When your home or business is damaged by flood, fire, earthquake, or vandalism, emergency board up services will prevent further damage and limit your liability until more permanent repairs can be made.
What Is Included in Emergency Board Up Service?
When you call an emergency board up service, an inspector will tour your property and make specific recommendations based on the type of damage. If the roof of the building is damaged, the board up service will secure a tarp over the opening to prevent rain and debris from damaging the interior of the building. If windows or doorways are broken, they will cut and secure plywood over the openings to prevent vandalism and theft as well as damage from the elements.
How Much Does Board Up Cost?
In an emergency situation, especially if you need to call a board up service after normal business hours, you can expect to pay a premium. However, some unscrupulous board up services will take advantage of that expectation.
Before you hire a board up service, call your insurance provider. They may have a preferred contractor that is set up to bill the insurance company directly, so the service may cost you nothing out of pocket.
If your insurance company does not have a preferred provider, you can expect to pay between $35 and $50 per man-hour for emergency board up services, depending on the exact circumstances of your project.
Choosing a Reputable Provider
In an emergency, it can be tempting to hire the first emergency board up service you find. Before you agree to have any work done, do the same research you would in a non-emergency: ask for references from other clients, check the service provider’s contracting license, and ask for a written estimate. If anything doesn’t seem quite right, call another board up service.

Vince Sandri is a disaster restorationRestoration is the process of returning a property to its pr... More content specialist with more than 12 years of experience researching, writing, and educating property owners about water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold remediationMold remediation is the process of identifying, removing, an... More, storm damage, and other disaster recovery topics. Since 2014, he has served as the leadLead is a heavy metal that can be toxic to humans, especiall... More contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com, where he has developed hundreds of in-depth service pages, educational guides, and industry-focused articles for restorationRestoration is the process of returning a property to its pr... More professionals across the United States.
Through extensive research and ongoing collaboration with restorationRestoration is the process of returning a property to its pr... More contractors, Vince has built a strong foundation in the science, processes, and best practices behind property damage mitigation and recovery. His work helps homeowners, business owners, and property managers understand how disasters impact structures, what immediate steps to take, how professional restorationRestoration is the process of returning a property to its pr... More works, and how to prevent long-term structural and health risks.
Vince specializes in translating complex restorationRestoration is the process of returning a property to its pr... More procedures — including water extraction, structural dryingDrying is the process of removing moisture from materials, s... More, smoke odorAn odor is a smell, often detectable by the human nose, whic... More removal, moldMold is a type of fungus that grows in damp or humid conditi... More containment, and storm damage repairRepair is the act of fixing or restoring damaged property, m... More — into clear, actionable information that empowers readers to make informed decisions during high-stress situations. His content aligns with industry standards and focuses on safety, accuracy, and practical response strategies.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Aurora University and his master’s degree from DePaul University. Since 2012, Vince has focused on SEO-driven website content, technical service pages, and educational resourcesResources include tools, personnel, equipment, and materials... More within the disaster restorationRestoration is the process of returning a property to its pr... More industry.
Outside of his professional work, Vince is also a musician and performs in the Chicago, IL area.