Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Crews are dispatched 24 hours a day from our Hinsdale office, and in most of Chicago and the nearby suburbs a truck is on site within the hour. Materials ride on the truck, so the board up starts as soon as we arrive.

In most cases yes. Your policy requires you to protect the property from further damage after a fire, and the board up cost is normally included in the claim. We provide photos of every opening and an itemized invoice for your adjuster.

Broken windows, doors, roof holes cut by the fire department, vents, and any wall openings. Plywood is cut to size and screwed to the frame. Roof openings get heavy tarps anchored at the edges so rain and snow stay out.

Yes. We install a temporary door with a lock so you, your adjuster, the fire investigator and your contractor can enter while the building stays secure from trespassers.

Most fire jobs also need temporary lighting because the power is off, water extraction to remove the water from the fire hoses, and winterization in cold months so the pipes do not freeze. We can set all of these up on the first visit.

Reglazing replaces only the glass pane and reseals it in the existing frame with new glazing compound. Replacement swaps the entire window unit. We do both and recommend the one that fits your window and budget.

Yes. On the first visit we remove loose glass, sweep the area and cover the opening with plywood. Then we measure, order the glass, install it and take the board up down.

Common residential sizes can often be replaced the same day. Custom storefront and tempered glass usually takes a few days to arrive, and the board up keeps the building secure in the meantime.

Yes. Storefronts, restaurants, offices and banks are a large part of our work. We offer temporary clear panels and framed temporary doors so a business can stay open while the glass is on order.

Usually yes under your property policy. We work with the police report and your adjuster and provide photos and an itemized invoice for the claim.

We respond as soon as it is safe for the crew to work, usually within hours of the call. Boarding a broken window the same day keeps rain out of the house and limits the damage to floors, drywall and furniture.

Yes. Every sheet is screwed to the window or door frame, not leaned in place, and roof tarps are anchored along the edges. The cover is built to stay put through the next round of wind and hail.

Yes. If the tree is still on the structure we install temporary shoring so the roof does not sag, tarp the opening, and board any windows the branches broke. Tree removal is coordinated with your contractor.

Storm board up is usually covered because it prevents further damage, which your policy requires you to do. We give you before and after photos and an itemized invoice to submit with the claim.

Yes. We board the opening first so the building is secure, then measure and replace the window or storefront glass and remove the plywood, so you deal with one company from start to finish.

Not until the structure is checked. A vehicle can damage a load bearing wall, a column or a beam. Our crew inspects the impact area, installs temporary shoring where needed, and then boards the opening.

Usually the driver’s auto insurance, with your own property policy as backup. We document the damage with photos and an itemized invoice and can explain the work to either adjuster.

In most cases yes. We build a framed plywood wall with a temporary door so customers can still come in while permanent repairs are planned. Temporary clear panels are available where a plywood wall would hurt sales.

We answer 24 hours a day. Police and fire departments often call from the scene, and a crew leaves our Hinsdale base with shoring posts and plywood on the truck.

Storefront windows and entry doors, garage walls and overhead door openings, brick and block walls with missing sections, struck corner columns, gas station canopies and drive through openings.

Shoring is a set of temporary supports, usually steel or timber posts and headers, that carry the weight of a damaged wall, floor or roof until permanent repairs are made. It makes the building safe to enter.

After a fire burns rafters or joists, when a vehicle hits a wall or column, after a partial collapse from a storm or heavy snow, when a foundation wall moves, or when the city has issued an unsafe building notice.

Not for emergency stabilization. We shore the building first so it is safe. For larger or complex repairs we then follow the plan your structural engineer provides.

As long as the repair takes, which can be weeks or months. We can check the shoring on request and adjust it if the repair plan changes.

In most cases yes. Shoring prevents further damage and possible demolition, so it is normally part of the claim. We supply photos and an itemized invoice for the adjuster.

The power is usually cut after a fire or storm. Fire investigators, insurance adjusters and contractors cannot work in the dark, so temporary lighting speeds up the inspection and the claim while keeping everyone safe.

String lights and work lights run through the affected areas, placed along stairs, hallways and work zones. Wiring is routed and secured so it is not a trip hazard. Exterior lights can be added to deter trespassers.

Yes. If a temporary electrical hookup is not possible we bring a generator and the fuel to run it, and we can refuel it on a schedule.

As long as the inspection and repair take. We check and maintain the setup on request until permanent power is restored.

Usually yes, as part of the emergency services needed to inspect and protect the property after a covered loss. We include it on the same itemized invoice as the board up.

We respond 24 hours a day. Pumping usually starts within an hour or two of the call, depending on location and weather. Fast removal limits the damage to floors, drywall and personal property.

Pumps and wet vacuums remove standing water from floors and basements. Soaked carpet, drywall and debris that will not dry are bagged and hauled out. Air movers and dehumidifiers can be placed to start drying.

Yes. Our crew traces the source, whether it is a burst pipe, a roof opening, a sewer backup, a failed sump pump or fire hose water, and documents it for your insurance claim.

Mold can start growing in wet materials within 24 to 48 hours. Wood floors cup, drywall crumbles and the smell sets in. Removing the water the same day keeps the loss and the claim smaller.

Sudden losses such as burst pipes, storm intrusion and fire suppression water are usually covered. Sewer backup and flood often need separate coverage. Check your policy, and we will document everything either way.

After a fire when the heating system is off, in vacant homes, rentals and foreclosures, in buildings waiting on insurance repairs, and in any property without heat between October and April.

Winterization protects the plumbing in a building that has no heat. We shut off the water, drain the lines, blow out the pipes with compressed air, drain the water heater and boiler, and add non toxic antifreeze to toilets, traps and drains.

Most homes take a few hours. Larger commercial buildings may take a day. Every faucet is tagged so no one turns the water on by mistake.

Usually yes. Your policy expects you to prevent freeze damage in an unheated building, and a documented winterization is far cheaper than a burst pipe claim. We provide photos and a written checklist of every step.

Yes. When heat is restored, a plumber or our crew refills the system, checks for leaks and removes the tags.