Fire Damage Board-Up Services in South Jordan, UT
When the fire department leaves and the smoke clears, the damaged structure immediately faces a new set of threats that have nothing to do with the fire itself. Rain through broken windows. Snow through a compromised roofline. Unauthorized entry through a door that no longer closes. Theft of whatever remains. And in South Jordan’s climate — where January temperatures drop below 15°F overnight while daytime highs recover above freezing — a fire-damaged structure with open exterior penetrations can accumulate freeze-thaw water damage in wall cavities and subfloor assemblies within 24 hours of the fire being extinguished.
Emergency board-up is the first step that stops additional damage from compounding the fire damage. True Day Water Damage Restoration is a licensed Utah Contractor (#960332-3505) and IICRC-Certified Firm (ID #927354-5258), based at 11268 S 2865 W in South Jordan. We deploy board-up as quickly as possible after the fire department releases the property — the same day in virtually every case. Call us at (385) 247-9359.
Why Board-Up Cannot Wait
Every hour a fire-damaged structure sits open to weather, unauthorized entry, and environmental exposure converts potential restoration savings into reconstruction costs. The reasons are specific:
Weather intrusion in Utah’s climate: South Jordan’s Wasatch Front location creates a specific post-fire weather risk. The same freeze-thaw cycling that produces ice dam conditions on residential roofs throughout the valley — overnight lows well below freezing, daytime temperatures above 32°F — can drive meltwater into open structural penetrations and then freeze it in place within wall cavities and subfloor assemblies. Water damage from weather intrusion through an unsecured fire-damaged structure is not always separately covered by insurance — most policies expect the homeowner to take reasonable steps to prevent it, which means board-up.
Unauthorized entry and theft: A fire-damaged property with visible open windows and unsecured doors is visibly accessible. Remaining contents, appliances, copper plumbing, and salvageable materials become accessible targets. Fire investigators and restoration crews need a secured, undisturbed site to conduct their work accurately — a site that has been accessed by unauthorized parties compromises that chain of custody.
Liability exposure: An unsecured fire-damaged property creates liability risk for the owner. If anyone — including a child exploring — enters through an unsecured opening and is injured, the property owner may face tort liability consequences. Board-up addresses this risk.
Insurance Duty to Mitigate: Most homeowner’s insurance policies require the policyholder to take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage after a covered loss. Failing to board up promptly may give the carrier grounds to dispute coverage for weather damage or vandalism that occurs after the fire in an unsecured structure. Emergency board-up is typically covered as a mitigation expense — we document all work for inclusion in the claim.
What We Board Up and Tarp
Windows: All windows broken by heat, by firefighting ventilation operations, or by structural damage are covered with plywood panels secured to the surrounding framing. Panels are cut to fit, weather-sealed at the edges, and fastened securely enough to resist wind loading and unauthorized removal.
Exterior doors: Doors damaged during firefighting entry, destroyed by heat, or left otherwise compromised are covered with plywood panels secured to the door frame. In cases where the frame is intact, a temporary door panel can be installed to allow controlled access.
Compromised wall sections: Sections of exterior walls burned through, partially collapsed, or otherwise open to the exterior are covered with plywood framing installed to span the opening and provide weather protection and entry deterrence.
Roof tarping and board-up: Roof areas damaged by fire, missing shingles or sheathing, or compromised during firefighting are covered with heavy-duty polyethylene tarping secured with battens and nailing strips, overlapping at ridges and extending well beyond the damaged area. Where roof damage is extensive, plywood decking over the affected area may be installed under tarping for better structural support and weather resistance.
HVAC and utility penetrations: Open pipe penetrations, utility entries, and other structural openings created during firefighting are identified and temporarily sealed — preventing animal entry, debris infiltration, and weather intrusion through secondary openings that are easy to overlook in the larger assessment.
Board-Up as the First Step of Complete Fire Restoration
Because the same company handles board-up and full restoration, there is no gap in documentation, no loss of chain of custody, and no coordination delay between securing the property and beginning the restoration process. The board-up team documents all damage photographically before installing any panels — capturing the pre-board-up condition of every opening for insurance purposes. That documentation becomes part of the complete fire restoration claim file.
- Do I need to board up immediately after a fire?
- Yes, as soon as the fire department clears the structure. The Duty to Mitigate clause in every HO-3 and commercial property policy requires reasonable protective action after a covered loss. Additional damage through unprotected openings may be attributed to failure to mitigate rather than to the original fire event.
- Will insurance cover board-up costs?
- Yes. Board-up and emergency tarping are covered under the fire damage provision as necessary mitigation expenses. We document all work in Xactimate format and submit it as part of the fire damage claim.
- Can I do the board-up myself?
- Basic window and door boarding is feasible temporarily. Roof sections require structural fastening to existing framing at unsafe heights without proper equipment. Pre-mitigation documentation performed simultaneously with professional board-up is critical for the insurance scope — conditions obscured by DIY boarding materials may be missed.
Board-up is the entry point into the full fire restoration sequence. After securing the property, we transition to:
- Smoke Damage Cleanup
- Soot Removal
- Water Extraction from firefighting
- Structural Drying
- Odor Elimination
- Contents Cleaning & Pack-Out
- Full Reconstruction
- Insurance Claims Assistance
Learn more about our full fire damage restoration services.
True Day Water Damage Restoration | 11268 S 2865 W, South Jordan, UT 84095 | (385) 247-9359 | Utah Contractor License: #960332-3505 | IICRC Firm ID: #927354-5258