Emergency Fire Board Up in Mapleton, MN
Firefighters had to break the front window, force the back door and cut a hole in the roof to vent the smoke. 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 Mapleton.
- Every opening on the building closed up
- The referral line is free and open 24/7
- Residential and commercial buildings
Four Things That Matter in a Board-Up
We're a free referral line, and every crew we dispatch is an independent local company. These are the points our dispatchers weigh before sending anyone your way.
Independent, Licensed and Insured
Board-up means ladders, roof work and power saws at night, so insurance 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.
Rapid Local Dispatch
A dispatcher starts calling independent crews near Mapleton as soon as you hang up. 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.
Closing Up Every Opening the Fire Left
Breaking glass, forcing doors and venting the roof are standard firefighting tactics that leave a building wide open. 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
A door that was kicked or pried open usually won't latch again. 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
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
Shattered glass on the porch, the sidewalk and the lawn is a hazard for you, the mail carrier and the neighbor's dog. 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. 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.
Storefronts and Commercial Glass
Large plate-glass storefronts need bigger sheet goods, more strongbacks and sometimes framing to span the opening. 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
Read your policy and you'll find a clause about protecting the property from further damage. 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.
- Move cars out of the driveway so the truck can park close and unload sheet goods.
- Grab medication, wallets, documents and phone chargers only if the fire department says it's safe.
- Tell a neighbor the house will be empty tonight and ask them to call if they see a flashlight inside.
- Keep pets away from the yard, where glass and nails are scattered.
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. Getting it closed tonight matters far more than making it pretty.
Doors and Windows Still Gone Tonight?
There's no need to sleep in the car to keep an eye on things. Call and dispatch starts looking for an independent crew in Mapleton right away.
Call +1-833-336-1630 TonightFrom Open House to Locked Up
- 1
Phone the Dispatch Line
Tell the dispatcher how many windows are broken, which doors were forced, whether there's a roof hole and how many stories the building has. That tells the crew how much plywood and tarp to load.
- 2
Mobile Crew on the Way
The contractor calls you directly with an arrival window, which depends on availability and how far they're coming. Lights go up first so they can see the openings and the glass on the ground.
- 3
Measurements and Written Quote
The crew walks the exterior, measures each opening, checks the roof from a ladder and writes up the estimate. Once you sign off, the saws come out.
- 4
Building Secured, Final Walk
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.
Nights the Building Got Closed Up
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.
Every downstairs window was out and the front door wouldn't latch anymore. 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. The crew boarded the front with braced OSB and gave us a locked door to get our stock and register out. 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. Keep the written estimate, the invoice and before and after photos together for your adjuster.
Why do board-up crews use carriage bolts instead of screws?
A thief with a drill can remove exterior screws in a minute. 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. 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?
Request a lockable plywood access door on hinges. You keep the key, or put it in a lockbox so the adjuster and later contractors can let themselves in. Without one, every visit means unbolting panels and bolting them back.
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. 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. Drive by when you can, and tell the neighbors to call you if anything looks disturbed.
Securing Buildings in Mapleton, MN
Our dispatchers send independent board-up contractors to homes and businesses throughout Mapleton 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 unsecured house invites trouble by morning. Call now, and if the first contractor isn't the right fit, call back and we'll connect you with another one.
