Board-up and tarping after a Lakeview fire

Many Lakeview walk-ups and courtyard buildings have flat or low-slope roofs behind parapet walls. A vent hole cut by firefighters in a flat roof collects rain instead of shedding it, so a loose tarp is worse than useless. Crews fasten covers to the deck around the opening, often with wood framing to create slope, or use shrink wrap for larger areas.

Roof hatches and skylights damaged during the fire get the same treatment. The aim is a cover that survives a lake-wind storm until the roof is permanently repaired.

Rear porches on Lakeview's two-flats, three-flats and walk-ups are wood, open to the alley and often the place where fire spreads between floors. After a fire, a charred porch can leave upper units without a safe second exit and create a collapse risk over the alley.

The temporary fix is to block access and shore damaged members. The permanent rebuild is permitted work through the Chicago Department of Buildings ^[3], so expect a gap between the board-up crew's work and the new porch.

Courtyard buildings and mixed-use buildings along Broadway, Clark and Halsted face heavy foot traffic. Broken ground-floor windows and forced entry doors are the first priority for security, both to protect belongings and to keep people out of an unsafe building.

Storefront glass in mixed-use buildings needs larger framed panels. Upstairs apartments may need their own windows boarded at the same visit.

Temporary board-up is not restricted by landmark status and should happen right away. Permanent window and masonry replacement on designated buildings, such as those in the Oakdale Avenue landmark district, may need review by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks ^[4].

Ask the crew to fasten boards in a way that does not damage historic masonry or window frames, so the original openings can be restored.

Close to the lake, wind is the enemy of temporary covers. Tarps weighed down with bricks will not survive the night; they need wood battens fastened through to the structure. In winter, snow loads and ice add stress, and shrink wrap is often the better choice for roofs that will stay covered for weeks.

If heat is off in the building, the plumbing needs protection too, or frozen pipes add a new water problem behind the boards.

The Illinois Department of Insurance says to photograph damage before repairs and keep all bills and receipts for temporary work ^[1]. Photograph each opening before it is covered and again afterward.

In a multi-unit building, share those photos with the owner or association so the building's insurer and each household's insurer see the same record.

Many Lakeview two-flats and houses have a detached garage or a parking pad on the alley, and rear gates that close the yard. A fire that reaches the rear of a building can damage the garage, the fence and the gate, leaving the back of the property open to the alley.

Board-up crews secure garage doors and broken gates along with the building itself. If the garage is badly damaged, the area may be fenced off until it can be rebuilt with a permit, since a weakened garage roof is a hazard in winter snow.

After a serious fire, some units may stay empty for weeks while repairs go on. A boarded, unoccupied building on a busy Lakeview street can attract attention. Beyond the boards, change locks on secured entries, ask a neighbor to keep an eye on the property and check the covers after storms.

Make sure every remaining resident knows which exits are safe while the rear porch is out of service, and post that information at the stair if the owner agrees.

Ask how they will fasten covers to masonry without damaging it, how roof covers will stand up to lake wind, how you and the adjuster will get in afterward, and whether they photograph every opening before and after. Ask, too, whether they can coordinate with the restoration contractor so drying and cleaning can start behind the boards straight away.

Signing for board-up does not commit you to that company for the rest of the restoration. Illinois guidance advises getting your adjuster's agreement before contracting for major repairs.