefighters opened up.
Safe Steps Until the Truck Pulls Up
You don't need to climb a ladder or handle broken glass yourself. Some quick steps from the ground will speed up the job and help the claim.
- Circle the building and make a list of each opening the fire crews left.
- Take photos and video of each opening, the roof from the street and glass on the ground.
- Clear the driveway so the crew can park near the house with their plywood.
- Grab medication, wallets, documents and phone chargers only if the fire department says it's safe.
- Let a neighbor know nobody is staying there and ask them to report anyone poking around.
- Keep pets away from the yard, where glass and nails are scattered.
Scrappers and burglars look for empty burnt-out homes, where copper, wiring and tools sit unguarded. An open attic invites raccoons and birds almost immediately, and an open door invites squatters. Getting it closed tonight matters far more than making it pretty.
Is the House Open Right Now?
Don't spend the night guarding the driveway. Call and dispatch starts looking for an independent crew in Pendleton right away.
Call +1-833-336-1630 TonightFrom Open House to Locked Up
- 1
Phone the Dispatch Line
Give a rough count of broken windows and forced doors, mention any roof opening and say whether it's one story or two. The crew uses those numbers to stock the truck.
- 2
The Board-Up Crew Arrives
You'll get a call from the contractor with a realistic window based on distance and workload. Lights go up first so they can see the openings and the glass on the ground.
- 3
On-Site Count and Written Estimate
The crew walks the exterior, measures each opening, checks the roof from a ladder and writes up the estimate. Approve it, and they start cutting.
- 4
Locked Up and Walked Through
When the last panel is bolted and the tarp is battened down, walk the perimeter with the crew. Make sure you have the padlock key and photos of the finished work for your adjuster.
How Other Callers Got Secured
The firefighters cut a big hole in our roof and the forecast called for rain by dawn. The crew got a tarp wrapped on battens over it by flashlight, and it held through a hard storm two days later.
The back slider was shattered and the front door was splintered from the forced entry. They bolted panels on with strongbacks inside and built a little plywood door with a padlock so my adjuster could get in. I didn't have to drive over every time someone needed access.
Fire in the shop next door blew out our front glass. They framed the opening, sealed it with OSB and left a locking door so we could pull inventory out the next morning. Nobody got in overnight.
Questions About Securing Your Property
Does homeowners insurance pay for emergency board-up after a fire?
In most cases, yes. Because nearly every policy includes a duty to prevent further loss, reasonable board-up and tarp costs are typically covered under the claim. Hold onto the estimate, the final invoice and your photos for the adjuster.
Why do board-up crews use carriage bolts instead of screws?
Screws driven from outside can be backed out by anyone with a cordless drill. Carriage bolts pass through the panel and a 2x4 strongback inside the opening, with the smooth round head facing out, so there's nothing to grab or unscrew from the street. Some crews still use screws on upper windows that no one can reach.
Should I take pictures before the house gets boarded up?
Absolutely, and before any plywood covers the damage. Shoot every broken pane, the damaged door frame, the roof opening and the debris on the ground. Once everything is covered, your adjuster can't see the original damage without removing panels.
How do adjusters and contractors get inside once everything is boarded?
Ask the crew to build at least one hinged access door with a hasp and padlock. You keep the key, or put it in a lockbox so the adjuster and later contractors can let themselves in. Otherwise, someone has to remove a sealed panel every time access is needed.
How long can plywood and a roof tarp stay up?
Properly fastened panels and a battened tarp can last for months during the claim process. Roof tarps break down quicker than plywood, so look at it after heavy wind or rain. If anything shifts, have the crew come back right away to resecure it.
Can a board-up crew keep squatters and animals out of a vacant fire house?
A properly secured shell is your strongest defense. Crews seal all lower openings, cover crawlspace and attic vents, and add fencing when the lot needs it. Drive by when you can, and tell the neighbors to call you if anything looks disturbed.
Securing Buildings in Pendleton, IN
Our dispatchers send independent board-up contractors to homes and businesses throughout Pendleton and surrounding areas. Single-family homes, duplexes, apartments, garages, shops and restaurants all get the same approach.
- Broken windows
- Forced-entry doors
- Roof vent holes
- Storefront glass
- Detached garages
- Vacant rentals
An open building doesn't stay empty for long. Call now, and if the first contractor isn't the right fit, call back and we'll connect you with another one.
