Boarding up
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The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article and discuss the issue on the talk page. (December 2010) |
Boarding up is the process of installing boards on the windows and doors of a property to protect it from storm damage[1] or to prevent unauthorized access by squatters, looters or vandals.[2]
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.[3]
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.
[edit] References
- ^ P Fronstin, AG Holtmann (1994), "The determinants of residential property damage caused by Hurricane Andrew", Southern Economic Journal (Southern Economic Association) 61 (2): 387–397, doi:10.2307/1059986, JSTOR 1059986
- ^ Stewart Kidd (5 July 1996), Reuse of Empty Buildings, http://www.risk-consultant.com/assets/Files/prem.pdf
- ^ All Wrapped Up, Popular Science, February 1995, p. 41, http://books.google.com/?id=c9F4ebT55DYC&pg=PA41
