Emergency Board-Up and Tarping in Lake Wales

Lake Wales sits squarely in Florida’s lightning and hurricane corridor, and when a storm tears through Polk County, the damage rarely waits for business hours. A single severe cell can strip shingles from a roof, blow out windows, and leave a home or commercial building open to the subtropical humidity that follows within hours. That combination, an exposed structure plus Florida’s relentless moisture, is exactly where emergency board-up and tarping becomes a race against secondary damage rather than a cosmetic fix. DRYCOR RESTORE responds around the clock from Thonotosassa to secure properties across Lake Wales before that second wave of harm sets in.

Why Lake Wales Properties Are Particularly Vulnerable After a Loss

Lake Wales is one of the higher-elevation points on the Lake Wales Ridge, a spine of ancient sand scrub running through central Polk County. That elevation means the area catches strong convective storms that build quickly over the peninsula and stall. Roof systems here take repeated beatings from hail, high-wind events, and the occasional tornado spin-down that moves through the ridge corridor. Many homes in Lake Wales were built in the mid-20th century, and their original roof decking, often board sheathing rather than modern plywood panels, can delaminate or split under impact in ways that leave larger gaps than a newer OSB deck would. Fire damage is another common trigger: a kitchen fire or electrical fire can blow out windows and compromise soffits, leaving an attic wide open to rain before the smoke has cleared.

Beyond the structure itself, Lake Wales’s sandy, well-drained soils mean that rainwater driven through an unprotected opening moves fast. There is little clay to slow lateral moisture migration, so water that enters through a broken window or a torn roof section can reach interior wall cavities and subfloor assemblies quickly.

Our Emergency Board-Up and Tarping Process in Lake Wales

When you call (813) 829-1091, the first thing we do is ask about the type of opening, its approximate size, and whether the structure is safe to enter. That information lets us load the right materials before we leave, which matters when the drive from Thonotosassa to Lake Wales runs along US-92 and SR-60 and every extra trip adds time.

On arrival, the crew assesses the full perimeter before touching anything. Storm damage has a way of creating hazards that are not obvious from the street: a partially detached fascia board, a cracked lintel above a blown-out window, or a roof section that looks intact from below but is only held by a few fasteners. Once the site is confirmed safe, we work in a defined sequence:

1. Roof tarping first when there is an active opening to the sky. We use minimum 6-mil reinforced poly tarps secured with furring strips screwed into undamaged decking, not just weighted at the edges, so the tarp holds under wind rather than acting as a sail.
2. Window and door board-up using 5/8-inch plywood cut to fit and fastened to the frame, not just the surrounding siding. On older Lake Wales homes with wood-frame windows, we take care to avoid fastener placement that would split the original casing.
3. Perimeter documentation with photographs of every opening before and after securing, which becomes part of the claim file.

All work is performed by an IICRC Certified Firm with OSHA-trained technicians, so the crew operating on a damaged roof is doing so under a documented safety protocol, not improvising.

Reaching Lake Wales from Thonotosassa

The drive from DRYCOR RESTORE’s base in Thonotosassa to Lake Wales follows I-4 east to US-27 south, or alternatively SR-60 west depending on traffic conditions and the specific address. Lake Wales sits roughly in the center of Polk County, and the SR-60 corridor that runs through the heart of the city is the most direct approach from the east. Properties near the historic downtown area or along the ridge to the south are straightforward to reach via this route. Because our hours are 24/7, there is no time of day or night when a call goes to voicemail.

Insurance and HOA Coordination in Lake Wales

Board-up and tarping costs are almost universally covered under the dwelling protection portion of a standard homeowner’s policy as a reasonable expense to prevent further damage. We document every material used, every opening secured, and every photograph taken in a format that aligns with what Polk County adjusters and most major carriers expect to see. If your property is part of a community with association rules about exterior appearance, we can discuss temporary covering options that meet both the protective function and any aesthetic requirements the association has in place.

Local Note

One thing that comes up specifically in Lake Wales and the surrounding ridge communities: many of the older concrete block homes built here in the 1950s and 1960s have jalousie windows, the louvered glass style common throughout central Florida in that era. When a storm event breaks jalousie panes, the opening is not a single clean rectangle but a series of narrow horizontal slots across a wide frame. Standard plywood board-up requires a different fastening approach on these frames than on a conventional double-hung window, and cutting corners here means the board shifts in the next wind event. If your home has jalousie windows and you have taken storm damage, mention it when you call so the crew brings the right materials and hardware.

If your Lake Wales property has been compromised by storm, fire, or any sudden structural opening, call DRYCOR RESTORE at (813) 829-1091. We will secure the building, document everything for your claim, and make sure the structure is protected before the next Florida afternoon storm rolls through.