Board Up in Macomb

A broken picture window after a storm, a door frame split from a break-in, or a roof punched open by a fallen limb all share the same immediate problem: the structure is now exposed. Rain gets into insulation and drywall within hours, temperatures inside swing toward the outdoor air, and an open point of entry invites both wildlife and people who shouldn’t be there. Boarding the opening is the step that stops the damage from compounding while repairs get scheduled.

What Emergency Board Up actually involves

Board up is temporary structural securing, not a repair. Crews measure the exact opening, whether that’s a shattered window, a kicked-in door, a section of siding torn off by wind, or a hole in the roof deck, and cut plywood or OSB panels to fit it precisely. Openings get fastened into the studs, jamb, or rafters rather than just the surrounding drywall or trim, because a board that pulls loose in the next wind gust does nothing. Roof breaches usually need a tarp system underneath or over the board to shed water until roofers can get on-site. Sliding doors, garage doors, and larger commercial storefronts often need custom-cut panels and additional anchoring points given their size.

Our process

1. Site walk and safety check. Before any boarding starts, we look for exposed wiring, unstable framing, broken glass on the ground, and anything else that could injure someone on the property.
2. Measure and cut. Panels are cut to the exact opening dimensions rather than cut on the fly, which is what keeps gaps from letting weather back in.
3. Fasten into structural members. Screws or lag bolts go into studs, masonry anchors, or rafters depending on the surface, not just into trim or drywall.
4. Weatherproof the seams. Roof and larger wall openings get sealed with tarp or plastic sheeting under the board line to stop wind-driven rain from finding its way around the edges.
5. Photograph and document. Every opening is photographed before and after boarding, which becomes part of the record your adjuster will want to see.

What separates a good board up from a bad one

The most common failure is fastening into the wrong material. A board screwed only into window trim or drywall will come loose in the first strong gust, and the homeowner is back to an open structure. Another frequent miss is skipping the tarp on a roof opening because the hole looks small, then water tracks along the deck and shows up as a stain two rooms away. Adjusters also look closely at whether the board up was documented with timestamped photos of the original damage; without that, it’s harder to establish that the opening existed before any secondary water or theft loss occurred. A board up that doesn’t account for code-required egress, particularly on bedroom windows, can also create a problem that has to get unwound before permanent repairs start.

What does Emergency Board Up cost?

Costs vary by opening size, height, material thickness, and whether roof or structural work is involved. Every property and every loss is different, which is why Flood Solutions inc provides a written scope before any work begins rather than a phone estimate. Homeowners insurance typically covers emergency board up as part of loss mitigation when the damage stems from a covered peril like a storm, fire, or break-in, since insurers generally want the opening secured to limit further loss.

Seasonal & regional considerations

Macomb County sees lake-effect snow loads and wind events through the winter months that put stress on roofs and siding, and spring brings a separate round of severe thunderstorms with hail and straight-line wind capable of punching through roof decking or shattering windows. Freeze-thaw cycles also matter here: a board up left in place too long into winter without a proper weatherproof seal can trap moisture against framing that then has nowhere to dry out until spring.

Service area

Flood Solutions inc responds to board up calls throughout Macomb, MI and surrounding communities including Clinton Township, Sterling Heights, Warren, Shelby Township, St. Clair Shores, and Chesterfield Township.

If a window, door, or roof section on your property is open to the weather right now, call (586) 580-0197 to get it secured and get the documentation your insurance claim will need.