Board Up Services in East Lansing, MI
An open window, a smashed storefront or a cut roof leaves your property exposed to weather and intruders tonight. One call connects you with an independent, licensed and insured board-up crew in East Lansing that can secure every opening, day or night.
- Window & door board-up
- Roof tarping
- Storefront securing
- Licensed & insured independent pros

Why Board-Up Matters in East Lansing After a Fire or Break-In
After a fire, burglary, vehicle impact or storm, board-up is what protects the property until permanent repairs are made. In one night, an open building can take on water, be looted or end up with someone sleeping inside.
Nearly every property policy requires reasonable steps to prevent additional loss. Damage that happens because a building was left open may not be covered. A documented professional board-up shows you met that requirement.
There is a right way to do it. Good crews use 5/8 inch or thicker exterior plywood, screws or carriage bolts instead of nails, and 2x4 strongbacks across wide openings. Done well, it is hard to pry off and causes minimal damage to the frame.
We are a free referral service; independent crews do the board-up work. We connect East Lansing callers with independent, licensed and insured board-up contractors who respond around the clock.

When you need board-up
- After a fire with broken windows or forced doors
- After a burglary or vandalism
- After a vehicle crashes into a building
- After storm or tree damage
- For vacant or foreclosed properties
Why Choose Our Specialized Board Up Services in East Lansing, MI
Board-up is about getting there fast and doing it solidly. This is what independent board-up crews in the East Lansing network show up with.
Licensed & insured crews
We connect you with independent, licensed and insured crews. Ask for documentation of the work for your insurance file.
Upfront, flat-rate pricing
Expect per-opening or per-square-foot pricing, quoted before the crew starts. No surprises on the invoice.
Rapid local dispatch
Local crews can often be there within hours, nights and holidays included.
Board-up materials & tools
Exterior-grade plywood, strongbacks, carriage bolts, structural screws, heavy tarps, generators and work lights ride on the truck.
Board-Up and Securing Solutions Around East Lansing
Each type of opening calls for its own method.
Window Board-Up
Plywood is cut to size and either screwed in place or through-bolted with interior strongbacks. It holds up against wind, rain and pry bars.
Door & Entry Securing
Forced or burned doors are covered or replaced with temporary plywood doors that lock, so you and your contractors can still get in.
Roof Tarping
Fire ventilation cuts, burn-through and storm damage are covered with reinforced tarps secured with batten strips screwed through the decking. It keeps water out until the roof is repaired.
Storefront & Commercial Board-Up
Large storefront glass, display windows and commercial entries are secured quickly so the business can protect inventory and limit downtime.
Temporary Fencing
Temporary chain-link fencing keeps people away from unsafe buildings and lowers liability.
Vacant Property Securing
For vacant properties, crews use heavier plywood and tamper-resistant fasteners to deter squatters and vandals.

How a Professional Board-Up Is Built
A quick patch is a sheet of thin plywood nailed to the outside trim. It can blow off in a storm, comes off with a pry bar in seconds and leaves split trim and nail holes behind.
Professional board-up uses exterior plywood, typically 5/8 inch or 3/4 inch, cut to the opening. On ground-floor windows and storefronts, crews often through-bolt the panel with carriage bolts and 2x4 strongbacks on the inside, so there is nothing to grab from outside. Upper-floor windows are typically fastened with structural screws.
Roofs get reinforced tarps, not lightweight hardware-store tarps. Where possible the tarp goes over the ridge and is held with screwed batten strips so wind cannot lift it.
Doors need access. Good crews build a hinged plywood door with a hasp and padlock so you, the adjuster and contractors can get in.
Board-up is usually the first line on your insurance claim, so documentation matters. Ask the crew to photograph every opening before and after it is secured and to provide an itemized invoice showing materials and labor. Keep those records with your claim paperwork. If the board-up stays in place for weeks while repairs are scheduled, check it after storms and call the contractor if anything loosens, because a failed board-up can lead to new damage.
Board-Up Calls We Take Day and Night
After a house fire
Firefighters break windows and force doors to fight the fire. Board-up secures every opening the same night and creates a lockable entry for the restoration crew and your adjuster.
After a burglary
A broken door or window after a break-in leaves the property vulnerable to a second visit. Crews secure the opening with through-bolted plywood until the glass or door can be replaced.
Vehicle into a building
A car through a storefront or home creates a large, irregular opening that may involve damaged framing. Crews secure the opening and, when needed, install temporary bracing until a contractor can assess the structure.
Storm and tree damage
High winds blow out windows and drop trees through roofs. Board-up and roof tarping keep rain out until permanent repairs can be scheduled.
Commercial glass after hours
A broken storefront or office window at night leaves inventory and equipment exposed. Crews secure the opening so the business can protect its contents and open the next day, then the glass company replaces it.
How Board-Up Dispatch Works in East Lansing
Call Dispatch
Call +1-866-484-1409 and describe how many openings there are and roughly how big. We connect you with an independent crew near East Lansing.
Rapid Mobile Arrival
A crew arrives stocked with plywood, fasteners, tarps and lights for night work.
Expert Assessment & Quote
The lead measures each opening and quotes the job before starting.
Resolution & Final Walkthrough
Every opening is secured, photographed and documented, and you get an invoice for your insurance file.
Board-Up Stories From East Lansing
A car went through the front of our shop at midnight. The entire front was boarded and bolted by 3 in the morning. We opened through the side door the next day.
Tony R.Shop owner, East Lansing
After the fire, firefighters had broken four windows and the back door. The crew bolted plywood from the inside and built a temporary door with a padlock so the restoration crew could get in.
Lisa N.Homeowner, East Lansing
One of my vacant rentals was broken into. They secured it the same night with heavy plywood and tamper-resistant screws. No problems since.
Dennis O.Property manager, East Lansing
A storm dropped a tree through our living room window. By sunrise the window was boarded and the damaged roof was tarped.
Carlos E.Homeowner, East Lansing
Board-Up Service Questions
How fast can a board-up crew get to my property in East Lansing?
Local independent crews can often reach you within a few hours, even overnight. You will get an honest arrival estimate from the dispatcher.
Does insurance cover board-up services?
Board-up after a covered loss like a fire or storm is usually covered because it prevents further damage. Save the invoice and photos for your claim.
Why do professionals use screws or bolts instead of nails?
They hold more securely, resist prying from outside and do less damage to frames when removed.
How long can board-up stay in place?
Well-installed exterior plywood can stay for weeks or months until repairs are done. Tarps should be checked after heavy weather.
Is Re Fire Me the board-up company?
No. Re Fire Me is a free referral service. We connect you with independent, licensed and insured board-up contractors who perform and are responsible for the work.
Can board-up services secure a property after a break-in, not just a fire?
Yes. Board-up crews secure properties after burglaries, vandalism, vehicle impacts, storms and fires. They also secure vacant buildings against trespassers.
Board-Up Coverage Across East Lansing
The dispatch line covers East Lansing and the surrounding communities every hour of the day. Independent crews handle houses, multifamily buildings, storefronts, offices, warehouses and vacant properties. See nearby cities and zip codes below.
Board-up crews around East Lansing keep plywood, fasteners and tarps stocked so they can respond quickly to homes, rentals and businesses, including late-night calls after storms and break-ins when most other contractors are closed.

Do Not Leave Your Building Open Overnight
Until it is boarded, your property is open to weather and intruders. Call +1-866-484-1409 for board-up service in East Lansing.