Not every broken window needs glass at 2am. Sometimes the right call is to board the opening, lock the property down, and replace the panel with permanent glass during business hours when the right specification can be ordered and fitted properly. The make-safe is the holding pattern between damage and proper repair.
This post explains when boarding is the right call and when it is not, for both residential and commercial properties in Penrith and Western Sydney.
The short answer
Boarding is the right call when the property is unsecured, the glass is non-standard, the damage is extensive, or after-hours installation of permanent glass is impractical. Polycarbonate or temporary glass is better when the property needs to look open (retail) or when the opening is in a highly visible area. The choice is about security, presentation and practicality, not just cost.
What “make-safe” actually means
A make-safe is the temporary fix that keeps a property secure, weather-tight and safe to occupy until the permanent repair is installed. The three common options:
- Timber boarding (painted ply).
- Polycarbonate sheet (clear or coloured).
- Temporary glass (real glass, minimal seal, replaced soon).
Each has its place. The right call depends on the property, the location, the damage and the timeline.
When timber boarding is the right call
Boarding is the workhorse of make-safe. We choose boarding when:
- The opening is large. A smashed ground-floor sliding door is too big for cost-effective polycarbonate.
- The property is residential and security matters more than presentation. A back bedroom or laundry window does not need to look pretty.
- The damage is severe and the frame is also affected. Boarding can be screwed to the surrounding structure when the frame cannot hold any glass.
- Recovery time will be more than two days. A custom or specialty glass order means the make-safe needs to hold for a week or more.
- The property is vacant or unoccupied. Aesthetics do not matter when no one is there.
For a Cranebrook rental with a smashed laundry window at 11pm, boarded ply is the right answer. The tenant sleeps, the property is secure, and the permanent glass goes in mid-week.
When polycarbonate is the right call
Polycarbonate sheet (also called Lexan or similar) is clear, tough plastic that can be cut to size and fixed in place. We choose polycarbonate when:
- The property is retail and needs to look open. Customers walk past and see a slightly cloudy version of the store, not a boarded shop.
- The opening is in a highly visible location. Front of a house, entry sidelights, prominent street-facing windows.
- Natural light matters. Boarding blocks all light. Polycarbonate lets it through.
- The property is occupied and the family needs visibility through the opening.
- Recovery time will be 2 to 5 days. Just enough time to justify the slightly higher cost of polycarbonate vs ply.
For a smashed shopfront in Kingswood on a Friday night, polycarbonate is usually the right call. The store opens Saturday morning, looks more or less normal, and the permanent panel goes in Sunday or Monday.
When temporary glass is the right call
Temporary glass is real glass cut from stock and fitted with minimal silicone, expected to be replaced with the proper panel within a day or two. We choose temporary glass when:
- The property needs to look entirely normal immediately. Premium retail, high-end residential, commercial reception areas.
- The permanent panel arrives within 24 to 48 hours. Not worth a more permanent make-safe.
- The standard glass is in stock. A custom panel will not be available as temporary.
For a smashed front door panel in a Glenmore Park home where the homeowner wants the house to look normal for the neighbours, temporary glass is the right answer. We fit 4mm or 6mm clear from stock, return Monday with the proper safety-rated panel.
Costs of each make-safe option
Approximate Penrith pricing for a typical 1m x 1.5m residential opening:
- Timber boarding: $250 to $450 supplied and installed.
- Polycarbonate (4mm or 6mm): $350 to $650 supplied and installed.
- Temporary glass (4mm or 6mm clear stock): $300 to $500 supplied and installed.
After-hours premium adds 30 to 50 per cent for emergency response.
For larger shopfront panels (3m x 2.4m or similar):
- Boarding: $600 to $1,100.
- Polycarbonate: $1,000 to $1,800.
- Temporary glass: $800 to $1,400.
The choice is rarely cost-driven. It is driven by presentation, security and recovery time.
How long can a make-safe stay in place?
Make-safe is meant to be temporary. The practical limits:
- Timber boarding: indefinite, but most properties want it gone within 1 to 4 weeks. Looks of a boarded property attract attention and can lower property value perceptions.
- Polycarbonate: 2 to 6 weeks. Surface scratches accumulate over time. UV exposure can yellow some grades.
- Temporary glass: 3 to 10 days. The minimal seal is not weather-tight long-term.
If the permanent panel is delayed (specialty glass, custom shape), we sometimes need to refresh or replace the make-safe partway through.
Documentation around make-safe
For insurance purposes, document the make-safe carefully:
- Photos of the damage before.
- Photos of the make-safe in place.
- Description of materials used.
- Time stamp on arrival and completion.
- Invoice with the make-safe cost separated from any other work.
This pack supports the insurance claim and provides the audit trail if anyone questions whether the property was properly secured.
Common make-safe mistakes
A few things we see go wrong with make-safes:
- Trying to DIY a board. Often fails as security and looks worse than a professional installation.
- Leaving glass in the frame. Even cracked glass should be removed before boarding, or it falls in later.
- Inadequate fixing. A board held with packing tape will not survive a windy night.
- No weather seal. Rain coming through the boarding damages the interior more than the original glass damage.
- Forgetting the cleanup. Glass shards in carpet, in garden beds, on driveways. All of it needs to go.
A proper professional make-safe takes 30 to 90 minutes and addresses all of these.
Special cases
A few situations that need a different approach.
Heritage windows. Boarding a heritage window often requires specific timber and finishes to not damage the surrounding architecture. We work around these with care.
Curved or specialty shapes. Curved shopfronts and decorative shapes cannot use straight boards or sheets. Custom-cut polycarbonate or temporary glass is the answer.
Double-glazed units. The outer pane may be smashed and the inner intact. Sometimes the make-safe is on the outside only. Other times the whole IGU needs to come out.
Sloped or skylight glass. Especially tricky. Water management becomes the priority over presentation.
High-rise. Make-safe at height requires elevated work platforms or rope access. Plan accordingly.
When we recommend boarding vs alternatives
A quick decision tree from our 24/7 emergency glass team:
- Property unoccupied or rear of house? Boarding.
- Retail or commercial visible from street? Polycarbonate.
- Front of home in a visible location? Polycarbonate.
- Permanent panel arriving within 24 to 48 hours? Temporary glass if stock available.
- Permanent panel delayed by specialty glass order? Boarding or polycarbonate.
- Heritage or specialty frame? Custom approach.
We talk through the options on the call and decide together based on what matters most for the property.
When to call us
Call us as soon as damage happens. We answer the phone 24/7 and decide the make-safe approach with you.
- Smashed window, door, shopfront, balustrade or skylight.
- Storm damage, vandalism, accidental impact, break-in.
- Vacant property or fully occupied.
- Residential, commercial, retail, strata.
Phone 02 4722 2787 any time. For non-urgent work, the contact form is the fastest path. For the broader service info, see shopfront repair.
FAQ
Can I leave the make-safe in place if I cannot afford the permanent repair right now? Yes, with caveats. Boarding can stay for months. Polycarbonate and temporary glass need to be replaced within weeks. Long-term boarding attracts attention from council, insurers and potential intruders.
Will the insurance cover the make-safe? Usually yes. Most policies cover reasonable make-safe expenses as part of the claim. Keep the invoice separate from the permanent repair invoice.
Do you charge for the call-out separately? Yes. The call-out fee covers travel and labour to attend. The make-safe is quoted on top. We tell you both numbers on the call.
Can you board up a property that is empty pending a renovation? Yes. We do regular make-safes for empty properties in Penrith and Western Sydney.
A good make-safe buys time. The permanent repair follows. The right choice on the night sets up a smooth handover.
