Sometimes the door genuinely cannot be fixed tonight — the frame section has to be fabricated, the extrusion has to be matched, the glass has to be ordered. Board-up closes the gap between the incident and the repair so the building is not standing open in the meantime.
Typical range: $300–$1400 CAD. Ranges are typical for the GTA and depend on the door, the hardware and the time of day. We confirm the price before dispatching.
When board-up is the right call
- A door or frame damaged beyond same-day repair
- Broken glazing in a door or storefront awaiting a glazier
- A door that must be removed entirely for repair
- Fire or water damage leaving an opening
- Vacant premises needing securing against entry
- Any situation where the building would otherwise be left accessible overnight
What we actually do
A proper board-up is not a sheet of plywood leaned against an opening. We fix structural-grade sheet material to sound framing with fasteners that cannot be removed from outside, sized and braced for the opening, and we close the full opening rather than just the broken part.
Where the opening is a required exit, the closure has to preserve egress from inside — which means it is a different job from simply sealing a hole, and it is one that gets done wrong when a general contractor handles it.
Securing without boarding
Boarding is not always necessary. A door with a snapped cylinder can often be made secure the same visit with a temporary cylinder and a reinforcing plate, which leaves the business able to trade normally the next morning instead of operating behind plywood.
We assess for that first, because a boarded storefront costs a retailer real money in lost walk-in trade and nobody should be boarded up who does not need to be.
Follow-up
We schedule the permanent repair at the time of the board-up, with a clear date and what is being ordered, so the temporary closure does not become semi-permanent. We also document the board-up separately on the invoice, since emergency make-safe is often treated differently from repair under a policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can you board up a broken door?
We treat board-up as an emergency call and dispatch accordingly, 7 days a week from 8 AM to 11 PM. The work itself is typically under two hours once on site. When you call, tell us the size of the opening and whether glass is involved, and we will bring the right material on the first trip.
How much does an emergency board-up cost?
It depends on the size of the opening, how much framing is needed and whether it is at height. A single door opening is at the low end; a large storefront window needing bracing is at the upper end. We quote on site before starting, and the board-up is itemised separately from any repair because insurers often treat make-safe and permanent repair differently.
Can I stay open for business with a boarded door?
If the boarded opening is not your customer entrance, generally yes. If it is, a boarded frontage will cost you significant trade, and it is worth asking whether a temporary secure repair — a replacement cylinder and reinforcement, or a temporary door leaf — can get you trading normally instead. We will tell you honestly which is achievable.
How long can a board-up stay up?
It is a temporary measure and should be treated as one. Structurally it will hold for weeks, but it is not weathertight indefinitely, it does not deter a determined second attempt the way a proper door does, and some insurers limit how long make-safe can stand before permanent repair. We schedule the permanent repair at the same visit for that reason.
Emergency Board-Up across the GTA
We provide emergency board-up & secure closure throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Pick your city for local detail, or call and we will tell you straight away whether you are in range.
Related services
Break-In Repair
Same-day repair and re-securing after a forced entry — doors, frames, locks and hardware, with documentation for your insurance claim.
Commercial Door Repair
Doors that bind, drag, sag, will not latch or will not close — diagnosed at the door and frame rather than blamed on the lock.
Door Frame Repair
Split jambs, corroded steel frames and torn-out strikes repaired and reinforced — because no lock is stronger than the frame holding it.
Storefront Break-In Repair
Retail frontages re-secured after forced entry — doors, hardware, temporary closure and the glazing upgrades that prevent a repeat.