Emergency Fire Board Up in Sharpes, FL
To fight the fire, the engine company smashed out windows, pried open a door and opened up the roof. Tonight the house is open to weather, wildlife and whoever comes looking. One free call to Unify Fire Solutions starts the search for an independent board-up crew in Sharpes.
- Windows, doors and roof openings covered
- Free call, answered day and night
- 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
Board-up means ladders, roof work and power saws at night, so insurance matters. Ask for proof of the contractor's liability and workers' comp coverage before anyone climbs.
Upfront Written Estimates
Before any plywood gets cut, expect a written estimate that lists each opening and the materials for it. That document goes straight into your claim file.
Rapid Local Dispatch
The moment you call, a dispatcher starts contacting board-up crews close to Sharpes. Arrival depends on who's free and how far they're driving, but same-night work is common.
Tools Built for Securing
Expect a truck with sheet goods, 2x4s, carriage bolts, a circular saw, an impact driver, reinforced tarps and portable lights. No guesswork, no trip back to the store at midnight.
How Crews Seal Up an Opened Building
Ventilation and forced entry are how firefighters save a building, and they leave it full of holes. Here's the typical scope for an independent board-up contractor.
Window Openings Boarded Tight
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. The crew can seal it completely or frame a hinged plywood door 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
Firefighters often cut a square vent hole in the roof deck to let heat and smoke escape. A heavy poly tarp gets rolled onto 2x4 battens at the edges, then the battens are fastened down so the wind can't lift it. Large holes may get plywood over the joists first, then the tarp on top.
Glass and Debris Removal
Broken glass and charred debris spread around the yard and walkways. Crews sweep and bag it, clear the walkways, and stack anything salvageable off to the side for the adjuster.
Temporary Fencing Around the Site
Rental fence panels go up when the site is unsafe to approach or when kids and scavengers keep wandering in. Signage and battery motion lights are common add-ons. 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. Crews can leave a lockable service door so you can pull inventory, records and the safe out.
The Cost of Leaving It Open Overnight
Almost every property policy includes a duty to protect the property from further loss. If rain pours through an open roof or someone walks off with the copper wire, the insurer may say that loss wasn't caused by the fire. Boarding up is how you meet that duty, and the reasonable cost is usually part of the claim.
Before any plywood goes up, photograph every broken window, the forced door and the roof hole from the ground. Those shots prove what the fire department had to do.
What You Can Do Before the Crew Arrives
You don't need to climb a ladder or handle broken glass yourself. A few simple things from the ground make the board-up go faster and protect your 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 dogs and cats out of the yard until the glass is cleaned up.
Thieves watch for fire-damaged houses, because copper pipe, wiring and tools are easy targets once the family has left. Raccoons, birds and stray cats will move into an open attic within a night or two, and squatters aren't far behind. That's why securing the openings tonight matters more than how they look.
Doors and Windows Still Gone Tonight?
There's no need to sleep in the car to keep an eye on things. A dispatcher can start finding an independent board-up crew near Sharpes the moment you call.
Call +1-833-336-1630 TonightHow a Board-Up Call Goes
- 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
Mobile Crew on the Way
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
Measurements and Written Quote
Every opening gets measured, the roof is checked from the ladder, and you get a line-item quote. Approve it, and they start cutting.
- 4
Locked Up and Walked Through
Before they pack up, circle the building with the crew to check every panel and the roof cover. Make sure you have the padlock key and photos of the finished work for your adjuster.
How Other Callers Got Secured
Our roof had a hole you could stand in after the firefighters vented it, and rain was forecast for the morning. 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.
The fire started next door and took out our whole storefront window. 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.
Common Board-Up Questions
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. With a carriage bolt, the rounded head sits outside and the nut is tightened against an inside strongback, which makes the panel very hard to remove from outside. 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. Photograph each broken window, the forced door, the roof hole from the ground and any glass in the yard. After the boards go on, the adjuster would have to pull them off to see what happened.
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. Keep the key yourself or use a lockbox so your adjuster and future crews can get in without you. Without one, every visit means unbolting panels and bolting them back.
How long can plywood and a roof tarp stay up?
A well-installed board-up can stay up for weeks or months while the claim and repairs move forward. Tarps wear out faster under sun and wind, so check the roof cover after every storm. 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 tight board-up is the best deterrent you have. Every ground-floor opening gets bolted, vents and crawlspace holes get screened or covered, and fencing goes around the lot if needed. Check on it often and ask a neighbor to keep an eye out.
Securing Buildings in Sharpes, FL
The line connects property owners in Sharpes and nearby neighborhoods with independent board-up crews. 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. Make the call tonight; if the first contractor isn't the right fit, call back and we'll connect you with another one.
