Did you know that if you don’t protect your property very soon after a damaging event, your insurance claim can be denied (even if you’re 100% covered)?
It’s true. Insurance providers expect property owners to act urgently and implement measures to prevent further damage, especially after a fire, flood, vandalism, or more. One of those options is emergency board-up. While at first glance, emergency board-up may feel like a quick response, it can be the difference between being compensated and having an insurance claim denied.
Let’s look at how emergency board-up services in Utah work, why they are important for your insurance coverage, and how to increase your level of protection and preparedness by working with property damage professionals like RestoreMasters.
What Exactly is Emergency Board-Up?
Emergency board-up refers to the rapid securing of a damaged building structure to limit exposure to environmental conditions, theft, or vandalism. This often involves securing a building using plywood, tarps, and temporary barriers to seal roof coverings, broken windows, doors, and structural openings from a disaster such as:
- Fire Outbreaks
- Storm Damage
- Flooding
- Vehicle Impact
- Vandalism / Break-Ins
While often seen as just a temporary fix, emergency board-up is an important long-term measure when assessing the value of property and insurance protection.
Why is Emergency Board-Up Important for Insurance?
Insurers have a “duty to mitigate damages” clause. This means that you must stop any additional damage from taking place after the actionable item occurs. Once you leave your building on-site exposed, it is very easy for insurance carriers to argue that you violated the duty to mitigate damages, even if they do give you coverage for the first loss.
For instance, if you leave your property exposed to rain, will your insurance carrier cover your rain damage after a fire? Yes, but they could argue that the rain damage was your fault for failing to act in a reasonable manner and deny or limit their payment to you.
Consequences of Not Boarding Up:
- Partial payments on claims
- Denial of claims altogether
- In most cases, liability is if someone gets hurt trespassing or an accident happens
- Permanent damage to the property
In conclusion, the insurance company can only cover the damages that happened during an actionable item, not what you could have protected against promptly. Thus, Emergency Board-Up Services Utah should be one of the first calls property owners make after a disaster.
When should you make the call for an Emergency Board-Up? Time is of the essence; the sooner you act, the better chance your claim will be honored and your property preserved. As a rule of thumb, it’s best if emergency board-up occurs:
- Immediately after the fire department has left the scene of a fire
- Post-storm window and roof damage
- If a break-in or incident involves forced entry through a window or glass to get into a home or business
- Any time a car hits your building
- Any time looting is suspected during civil unrest
By acting quickly to secure your home or business, you are not only protecting the physical property but also showing your insurance company that you acted responsibly to mitigate further loss.
How Do Professionals Perform Emergency Board-Ups?
Professionals like RestoreMasters use professional-grade tools and materials to provide secure, quick, and insurance-compliant board-up services. This is infinitely better than patching and repairing with household items or attempting to do it yourself.
What You Can Expect from a Professional Emergency Board-Up:
- Site Assessment – Professionals assess all damage to see where exposure exists and find other compromised areas that may not be visible.
- Debris Removal and Safety Preparation – Hazardous materials are removed, and debris is cleared so no one is injured while working at your property.
- Boarding and Tarping – High-strength plywood, nails, screws, and waterproof tarps are used to cover broken windows, doors, and roofs.
- Documentation for Insurance Purposes – Professionals complete reports, take pictures, and provide a damage report log that supports your insurance claim.
- Coordination with Insurance Assessors – When you hire a professional, they often work directly with your insurance and record every action, which reduces complications and delays when filing or validating your claim.
Examples of Insurance Denials Due to Inaction
Let’s look at a couple of common scenarios:
- Window and Roof Damage After a Fire
A homeowner has a kitchen fire and waits a few days before boarding up the broken windows and roof. A major thunderstorm blows in and causes severe water damage to the house. The insurance company declines to pay because the water damage was preventable with emergency action. - Vandalism Following a Break-In
A small retail store was burglarized, and when the owner arrived, the front window was shattered. The owner waited overnight to board up the broken window, allowing looters to enter the store and take more merchandise. The insurance only covered the original vandalism, and the additional losses were not covered due to the owner’s failure to secure the property.
These examples illustrate how Utah Emergency Board-Up Services have a direct correlation with timely and full insurance claims approval.
The Legal and Safety Aspect of Board-Up Services
Emergency board-up is more than just insurance. Failure to board up may lead to:
- Liability issues: You may be liable for injuries incurred by trespassers or neighbors if you didn’t contain hazards.
- Building code issues: You can be fined by the municipality for failing to properly secure property from the elements.
- Increased risk of theft and arson: A damaged building with its doors and windows open invites further criminal activity.
Having a trusted option like RestoreMasters provide compliant and timely Emergency Board-Up Services Near Me will reduce your chances of experiencing these legal and safety issues.
Avoiding Long-Term Damages Through Board-Up
Hopefully, your insurance gives you comfort in the damages being covered, but remember, insurance will not cover every replacement asset. Emergency board-up services also prevent:
- Mold develops due to water exposure
- Permanent warping or deterioration of the structure
- Significant damage to irreplaceable personal items
- Unplanned, expensive repairs that could have been avoided with timely action
The board-up process is an investment in your property’s future.
How Emergency Board-Up Services Fit Into the Entire Restoration Process
Emergency board-up services are typically the start of a much larger restoration project. After the property has been secured, restoration professionals can proceed with:
- Damage and moisture assessment
- Fire, smoke, and water remediation
- Structural drying and repair
- Reconstruction and remodeling
By choosing to work with a full-service provider like Restore Masters, you don’t have to worry about coordinating multiple contractors or dealing with gaps in service. From smoke damage repair to storm restoration, the process flows seamlessly from emergency response to complete final rebuild.
Who Can You Trust to Board-Up in Utah?
Selecting the right contractor is never easy. When you are searching for Emergency Board-Up Services Near Me, a good provider will always offer:
- 24/7 emergency response
- Certified technicians
- Insurance claim assistance
- Straightforward pricing
- A history of satisfied customers
Conclusion – Secure Now, Claim Later Without Stress
When disaster strikes, your actions in the first few hours can either make or break your insurance claim. Emergency board-up is not an option; it is a necessity.
Emergency Board-Up services provide invaluable assistance in unbelievably stressful times. Board-up services will both protect your property from the elements and intruders and fulfill your obligation to mitigate damages for your insurance company. Do not wait to address your board-up needs until it is too late. Work with a trusted provider like RestoreMasters to take on your board-up quickly, correctly, and compliantly.
RestoreMasters is a name you can trust in fire, water, and storm restoration in Utah. We pride ourselves on providing fast and reliable service that is insurance-friendly and responsive for emergency board-up services in Utah. We are always available to complete your emergency board-up service, even if it is in the middle of the night after a firetruck has just pulled away.
If you are seeking Emergency Board-Up Services Near Me or need emergency board-up services after a disaster, RestoreMasters is a full-service provider that can get you back on your feet. We work with your insurance provider to reduce headaches, improve your chance of coverage, and bring your property back to life.
Contact us to take the first step in protecting what matters most: your property, your claim, and your peace of mind.
