How to Board Up a House: Windows, Doors, and Safety Tips

A severe storm warning flashes across your phone, or you're staring at a vacant property that needs immediate protection. Either way, you need to secure your windows and doors fast. Learning how to board up a house can prevent thousands of dollars in damage from flying debris, break-ins, or water intrusion during emergencies.

Boarding up your property creates a physical barrier that protects vulnerable entry points from wind, rain, and unauthorized access. When done correctly, plywood panels or steel alternatives can withstand high winds and keep your home's interior safe from the elements. This temporary measure works for storm preparation, securing damaged properties after disasters, or protecting vacant homes from vandalism.

This guide walks you through the complete boarding process from start to finish. You'll learn when boarding makes sense, what materials and tools you need, how to measure and cut panels properly, and the safest installation methods for different surfaces. We'll also cover critical safety steps that many DIY guides skip, helping you protect both your property and yourself during the process.

Why and when you should board up

Knowing when to board up prevents costly property damage and keeps your home secure during critical situations. You'll need boarding when immediate threats appear, whether from severe weather events, unexpected property damage, or long-term vacancy concerns. Understanding these specific scenarios helps you react quickly and protect your investment before damage occurs or worsens significantly.

Emergency situations that require boarding

Hurricane or storm warnings give you advance notice to protect windows and doors from flying debris and dangerous wind pressure. You should start the boarding process when forecasts predict sustained winds above 50 mph or when local authorities issue evacuation orders for your specific area. This preparation window lets you secure all vulnerable openings methodically before conditions deteriorate and boarding becomes too dangerous to attempt safely.

Property damage from fire, flood, or vandalism requires immediate boarding to prevent additional harm and expensive secondary damage to your interior spaces. Broken windows and damaged doors leave your home completely exposed to weather intrusion, opportunistic theft, and serious liability issues if trespassers enter your property uninvited. Vacant properties also need proper boarding to meet strict local ordinances, actively deter squatters and vandals, and maintain neighborhood property standards while awaiting renovation or sale.

Boarding up within 24 hours of damage can prevent secondary issues like water intrusion and unauthorized entry.

Step 1. Put safety and planning first

Your safety matters more than property protection, so you need to evaluate conditions before climbing ladders or handling heavy materials. Start by checking weather forecasts and giving yourself enough time to complete the work safely before conditions worsen. Never attempt boarding when winds exceed 35 mph, when rain has already started, or when severe weather will arrive within the next few hours.

Assess your situation and timeline

You must determine which openings need boarding based on storm direction and your property's most vulnerable spots. Windows facing the predicted storm path require immediate attention, while sheltered areas might need less protection. Walk your property completely to identify broken windows, damaged doors, and any structural weak points that debris could easily penetrate during high winds.

Check your physical condition and get help

Boarding requires carrying heavy plywood sheets, climbing ladders repeatedly, and working with power tools at awkward angles. If you have mobility limitations, balance issues, or no experience with ladder work, you should hire professionals rather than risk serious injury. Even experienced DIYers benefit from having at least one helper to stabilize ladders, hold panels in position, and assist with measuring or cutting tasks throughout the boarding process.

Never work alone when boarding second-story windows or during deteriorating weather conditions.

Step 2. Gather tools and materials

Having the right equipment ready prevents mid-project delays when weather conditions might worsen or when stores close during emergency situations. You need tools for measuring, cutting, drilling, and securing panels safely, plus the actual boarding materials themselves. Gathering everything in advance lets you work efficiently without dangerous interruptions once you start the boarding process.

Essential tools for the job

You need these specific tools to complete boarding work safely and effectively:

• Tape measure (25-foot minimum length)

• Circular saw or handsaw for cutting plywood

• Power drill with drill bits matching your fastener sizes

• Hammer for manual fastener installation

• Ladder tall enough to reach all windows safely

• Work gloves and safety glasses for protection

• Wrench or socket set for bolt installation

Materials for secure boarding

Use 5/8-inch CDX plywood (exterior grade, minimum thickness) cut to cover each opening with at least a 4-inch overlap on all sides. Your fasteners depend on your wall material: choose 1/4-inch lag screws with plastic anchors for wood-frame homes, or expansion bolts with galvanized anchors for masonry structures. Purchase 2x4 lumber if you need to join multiple plywood sheets for larger openings, plus washers and nuts that match your chosen bolt sizes.

Having all materials on-site before you start prevents dangerous mid-project trips during deteriorating conditions.

Step 3. Measure, cut, and label panels

Accurate measurements prevent gaps that let wind and water damage your interior, while proper cutting ensures panels fit securely over each opening. You must measure every window and door individually since openings vary by several inches even in standardized construction. Taking time to measure twice and cut once saves materials, prevents waste, and ensures your boarding holds firm when severe weather hits your property.

Measure each opening accurately

Measure the width and height of each opening inside the exterior trim using your tape measure, recording measurements in inches on paper or your phone. Add 8 inches to both dimensions (4 inches on each side) to create the overlap needed for secure fastening around the entire frame. For windows with extended sills that project outward, measure from the top of the sill to the window top and add only 4 inches instead of 8, since you'll secure the bottom edge to the sill surface itself.

Cut plywood and label each panel

Mark your measurements on the plywood sheet using a pencil and straight edge, then cut along the lines with your circular saw or handsaw, keeping the blade steady for clean edges. Wear safety glasses during cutting to protect your eyes from flying wood particles. After cutting each panel, write the corresponding location directly on the wood using a permanent marker (example: "Front Bedroom Window - South Side" or "Kitchen Door") so you know exactly where each piece goes during installation.

Labeling panels during cutting prevents confusion when you're working quickly under deteriorating weather conditions.

Step 4. Secure boards over windows and doors

Installing the panels correctly keeps them attached during high winds and prevents water from entering around the edges. You need to position each panel carefully, drill pilot holes at the right locations, and drive fasteners through the plywood into your wall structure with proper depth. The installation method changes based on whether you have wood-frame or masonry construction, so identifying your wall type before starting prevents costly mistakes.

Drill and fasten the panels

Hold the labeled panel firmly against the opening with the 4-inch overlap on all sides, then mark drill locations 2 inches from each corner and every 12 inches around the perimeter. Drill pilot holes through these marked spots using a bit that matches your fastener diameter exactly. For wood-frame homes, drive 1/4-inch lag screws (or 3/8-inch for large windows) through the plywood and into wall studs at least 1.75 inches deep, ensuring each screw penetrates the frame surrounding the window. Masonry homes require you to drill into the wall first, insert galvanized expansion anchors, then drive 1/4-inch expansion bolts (or 3/8-inch for large openings) at least 1.5 inches deep into the masonry surface surrounding each opening.

Always wear safety glasses when drilling overhead or at eye level to protect against falling debris.

Join multiple panels for large openings

Large windows, doors, or garage doors need multiple plywood sheets joined with 2x4 bracing to create a solid barrier. Cut a 2x4 to run the entire length of the seam where two panels meet, then attach it to the outside of the plywood using 10-gauge, 2-inch galvanized screws spaced every 4 inches. Position the 2x4 with its wide side flat against the plywood for maximum strength, then secure the joined panel using the same fastening method described above.

Keep your home protected

Knowing how to board up a house gives you critical protection during emergencies, but some situations require professional help beyond temporary boarding measures. When water damage, storm destruction, or structural issues affect your property, proper restoration demands specialized equipment and certified expertise that DIY methods can't match safely. Professional restoration crews handle everything from water extraction and mold remediation to reconstruction preparation, taking over after you remove temporary boards and stabilize the immediate situation.

If your Austin-area property suffers water damage or storm-related destruction, Water Damage Repair Tech provides 24/7 emergency response within 30 minutes of your call. Their IICRC-certified technicians handle complete restoration from initial cleanup through demolition and build-back preparation, ensuring your home returns to safe, livable condition quickly and correctly.