Roof & Opening Board-Up in Aurora

Yes. We connect Aurora homeowners with vetted, licensed local pros for roof & opening board-up, with a free assessment and no obligation.

For Aurora and the surrounding Kane County area, our network pros prioritize storm work and typically respond same-day or next-day for urgent needs.

Standard emergency board-up uses 5/8" or 3/4" CDX plywood, which is the minimum thickness most building departments and insurance carriers recognize as adequate temporary protection. Thinner OSB or 1/2" panels are sometimes used for small interior openings in sheltered locations but are generally not appropriate for exterior windows and doors exposed to continued weather. In Florida's HVHZ, 3/4" panels with specific fastening patterns are required to meet wind-load compliance.

Properly installed plywood boards provide adequate protection for 30-60 days in most conditions. Extended periods beyond 60 days in Florida's summer humidity accelerate moisture absorption into the plywood and surrounding framing, and boards can warp, swell, and loosen fasteners. In Illinois winters, temperature cycling causes wood to expand and contract, eventually loosening the seal. Permanent repairs should be scheduled well within the 60-day window.

Board-up is entirely compatible with continued occupancy in most cases. The work is performed from the exterior, and windows and doors are sealed from outside. Interior access is only needed for unusually large or structurally complex openings. Residents should avoid the specific room where work is occurring during installation. If structural instability is present in the affected area, the contractor will advise on whether that section of the home should be vacated during repairs.

Boarding up is a protective mitigation action and is typically covered under the same emergency mitigation provision as roof tarping. Documenting the pre-board condition with photographs is the critical step - insurers need to see the original damage, not just panels covering it. Keep itemized receipts from the contractor showing the number of openings, materials, and labor. This documentation supports both mitigation cost reimbursement and the underlying damage claim.

Yes, large garage door openings are one of the most common board-up jobs after severe storms, particularly in Florida where hurricane winds frequently overload residential garage doors. A crew will frame a temporary support structure across the opening using 2x4 horizontal nailers secured to the surrounding masonry or wood framing, then sheet the full opening with 3/4" plywood panels. This is a more labor-intensive job than a standard window board and typically runs $300-$600 per bay.

No. Storm shutters and hurricane panels are permanent or semi-permanent protective systems installed before a storm arrives. Board-up is an emergency post-damage response - it uses cut plywood or OSB to seal openings where the original window, door, or wall assembly has already been breached. Board-up panels are not rated for repeated storm cycles the way engineered hurricane panels are. If a home suffered recurring damage from board-up-level events, the right long-term solution is impact windows or a rated shutter system.

Not immediately and not without coordination. A tree through a wall is a structural emergency: the tree may be load-bearing in the damaged section, and removing it without temporary shoring can cause further collapse. The correct sequence is: contact a structural engineer or the fire department for a stability assessment, arrange safe tree removal by a licensed arborist, then have the board-up crew stabilize the remaining opening. Attempting to cut around a tree and board it in place is generally not safe and will not produce a weathertight result.

Emergency board-up is widely exempt from permit requirements in both states because it is classified as temporary protective work rather than a structural repair or alteration. However, if the underlying damage requires a demolition or repair permit - which many jurisdictions require before permanent reconstruction - the permit process for that permanent work will encompass the opening's history. Some municipalities issue emergency damage declarations that fast-track or waive permit fees for both temporary and permanent storm repair work.

A properly installed 3/4" plywood board-up with 3-inch structural screws provides meaningful deterrence against opportunistic entry - it is far more resistant than an empty opening and takes tools and significant effort to defeat. It is not equivalent to a reinforced door or impact-rated window, but in the context of post-storm conditions where rapid access is more often the threat than organized burglary, board-up provides a practical security layer. For homes that will be unoccupied for more than a few days post-storm, adding security lighting and notifying local police of vacancy is a useful complement.

If both roof and opening damage are present, call a full-service storm restoration contractor who handles both simultaneously. Roof-only contractors may not carry the framing materials and panel stock for opening board-up. Dedicated board-up companies exist but may not coordinate with roofing crews. A single storm-restoration call typically gets one crew deployed that assesses the full damage picture and performs both services, which avoids the sequencing delays of managing two separate contractors after an emergency.