I wouldn't use nails, but a combination of nails and screws. I would also plywood the doors except for one that is visible. It isn't that difficult to knock off a lock or cut it off, unlike removing a large piece of plywood. In some cities, there are companies whose only business is securing homes after a fire or other disaster. Many times, the costs are part of the homeowner's insurance.
Google AI:
Companies specializing in emergency boarding and securing fire-damaged homes 24/7 include
1-800-BOARDUP,
Atlantic Restoration,
EC Restore, and
Boston Board Up. These professionals secure broken windows, doors, and roofs to prevent further damage, looting, or vandalism.
- 1-800-BOARDUP: Focuses on immediate, 24/7 emergency response for fire-damaged properties.
- Atlantic Restoration: Provides emergency board-up, roof tarping, and structural stabilization in CT, RI, and MA.
- EC Restore: Offers boarding and securing services for fire, storm, and vandalism damage in New England.
- Boston Board Up: Provides 24/7 emergency boarding, fencing, and insurance claim assistance.
- Disaster Restoration Services (DRS): Offers 24/7 emergency response in CT and surrounding areas for fire damage.
- BELFOR Property Restoration: Specializes in rapid response and securing damaged properties.
These companies work directly with insurance providers to facilitate the claims process.
If the damage is extensive, consider hiring an independent insurance claims adjuster. They know the ropes and will get you more money for the claim, and what they will charge is a pittance compared to what the insurance will pay. A friend thought that he could do it himself, and when the insurance company adjuster was being difficult about the cost of the repairs, he asked me what to do. I suggested an independent insurance claims adjuster, and he learned that many things he thought wouldn't be covered actually were. The insurance company paid for his entire library of carpentry books, which were water-damaged. He had to record all the titles and find their values, but it was worth it in the end. Without the independent adjuster, he wouldn't have gotten that money. His home was restored to better than it was before the fire because he had replacement value, which means a new refrigerator to replace the one that was 10 years old.
