Board-up and roof tarping after a Dallas fire

Firefighters ventilate a burning building to release heat and smoke and to make it safer to work inside. That can mean breaking windows, forcing doors and cutting holes in the roof. Add the damage the fire itself caused, and a house can be left with several large openings by the time the scene is released.

Every one of those openings is a problem. Rain comes through the roof and soaks what the firefighting water did not reach. Wind blows debris and residue around. Animals move in quickly, especially in older neighborhoods with mature trees. And an empty, damaged house can attract people looking for copper, appliances or anything left behind. Securing the property limits all of these.

Insurance is the other reason. Most homeowners policies include a duty to protect the property from further damage after a loss ^[1]. Board-up and tarping are the usual way to meet that duty, and the work is typically part of the fire claim. Ask your insurer how your policy handles it.

An empty, fire-damaged house is a target. Copper wiring and pipe, appliances, tools and personal belongings can disappear within days. Board-up makes entry harder and shows the property is being cared for. A single lockable door lets you, the adjuster and contractors get in without leaving the house open.

Animals are another concern. Raccoons, squirrels, birds and stray pets move into damaged attics and crawlspaces quickly. Covering roof openings, vents and broken crawlspace screens keeps them out, which matters because animals add their own damage and contamination to a job that is already complicated.

If the house is badly damaged or partly collapsed, temporary fencing may be needed to keep neighbors and children away from hazards. Dallas Fire-Rescue and the City may also have requirements for structures that are unsafe; ask the contractor and the city if you are unsure ^{[2] [3]}.

In general, the sooner the better. Board-up is usually the first piece of work after a fire because it can be done before the full damage assessment and before the insurance scope is settled. Rain in the forecast, nightfall and a busy street all raise the urgency.

This site does not promise any particular response time; it connects your call with an independent local contractor. Ask the contractor on the call when they can be there and what they will do on the first visit. If the house is wide open and weather is coming, say so clearly.

Securing the property is normally treated as part of mitigating the loss, and policies commonly expect it ^[1]. Keep the contractor's invoice, the photos taken before covering, and a short note of when the work was done. If your insurer wants to approve the work first, ask how quickly they can do that, and explain the risk of leaving the house open.

Board-up hides damage, so the adjuster will rely on your photos and the contractor's notes for the openings that are covered. Our guide to working with your insurance adjuster explains how to keep records organized from the first day.

North Texas weather is hard on temporary coverings. Spring brings strong thunderstorms with high wind and hail, summer heat breaks down thin tarps and their fasteners, and occasional winter ice storms add weight. A tarp that survives a calm week may not survive one storm.

Ask the contractor what tarp material and fastening method they use and whether they will come back to check after storms. Heavier, UV-resistant tarps and batten fastening last much longer than lightweight tarps tied down with rope or held with bricks. If a tarp loosens, call the contractor rather than climbing up yourself.

Older homes in Lakewood, the M Streets and Oak Cliff often have original wood windows and steep roofs with complex lines, which make board-up and tarping more involved. Exterior work on homes inside historic or conservation districts may later need review before permanent repairs, so photographs of original features before boarding are especially useful ^[4].

Larger homes in Preston Hollow may have tall windows, multiple entry doors and long, set-back driveways where a damaged house is out of sight from the street, which raises the security concern. Townhomes and condos usually require coordination with the association or building management, who may have their own contractors and rules.

Board-up keeps weather and people out, but it also closes the house up. Without power or air conditioning, a boarded house gets hot and humid inside, which speeds mold growth in anything wet and drives odor deeper into materials. That is why board-up is usually followed quickly by water extraction and drying and by removal of wet and burned materials ^[5].

If you have to leave belongings inside for a while, move them away from wet areas and openings, and consider asking about contents pack-out so valuables and keepsakes can be cleaned and stored off-site.

After a significant fire, the fire department or utilities often shut off gas and electricity to the house. Gas service is restored only after the utility is satisfied the lines and appliances are safe, and electrical service may require an electrician's inspection first. Never try to turn gas back on yourself; call Atmos Energy from outside if you smell gas ^[6].

A boarded house without power has no lights, no air conditioning and no working security system. Contractors bring their own lighting and generators. If you need to go in, take a flashlight, wear sturdy shoes and go with someone. Ask the contractor whether temporary power is needed for drying equipment and how it will be provided safely.

Before boards go up, broken glass hanging in frames is usually knocked out and cleaned up so it cannot fall later. Glass and debris in the yard, on walkways and in flower beds is a hazard for children and pets, and for anyone walking up to the house. Ask the contractor to clear the immediate area around entries and windows as part of the board-up visit.

Larger debris, such as burned furniture thrown out of windows during firefighting, may need to stay until the adjuster has seen it. Photograph it in place, and ask your insurer before hauling it away. If the debris pile is near the street or a sidewalk, consider temporary fencing or caution tape.

Depending on the damage, a house can stay vacant for weeks or months while the claim is settled and repairs are done. Some homeowners policies have provisions about vacancy, so tell your insurer the house is unoccupied because of the fire and ask whether anything changes. Keep up with mail forwarding, let trusted neighbors know, and ask them to call you if they see a loose board or tarp.

Visit regularly if you can. Walk around the outside, check that boards and the tarp are intact, look for signs of entry and note anything new. A short log with dates and photos is useful if something happens while the house is empty.

In duplexes, townhomes and apartments, an opening in one unit can expose the next. Smoke and water may have reached neighbors, and a broken shared window or a hole in a shared roof affects everyone under it. Talk to neighbors and the association or landlord early so board-up is done once, consistently, rather than piecemeal by different people.

If a neighbor's fire damaged your home, document the damage to your property separately and contact your own insurer. The board-up on your side of the property line is still your responsibility to arrange, even if the fire started next door.

Not every window is a simple aluminum slider. Older Dallas houses may have original wood double-hung windows with wavy glass, leaded or stained glass, or large picture windows facing the street. Newer homes may have tall, custom units. Where frames are still intact, contractors can sometimes fasten boards with fewer holes or brace from the inside to limit damage to features you want to restore.

Tell the contractor about any windows you hope to keep, and photograph them closely before they are covered. Pieces of broken decorative glass can be saved in a labeled box for a glass restorer to look at later.

Ask what materials they use, how they fasten boards to the window and door frames, and whether they will install a lockable access door. For roofs, ask how they will reach the damaged area safely, what kind of tarp they use and how it is fastened, and whether they will check it after storms.

Ask whether the board-up is part of a wider restoration service or a separate job, and whether they provide photos and a written description for your insurer. Ask who to call if something comes loose.

Once the openings are covered, the next steps are usually a full damage assessment, water extraction and drying, smoke and soot cleaning, and contents work. Board-up stays in place until windows, doors and roof sections are permanently repaired, which can be weeks or months depending on the extent of the damage and the insurance process.

Permanent repairs to structural elements, the roof and exterior walls may need City of Dallas permits ^[3]. The contractor handling reconstruction normally takes care of permits, but confirm that before work starts.

Most fires that need board-up also need water extraction and drying, smoke damage cleanup and soot removal. Our guide on what to do after a house fire lays out the order of the first few days.