Board-up and roof tarping after a Chicago fire

Fire produces hot gases that build up inside a building. To reach the fire, find people and let heat and smoke escape, firefighters ventilate. That can mean breaking windows, forcing doors and cutting holes in the roof. Walls and ceilings may also be opened to check for hidden fire. These actions save lives and limit the spread of fire, but they leave the building open once the trucks are gone.

An open building is vulnerable in several ways. Rain and snow get into rooms that were not damaged by the fire. Wind drives soot and debris further inside. Cold air freezes pipes in winter. People can walk in and take what is left, or be hurt in an unsafe structure. Animals get in. Every one of these adds damage that the original fire did not cause.

Board-up and tarping are temporary measures that close the openings until permanent repairs can be made. They are not meant to be pretty or permanent; they are meant to be secure, weather-resistant and quick.

Chicago buildings present some specific challenges. Bungalows have a low-pitched roof over the half-story ^[4], often with dormers that firefighters may cut into. Many greystones ^[5] and brick two-flats and three-flats have flat or low-slope roofs with parapet walls, where tarping or shrink wrap must be fastened differently than on a pitched roof. Masonry window openings need fastening that does not damage old brick or limestone.

Rear porches are a Chicago signature. Many multi-unit buildings have wooden back porches and stairs serving each floor. Fire damage to these structures can leave rear units without a safe second exit and create a collapse risk, so temporary shoring or blocking access may be needed until they are rebuilt. Porch rebuilding in Chicago is permitted work, so the permanent fix goes through the Department of Buildings ^[3].

Weather is the other factor. Chicago winters bring snow loads, ice and wind, and summer storms can be intense. A tarp that is weighed down with bricks rather than battened down will not survive the first windy night. In winter, the crew should also consider whether the plumbing needs to be drained if heat cannot be kept on.

Alley access matters too. Many Chicago properties are reached from the alley at the rear, which is often where the board-up crew sets up and where security is most needed.

Before anyone climbs a ladder, a crew looks at the building from the ground. They check for leaning walls, sagging rooflines, cracked lintels over windows and loose masonry. They look at the porch and stairs for burned or weakened members.

Inside, they look at the ceiling below each roof opening to judge how much framing burned. A roof with extensive char or sag may not be safe to walk, and tarping may need to be done from a lift or limited to what can be reached safely. If the structure looks unstable, they may recommend a structural engineer, which the Illinois Department of Insurance notes your insurer may arrange when a home appears unsafe ^[1].

These observations, with photos, help your adjuster understand both the fire damage and the reason for any temporary shoring.

Many families cannot stay in their home after a fire. A vacant, damaged building attracts attention. Boarding is the first layer of security. Beyond that, consider changing locks on any secured door, asking a neighbor to watch the property and checking in regularly.

Remove valuables, important documents and medications as soon as the building is safe to enter. Make a list of what was left behind. If the home will be empty for some time, ask your insurer about any vacancy conditions in your policy.

Ask what materials they will use, how they will fasten covers to masonry, how they will keep roof tarps in place in wind and snow, and how you and other contractors will get in afterward. Ask for photos of the openings before and after covering.

Ask how long the temporary protection is expected to last and when it should be checked, especially after storms. Board-up is usually a short-term step before smoke damage cleanup and the rest of the restoration, so ask whether the same contractor handles the cleaning, drying and rebuilding or whether you will need separate firms. For permanent repairs, ask who will obtain any required Chicago building permits ^[3].

Keep a record of your home's window sizes and layout, along with photos of the outside, stored away from the house. It helps with both claims and repairs. Make sure every level has working smoke alarms so fires are caught early ^[6]. For the full sequence after a fire, see our first-week checklist, and for quick answers, the fire damage FAQ. In multi-unit buildings, keep rear porches and stairs clear and in good repair, since they are the second way out for many residents.

Temporary covers buy time; they are not a long-term fix. Tarps degrade in sunlight and wind, and plywood does not insulate. The goal is to keep the building protected until the insurer has inspected it and permanent repairs are agreed.

If the restoration is delayed by claim questions or permits, check the covers regularly and after every storm. Shrink wrap is often used when a roof will stay covered for an extended period. Permanent roof, window and porch repairs follow once the scope is agreed, the house is dry and permits are in place.

A fire in January creates problems a summer fire does not. Snow can pile onto a tarp and push it into a roof opening. Ice makes ladders and roofs more dangerous. Most importantly, a building that loses heat can freeze its plumbing within a day or two of severe cold, causing a second round of water damage when the pipes thaw.

For winter fires, securing the building usually goes hand in hand with protecting the plumbing. That may mean keeping heat on in undamaged parts of the house if it is safe, or having a plumber drain the system and shut off the water. Ask the board-up crew and your plumber to coordinate so the building is both closed and protected from freezing.

Shrink wrap is often preferred over tarps for winter roof protection, because it forms a tighter cover that sheds snow better. Whichever method is used, check it after every heavy snowfall.

Temporary repairs belong in your claim file. Keep a dated list of what was boarded or tarped, the materials used, who did it and the receipts. Photos before and after each cover show the insurer exactly what was protected. The Illinois Department of Insurance emphasizes keeping all bills and receipts from repairs and photographing damage before cleanup and repairs begin ^[1].

If the board-up crew is separate from the restoration contractor, give the restoration contractor copies so their scope picks up where the temporary work left off. If an adjuster visits after the openings are covered, the photos show what lies underneath without the boards having to come down.

A fire-damaged building affects the people around it. Debris in the gangway, a damaged fence or a leaning porch can be a hazard to neighbors. Temporary fencing or barricades keep people away until the structure is repaired or cleared.

The City of Chicago's Department of Buildings oversees building safety and permits for repair and demolition work ^[3]. If the building will be vacant for a long time, ask your contractor and your insurer what the city expects for securing a vacant property, and keep the board-up in good condition so the building does not become a nuisance.

Let your immediate neighbors know who to contact about the property. In a two-flat or three-flat, make sure everyone who lives in the building knows which exits are safe to use while the rear porch or stairs are out of service.

Many Chicago streets mix storefronts on the ground floor with apartments above. When a fire damages one of these buildings, the large storefront glass is often broken by firefighters to reach the fire or vent smoke. Those openings are big, and they face the sidewalk, so securing them quickly matters for both security and public safety.

Storefront board-up uses larger panels and framing to span wide openings. The upstairs apartments may still need their own windows, roof openings and rear stairs secured. Owners of mixed-use buildings should expect to coordinate with commercial tenants, residential tenants and possibly several insurers, and the same documentation rules apply to all of them ^[1].

This site focuses on homes, but the contractors you can reach by phone often handle small mixed-use buildings too. Mention the storefront when you call so the right crew and materials are sent.

A careful crew takes photographs before covering anything, checks the structure before climbing, fastens covers so wind and snow cannot lift them, and leaves you with a secure way to get in. A rushed crew nails plywood over windows without photos, weighs tarps down with bricks and leaves without explaining how the building is secured.

Ask whether the people securing the building are part of the company that will do the cleanup and repairs, or a separate firm. Either can work, but you should know who is responsible if a cover fails. And remember that signing for board-up does not commit you to a contractor for the full restoration; Illinois guidance advises getting your adjuster's agreement before contracting for major repairs ^[1].