Sometimes, plywood is going to happen.
Emergencies, short gaps between tenants, or immediate safety issues can require a fast response.
But if you’re going to use it, you should at least understand two things:
- how to do it correctly
- when it stops making sense
Step 1: Do it right (if you have to do it)
There are established procedures for properly boarding a property:
- Use exterior-grade plywood
- Secure it with bracing and bolts, not just surface screws
- Cover all accessible entry points
- Follow applicable local codes and requirements
Formal guidance from fire and safety authorities emphasizes proper materials, structural fitting, and eliminating pry points to reduce vulnerability.
Cutting corners here makes an already imperfect solution even worse.
Step 2: Know when plywood stops working
Plywood tends to break down as a strategy in three situations:
1) The vacancy lasts longer than expected
What started as “temporary” becomes weeks or months.
2) The property gets targeted once
After the first breach, the risk increases significantly.
3) You start re-boarding
That’s the signal you’re in a cost cycle.
At this point, sticking with plywood isn’t saving money — it’s extending the problem.
Step 3: Understand what a durable solution changes
In contrast to repeated board-ups, engineered security solutions like DAWGS door and window guards:
- Resist forced entry attempts
- Avoid repeated replacement cycles
- Maintain property condition
- Reduce visibility as a neglected asset
In DAWGS deployments, switching away from plywood eliminated repeated intrusions and stabilized properties that were previously experiencing ongoing break-ins and damage.
DAWGS is here to talk you through how best to manage your vacant property needs.
