What Is a Board-Up and When Do You Need One?
A board-up is a temporary emergency repair where a glazier screws timber sheeting (usually plywood or MDF) over a broken window or door opening to make your home safe, secure and weathertight until the correct glass is fitted. You need one whenever a pane is smashed and the opening is left exposed, especially at ground level, after hours, or before a storm. In Adelaide a board-up call-out typically costs $150 to $350. Glazing Adelaide connects you with vetted local glaziers, and we prioritise matching you with one who offers same-day board-up so the gap is closed the same day.
Key takeaways
- A board-up seals a broken opening with timber sheeting until proper glass is fitted.
- It keeps your home secure, weathertight and safe in the meantime.
- You need one when replacement glass has to be ordered or it is after hours.
- A board-up call-out typically costs $150 to $350 in Adelaide.
- It buys time so you can compare 3 free quotes on the permanent glass.
What a board-up actually is
A board-up is exactly what it sounds like: the glazier removes any loose or dangerous glass from the frame, then fixes a sheet of plywood or MDF over the opening so nothing and no one can get through. It is screwed or fixed in place, not just propped, so it holds against wind and against anyone testing it. The point is to convert an open, hazardous hole into a closed, secure surface within an hour or so.
It is a genuine trade job, not a DIY tarp taped over the frame. A properly fitted board-up keeps rain out, keeps intruders out, and keeps the remaining glass from working loose and falling. It is the standard first response any glazier reaches for when the correct replacement glass cannot be fitted on the spot.
When a board-up is worth it
The clearest case is when the replacement glass has to be ordered. Safety glass for doors and low windows, and any non-standard pane size, is rarely carried in every dimension, so there is a gap of a day or more between the break and the final fit. A board-up covers that gap. The same applies when the break happens after hours: boarding up now and fitting the glass in normal hours avoids paying an after-hours premium on the entire job.
Weather and security push the decision too. An Adelaide cold front or a 40-degree northerly through an open window will wreck carpet, plaster and furnishings fast, and an exposed ground-floor opening is a security risk overnight. If the pane is upstairs, small, and the weather is calm, you might get away without one, but at ground level or before bad weather a board-up is almost always the right call.
What a board-up costs and what comes next
In the Adelaide metro area a board-up call-out generally lands between $150 and $350, with the higher end reflecting after-hours timing, a large opening, or difficult access. That fee is separate from the replacement glass, which is measured, ordered and quoted on its own once the exact size and type are confirmed.
Treat the board-up as the thing that buys you calm. With the opening secured, you are no longer making a rushed decision at 11pm, and you can compare 3 free quotes on the permanent glass in daylight. Glazing Adelaide connects you with vetted, licensed local glaziers, and we prioritise matching you with one who offers same-day board-up, then lines up quotes for the proper repair.
Ready to get real numbers? Compare 3 free quotes from vetted Adelaide specialists for glass repair.
Frequently asked questions
A well-fitted board-up can hold for 1 to 2 weeks while replacement glass is ordered, but it is a temporary measure. The longer it stays, the more you are without light and ventilation, so book the permanent fit as soon as the glass is ready.
Yes. The board-up call-out (typically $150 to $350 in Adelaide) is charged separately from the replacement glass, which is priced by size and type once measured.
You can improvise a temporary cover, but removing unstable glass safely and fixing a board that actually secures the opening is a job for a glazier. A poor DIY board is a security and injury risk, and it will not satisfy an insurer.