Emergency Fire Board Up in Pendleton, SC
Firefighters had to break the front window, force the back door and cut a hole in the roof to vent the smoke. 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 Pendleton.
- Windows, doors and roof openings covered
- Free call, answered day and night
- Homes, rentals and storefronts
Four Things That Matter in a Board-Up
Unify Fire Solutions is a free referral service; the board-up crew is an independent local business. These are the points our dispatchers weigh before sending anyone your way.
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. That document goes straight into your claim file.
Rapid Local Dispatch
The moment you call, a dispatcher starts contacting board-up crews close to Pendleton. Arrival depends on who's free and how far they're driving, but same-night work is common.
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.
Closing Up Every Opening the Fire Left
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
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
Forced Doors and Access Panels
Forced-entry doors rarely close properly afterward. Crews either bolt a solid panel over it or build a plywood access door on hinges 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. Large holes may get plywood over the joists first, then the tarp on top.
Clearing Glass and Hazards
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. Ask whether fencing is rented weekly so you know how it will show up on the estimate.
Securing a Business Storefront
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.
The Cost of Leaving It Open Overnight
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. Boarding up is how you meet that duty, and the reasonable cost is usually part of the claim.
Before any plywood goes up, photograph every broken window, the forced door and the roof hole from the ground. They document exactly what the firefighters opened up.
What You Can Do Before the Crew Arrives
Leave the ladders and the jagged glass to the crew. 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.
- 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.
- Let a neighbor know nobody is staying there and ask them to report anyone poking around.
- 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. An open attic invites raccoons and birds almost immediately, and an open door invites squatters. Getting it closed tonight matters far more than making it pretty.
Doors and Windows Still Gone Tonight?
Don't spend the night guarding the driveway. Call and dispatch starts looking for an independent crew in Pendleton right away.
Call +1-833-336-1630 TonightFrom Open House to Locked Up
- 1
Call and Describe the Openings
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
The contractor calls you directly with an arrival window, which depends on availability and how far they're coming. 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. Once you sign off, the saws come out.
- 4
Building Secured, Final Walk
When the last panel is bolted and the tarp is battened down, walk the perimeter with the crew. Get the access-door key and ask for after photos to send to your insurer.
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.
Fire in the shop next door blew out our front glass. They framed the opening, sealed it with OSB and left a locking door so we could pull inventory out the next morning. Nobody got in overnight.
Questions About Securing Your Property
Does homeowners insurance pay for emergency board-up after a fire?
Usually, yes. Because nearly every policy includes a duty to prevent further loss, reasonable board-up and tarp costs are typically covered under the claim. Hold onto the estimate, the final invoice and your photos for the 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?
Yes, and do it before the first panel goes up. 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. 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 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 properly secured shell is your strongest defense. Every ground-floor opening gets bolted, vents and crawlspace holes get screened or covered, and fencing goes around the lot if needed. Check on it often and ask a neighbor to keep an eye out.
Board-Up Dispatch Across Pendleton
The line connects property owners in Pendleton and nearby neighborhoods with independent board-up crews. 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 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.
