Board-Up Service Cost Guide (2026) — Emergency Pricing for Fire, Storm, and Break-In
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💰 Cost Breakdown
| Item | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Window Board-Up Measuring, cutting, and securing ½-inch plywood over a standard residential window (up to 4x4 ft). Includes screws into framing. | $75 | $150 | $250 |
| Large Window or Sliding Door Boarding up a picture window, patio slider, or French door set. May require multiple plywood sheets and additional framing support. | $150 | $300 | $500 |
| Entry Door Securing Boarding up or replacing a damaged entry door with plywood and installing a temporary hasp/padlock for security. | $100 | $200 | $350 |
| Roof Tarping (per 10x10 ft section) Heavy-duty tarp secured with 2x4 battens screwed into roof decking. Price per 100 sq ft of coverage. Multi-section roofs cost proportionally more. | $200 | $400 | $800 |
| Emergency/After-Hours Service Fee Flat dispatch fee for calls outside business hours (evenings, weekends, holidays). Charged on top of per-opening costs. | $150 | $250 | $400 |
| Full Home Board-Up (5–10 openings) Complete securing of a fire- or storm-damaged single-family home with 5–10 compromised openings plus roof tarping. | $800 | $1,800 | $3,500 |
| Board Removal and Cleanup Removing boards after repairs are complete, pulling screws, and patching screw holes in framing and siding. | $100 | $250 | $500 |
Standard Window Board-Up
Measuring, cutting, and securing ½-inch plywood over a standard residential window (up to 4x4 ft). Includes screws into framing.
Large Window or Sliding Door
Boarding up a picture window, patio slider, or French door set. May require multiple plywood sheets and additional framing support.
Entry Door Securing
Boarding up or replacing a damaged entry door with plywood and installing a temporary hasp/padlock for security.
Roof Tarping (per 10x10 ft section)
Heavy-duty tarp secured with 2x4 battens screwed into roof decking. Price per 100 sq ft of coverage. Multi-section roofs cost proportionally more.
Emergency/After-Hours Service Fee
Flat dispatch fee for calls outside business hours (evenings, weekends, holidays). Charged on top of per-opening costs.
Full Home Board-Up (5–10 openings)
Complete securing of a fire- or storm-damaged single-family home with 5–10 compromised openings plus roof tarping.
Board Removal and Cleanup
Removing boards after repairs are complete, pulling screws, and patching screw holes in framing and siding.
📊 Factors That Impact Cost
Number of Openings
High ImpactEach window, door, and wall breach is priced individually. A home with 3 broken windows costs roughly $450–$750; a home with 10 compromised openings reaches $1,500–$3,000 in board-up costs alone.
Time of Day and Urgency
High ImpactAfter-hours emergency calls add $150–$400 to the total. Fire and storm events often happen at night, making emergency fees a common addition to the final bill.
Roof Involvement
High ImpactRoof tarping requires specialized equipment, fall protection, and often a two-person crew. A single roof section adds $200–$800; a multi-section tarp job can exceed $1,500.
Building Height
Medium ImpactSecond- and third-story windows require ladders, scaffolding, or lift equipment. Expect 30–50% surcharge for openings above the first floor.
Geographic Location
Medium ImpactUrban areas with higher labor rates and material costs run 15–25% above rural pricing. Post-disaster demand surges can temporarily double prices in heavily affected regions.
Cause of Damage
Low ImpactBoard-up after a fire may require hazmat-rated crews if asbestos or chemical exposure is suspected. Break-in board-ups are typically the simplest and cheapest since damage is usually limited to one or two openings.
💡 Money-Saving Tips
Use a restoration company that includes board-up in their scope
Many fire and water restoration companies include board-up as part of their initial emergency response and bill it directly to your insurance. This eliminates the need to hire and pay a separate board-up contractor out of pocket.
Confirm insurance coverage before paying out of pocket
Emergency board-up is covered under most homeowner policies as a 'duty to protect' expense — your insurer expects you to prevent further damage. Call your agent before or immediately after the board-up to confirm reimbursement. Save all receipts and take photos of the completed work.
DIY single-opening board-ups if safe to do so
A first-floor window board-up is straightforward: a $12 sheet of plywood, a drill, and 3-inch screws. If you can safely access the opening and the structure is stable, handling one or two windows yourself saves $150–$300 per opening.
Keep plywood on hand during storm season
Pre-cut plywood sheets sized to your windows eliminate the hardware-store run during a crisis — when plywood prices spike 50–100% and stores sell out. Measure your windows once, cut the boards, label them, and store them in the garage.
✨ When to Splurge
Professional roof tarping over DIY
Climbing a fire- or storm-damaged roof is the single most dangerous homeowner task after a disaster. Professional crews carry fall protection, have experience on compromised structures, and ensure the tarp holds through subsequent storms. A $400–$800 professional tarp job prevents $5,000–$20,000 in interior water damage.
24-hour security board-up after a break-in
After a break-in, an unsecured opening is an invitation for the intruder to return. A professional board-up with a keyed padlock provides immediate security while you arrange permanent door or window replacement.