Emergency Board-Up: Information to Have Ready When You Call

When a door or window is damaged, a clear description helps coordinate temporary protection and the later permanent repair. Provide the address, a safe description of the opening and a reachable site contact before attempting to gather detailed measurements.

An exposed storefront, entrance or window can create an urgent property-management problem. Temporary board-up and permanent replacement are separate scopes. The first conversation should establish the location, immediate access concerns and what information is safely available, followed by a discussion of the proposed temporary work.

Start with the location and contact details

Provide the complete address, unit or business name, contact telephone number and the person authorized to approve work. Explain how the contractor can access the property and whether a property manager, tenant or security representative will meet them. Mention loading restrictions and any site access arrangements already in place.

Describe whether the damaged opening is a door, window, sidelight or storefront panel. State how many openings are affected and whether the property is occupied. If you have approximate dimensions from existing records, share them and identify them as estimates.

Gather photographs only when it is safe

Do not approach broken glass, unstable materials, exposed electrical equipment or an active threat to obtain a photograph. Contact the appropriate emergency authority first when there is immediate danger. The contractor can tell you what further information is needed after hearing the situation.

Where photographs can be taken safely, a wider view helps identify the opening and its surroundings. An inside and outside view may show different damage. Share existing photographs without removing glass, hardware or loose materials for a closer look. Avoid including unnecessary personal information in the images you send.

Explain how the building is being used

Identify entrances and routes that occupants rely on, and tell the contractor about access-control equipment, operating hours and property-management instructions. Temporary protection needs a site-specific plan that considers required access and emergency egress. Do not assume an occupied entrance can simply be blocked.

Ask who will confirm the temporary method on arrival, what the proposed price includes and how additional damage will be handled if discovered. Clarify the expected arrival arrangements directly; sending an online enquiry does not by itself confirm a dispatch or arrival time.

Keep temporary and permanent work separate

A board-up does not restore the original performance of a damaged door or window assembly. The permanent scope may include a leaf, frame, glazing, hardware, seals and surrounding finishes. Ask how that follow-up assessment will be arranged and whether any specialist work is required.

Keep photographs, the opening description and work documentation together for your property records. If an insurer is involved, ask the insurer what documentation it requires and confirm authorization requirements directly. Do not assume that coverage or reimbursement has been approved.

Contact Just Doors about the opening

Our emergency door and window board-up page explains the service scope and contact information. Call 778-773-2790 to discuss the location, availability and immediate requirements. For later replacement planning, use the door-and-frame assessment guide and quote comparison checklist.

For Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey and other Lower Mainland projects, include the municipality with the address so the service enquiry can be assessed accurately.

Published September 29, 2026 · Just Doors