Emergency Fire Board Up in Mapleton, ND
To fight the fire, the engine company smashed out windows, pried open a door and opened up the roof. Now it's night, and your house is wide open to rain, raccoons and anyone walking past. 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. Here's what our dispatchers look for when they line one up.
Licensed and Insured Independents
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.
A Written Quote First
The crew should count the openings, measure them and write a line-item estimate before cutting a single sheet. Your adjuster will want that paper.
Dispatch Begins Right Away
A dispatcher starts calling independent crews near Mapleton as soon as you hang up. Timing depends on availability and distance; same-night securing is often possible.
The Right Board-Up Gear
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
The common method is a plywood or OSB panel, 1/2" or 5/8" thick, clamped from inside by 2x4 strongbacks and carriage bolts. Unlike screws driven from outside, through-bolts can't be unscrewed by a passerby.
- Loose glass knocked out of the sash first
- Panel overlaps the opening on every side
- Upper-floor windows reached by ladder or lift
Forced Doors and Access Panels
Forced-entry doors rarely close properly afterward. The crew can seal it completely or frame a hinged plywood door with a hasp and padlock. One lockable entry saves your adjuster and future contractors from prying panels loose.
Covering Roof Vent Holes
Firefighters often cut a square vent hole in the roof deck to let heat and smoke escape. 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. 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. The crew bags loose glass and debris and sets anything that might be claimable aside for inspection.
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. Ask whether fencing is rented weekly so you know how it will show up 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. A few simple things from the ground make the board-up go faster and protect your claim.
- Walk the outside and count every broken window, forced door and vent opening.
- Film each damaged opening, the roof from across the street and the debris in the yard.
- 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.
- 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.
Scrappers and burglars look for empty burnt-out homes, where copper, wiring and tools sit unguarded. 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 Mapleton the moment you call.
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. That tells the crew how much plywood and tarp to load.
- 2
The Board-Up Crew Arrives
You'll get a call from the contractor with a realistic window based on distance and workload. Work lights come out first so they can safely see the damage after dark.
- 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
Building Secured, Final Walk
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.
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.
The fire started next door and took out our whole storefront window. 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?
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. Screws are still used on some second-story openings where access is limited.
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?
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. 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. Tarps wear out faster under sun and wind, so check the roof cover after every storm. If a panel loosens or the tarp starts flapping, call the crew back before water gets in.
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. 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.
Board-Up Dispatch Across Mapleton
Our dispatchers send independent board-up contractors to homes and businesses throughout Mapleton and surrounding areas. Houses, rental units, detached garages and commercial storefronts are all common calls.
- 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.
