Fire, a severe storm, a vehicle impact or even a single window punctured by a falling tree limb – any of these can force an owner to board up part or all of a structure, either temporarily or for a lengthy period. It looks simple – grab lumber, hammer, a few nails and start pounding. But boarding up takes skill, planning and the right materials to prevent further property damage from vermin, squatters, vandals, weather intrusion, arson, theft and nuisance trespassing.
Boarding up was a frequent need for customers of Paul Davis of Southeast Wisconsin. The brisk project load motivated Emergency Response Coordinator Christian Osell. “If we created a Board-Up Division in our office, we would serve customers faster and provide consistent, top-quality work by technicians with the right skills, equipment and training,” Osell says. “The dedicated division would be a welcome resource for our partners and local emergency services, too. They would know exactly who to call for an urgent boarding up project and our team would be ready to go.”
Brady Chuckel, Owner of Paul Davis of Southeast Wisconsin, greenlighted the initiative and an inspired Osell leapt into action. He trained team members on boarding up methods: choosing the right materials and techniques ensures a secure fit that allows building professionals easy access when restoration begins. He drafted processes to ensure boarding-up requests received immediate response. He collaborated with local police and firefighting services to ensure technical procedures aligned with emergency response needs. Osell even pitched in on raising awareness: he helped create marketing campaigns and a specialized Board-Up vehicle.
The Board-Up Division gained visibility rapidly in the community among customers and local partners. The effort drew admiring corporate recognition, too: Osell collected a prestigious national award at the recent company-wide conference.
Osell and Chuckel are nurturing the growing service. “This is a beneficial direction for our customers and the concept is scalable,” Chuckel notes. “Our North American network has the personnel, training, equipment, supplies and capacity to handle board-ups when many properties are affected by large scale disasters. We’re hoping that other locations follow Christian’s lead.”