What is "boarding up"

vb. (present participle of board up English)

Boarding up is the process of installing boards on the windows and doors of a property to protect it from storm damage or to prevent unauthorized access by squatters, looters or vandals.

Plywood sheets are usually used for this but an alternative is plastic sheeting. Specialists use 32-foot rolls of tough plastic for this and are able to wrap a complete house in 90 minutes. This has the advantage of waterproofing storm-damaged property but will not protect it from looters or squatters as the plastic may be cut.

While short-term boarding up is associated with protection from storms or in case of a broken window, long-term boarding up is most often associated with unoccupied buildings, and may form part of property preservation of foreclosed properties.