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This is a unique carpentry job, unique in that this is only temporary…at least until the glass company can replace the glass. So although it is a temporary fix, it has to be solid enough to deter any additional vandalism. With so many vacant houses around, knowing the proper way to board up a window is valuable.
A sheet of plywood is tough. I prefer ½” plywood because it is tough, but light enough to manhandle by yourself, although I know people that use wafer board. Forget about just nailing it up to the perimeter of the opening. The bad guys can just pull it down.
I think the best way is to use some short lengths of 2”x 4”s and some carriage bolts and screw it all together. Here’s how it’s done…
Cut the plywood so that it fits over the window’s opening. Cut 2”x4”s long enough so that they will overlap each side of the opening. You want two 2”x4”s per opening, one near each end of the opening. In each 2”x4” will be two carriage bolts. The smooth head of the bolt will be on the exterior and the threads and nut will be on the interior (so the bad guys can’t just unscrew it). Thread the carriage bolt through the plywood, and into the 2”x4”. Place a washer and finally a nut on the end of the carriage bolt and tighten it down until snug, which is usually when the plywood will start to bow. This configuration basically sandwiches the window opening between the plywood and the 2”x4” lumber.
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