Board Up Broken Window: DIY Steps to Secure Your Home

A broken window leaves your home exposed to weather damage, theft, and unwanted pests. Whether the damage came from a storm, accident, or break in, you need to board up broken window openings quickly to protect your property. Waiting even a few hours can lead to water intrusion, temperature loss, and security risks that make the problem worse.

Boarding up a window is a straightforward temporary fix you can complete in under an hour with basic tools and materials. The process creates a secure barrier that keeps out rain, wind, and intruders while you arrange for permanent repairs. You do not need advanced carpentry skills to do this right.

This guide walks you through each step of boarding up a broken window, from gathering the right materials to properly securing plywood over the opening. You will learn how to safely remove broken glass, measure and cut boards accurately, attach them securely to your home's exterior, and weatherproof the installation to prevent water damage.

Essential tools and safety equipment

Gathering the right tools before you start prevents delays and unsafe shortcuts during the repair. You need equipment that can cut plywood accurately, fasten boards securely to your home's exterior, and protect you from sharp glass fragments. Missing even one key item means stopping mid-project to make a store run while your home remains exposed.

Required tools

You need basic carpentry tools and fastening equipment to complete this job properly. Most homeowners already own these items or can borrow them from neighbors.

• Circular saw or handsaw: For cutting plywood to exact window dimensions

• Drill with drill bits: To create pilot holes in both plywood and your home's siding

• Screwdriver or impact driver: For driving screws through the board into the frame

• Tape measure: To measure the window opening accurately

• Pencil: For marking cut lines on plywood

• Level: To ensure the board sits straight across the opening

• 2.5 to 3-inch exterior screws: Long enough to penetrate through plywood and into the window frame

Safety gear

Broken glass creates serious injury risks that require proper protective equipment before you start work. Even small glass fragments can cause deep cuts that need medical attention.

Thick work gloves and safety glasses are not optional when you board up broken window openings.

• Heavy-duty work gloves: Leather or cut-resistant gloves protect your hands from glass shards

• Safety glasses or goggles: Shield your eyes from glass particles and wood dust

• Closed-toe boots: Prevent glass from cutting through shoe material

• Long sleeves and pants: Cover exposed skin from glass fragments

• Dust mask: Protects you from breathing in glass dust and debris particles

Step 1. Remove loose glass and debris

You need to clear all broken glass from the window opening before installing plywood to prevent sharp edges from puncturing through the board. Glass fragments stuck in the frame can also create gaps that let water seep behind your temporary barrier. This cleanup step takes 10 to 15 minutes but makes the remaining work safer and more effective.

Clear the area around the window

Move furniture and belongings at least three feet away from the broken window to create a safe work zone. Glass shards travel farther than you expect when you remove large pieces, and you need room to maneuver plywood sheets without tripping over obstacles.

Sweep up loose glass on the floor with a stiff broom, then vacuum the area thoroughly to catch smaller fragments. Place all broken glass in a sturdy cardboard box or double-bagged trash bag labeled "broken glass" to protect sanitation workers.

Remove hanging glass fragments

Tap remaining glass pieces gently with the handle of your hammer or screwdriver to knock them free from the frame. Work from the top of the window down to prevent glass from falling on your hands.

Pull out any glass stuck in the frame carefully by gripping it near the frame edge, not in the middle where it might snap.

Wear your heavy gloves during this entire process and dispose of all fragments immediately.

Step 2. Measure and cut the plywood

Accurate measurements prevent gaps around the edges that let water and wind through the barrier. You need to cut plywood large enough to cover the entire window opening plus the frame for secure fastening. Poor measurements mean you either waste material on a second cut or leave your home partially exposed.

Take accurate measurements

Measure the full width and height of the window opening from the outside edge of the frame on all four sides. Add four inches to both dimensions to create a two-inch overlap on each side for attaching screws into solid framing material.

Write these final dimensions directly on your plywood sheet where you plan to cut. Double-check your numbers before cutting because you cannot add material back once removed.

Measure twice and cut once to avoid wasting plywood and leaving your window vulnerable longer than necessary.

Cut the plywood to size

Use your circular saw or handsaw to cut along the marked lines on your plywood. Keep the blade moving steadily without forcing it through the wood to prevent rough, uneven edges.

Support both sides of the cut line to keep the plywood from snapping or splintering as you near the end of each cut. Your finished board should now fit over the broken window with room to spare on all sides.

Step 3. Fasten the plywood to the exterior

Position the plywood over the window opening and secure it with exterior screws driven into solid framing material. You need to attach the board firmly enough to withstand wind pressure and prevent water from seeping behind it. Proper screw placement and spacing create a barrier that stays in place until you arrange permanent window replacement.

Position the plywood board

Center the plywood over the broken window so you have equal overlap on all four sides of the frame. Hold the board steady against the exterior wall while you mark drill hole locations every 6 to 8 inches around the perimeter, staying at least two inches from each edge.

Pre-drill pilot holes at each marked spot using a drill bit slightly smaller than your screw diameter. This prevents the plywood from splitting and makes driving screws easier through both materials.

Pilot holes ensure your screws go in straight without cracking the plywood edges when you board up broken window openings.

Drive screws into the frame

Insert your 2.5 to 3-inch exterior screws through each pilot hole and drive them completely into the window frame or wall studs. Tighten each screw until the plywood sits flat against the exterior surface without gaps between the board and siding.

Check that all screws penetrate deep enough to hold firmly but not so deep that they crack the plywood face. Your boarded window should now resist moderate wind and block rain from entering your home.

Waterproofing the boarded opening

Water seeps through tiny gaps between plywood and your home's exterior even when screws hold the board tightly in place. You need to seal all edges with weatherproof materials to prevent rain from damaging your walls and interior spaces. Skipping this step lets moisture accumulate behind the plywood where you cannot see it causing mold growth and wood rot.

Apply weatherproofing tape

Press self-adhesive weatherproofing tape along the top and side edges where plywood meets your exterior siding. Start at the top horizontal edge and work your way down each vertical side to create overlapping seams that direct water away from the opening.

Smooth out any air bubbles or wrinkles as you apply the tape to ensure complete adhesion. This tape creates a flexible barrier that moves with temperature changes without cracking or peeling away from the surface.

Weatherproofing tape prevents water infiltration more effectively than caulk alone when you board up broken window openings.

Seal remaining gaps with caulk

Fill any small gaps between the plywood edges and siding with exterior-grade silicone caulk. Run a continuous bead of caulk along the bottom edge and any spots where tape does not lay flat against the surface.

Smooth the caulk with your gloved finger to press it into gaps and create a clean seal that sheds water away from the opening.

Next steps after boarding up

Your boarded window now protects your home from weather damage and security threats while you arrange permanent repairs. This temporary barrier should hold for several weeks or even months depending on weather conditions in your area, but you need to schedule professional window replacement as soon as possible to restore your home's energy efficiency and curb appeal.

Contact a professional window installer within the next few days to get repair estimates and timeline options. Document the damage with detailed photographs for your insurance claim before you board up broken window openings and after installation.

If the broken window resulted from storm damage or water intrusion that affected your walls or interior spaces, you may need more than just glass replacement. Water can damage insulation, framing, and drywall behind the visible opening. Professional water damage restoration services can assess hidden moisture issues and prevent mold growth that starts within 24 to 48 hours of water exposure.