Emergency Board-Up & Roof Tarping in Flagstaff: the short answer
Emergency board-up after a fire covers broken windows, damaged doors and wall openings with plywood, and roof tarping seals ventilation holes and burned roofing against snow and rain. It protects the house from weather, animals, theft and further damage, and most insurers expect it as part of mitigating the loss. In Flagstaff, board-up and tarping typically cost $500 to $2,500.
Why board-up comes first
Firefighters do what they must to stop a fire: break windows to vent heat and smoke, force doors, and cut holes in the roof so superheated gases can escape. Those openings saved the house, but once the fire is out they let in everything else. In the high country that means snow, freezing temperatures, wind-driven rain during monsoon season, and elk, raccoons and birds looking for shelter. It also means people. Vacant fire-damaged homes attract theft and vandalism.
Homeowners insurance policies require you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage after a loss. Boarding up and tarping is the clearest example, and it is normally paid as part of a covered fire claim. If the house is left open and a storm soaks the interior, an adjuster may question the added damage.
What emergency board-up includes
- Walk-around. The crew checks every opening and confirms with you and the fire department that the structure is safe to work on.
- Windows and doors. Broken or missing windows and doors are covered with exterior-grade plywood, screwed or bolted through to framing so it cannot be pried off. One secure entry door is usually fitted with a lockable board or a temporary door.
- Wall openings. Where fire burned through siding or a wall, the opening is framed out and sheathed.
- Roof. Ventilation cuts and burned roofing are covered with heavy reinforced tarps, anchored with battens screwed to the roof deck. Large holes are framed and sheathed under the tarp to carry snow load.
- Utilities. Power stays off until an electrician clears it. In winter, plumbing is drained or heated so pipes do not freeze in a house with no heat.
- Photos. Every opening is photographed before and after for your claim.
Board-up and tarping in Flagstaff's climate
Flagstaff gets heavy snow, and a roof tarp that would be fine in Phoenix will not hold up here. A few things matter more at 7,000 feet:
- Snow load. Wet spring snow is heavy. A tarp alone sags and tears under it; open sections of roof need temporary framing and sheathing under the tarp so it sheds snow instead of pooling it.
- Wind. Afternoon winds in spring and winter storms pull at loose tarps. Battens screwed through to the deck hold far better than sandbags or rope.
- Freeze protection. A fire-damaged house with the power off can drop below freezing in a single night. Draining the water lines, or running temporary heat, prevents a second loss from burst pipes. See firefighting water damage drying for the water already inside.
- Monsoon season. In July and August, afternoon storms can drop an inch of rain in under an hour. A fire in early summer needs the roof sealed before the next cell rolls over the Peaks.
- Wildlife. Open houses at the forest edge get visitors fast. Boarding every opening, including crawl space vents damaged during firefighting, keeps animals out.
After the house is secured
Board-up buys time for everything that follows. With the house closed up, crews can extract firefighting water, start smoke damage cleanup, pack out belongings for contents cleaning, and begin planning fire damage repair. Plywood on windows also keeps soot and smoke odor from blowing out into the neighborhood.
Boards and tarps are temporary. Plan on replacing them with permanent repairs within weeks or a few months, not years. UV and wind break down tarps, and plywood left on a house for a long time invites trouble with HOAs and neighbors.
What board-up costs
Boarding up a few windows and a door typically runs $500 to $1,200. Tarping the ventilation holes in a roof usually costs $600 to $1,800, more for steep or snow-covered roofs. A full board-up with roof tarping commonly lands between $1,500 and $2,500. Temporary security fencing, when needed, runs about $200 to $600 a month. Night, weekend and storm calls can add to the price.
These costs are normally part of a covered fire claim. Keep the invoice and the before-and-after photos with the rest of your claim paperwork, and see the fire damage restoration cost guide for how board-up fits into the total.
Securing outbuildings and vehicles
Rural and forest-edge properties around Flagstaff often have detached garages, shops and sheds that took damage too. Those get boarded and tarped the same way, with special attention to anything stored inside: vehicles, fuel cans, propane cylinders and tools. Fuel and propane exposed to heat should be checked and moved by someone qualified before work begins.
Board-up for vacant and second homes
Cabins and second homes need extra attention after a fire because nobody is there to notice a loose tarp or a broken board. Ask the crew to photograph the finished board-up from every side, to check it after the next storm and to note any openings that animals could use. A simple sign with the restoration company's phone number helps neighbors report problems. In heavy snow years, ask that the roof tarp be checked after each storm, since snow sliding off an upper roof can tear a tarp below it.