An open structure invites weather, theft and liability — we secure it in hours, 24/7
When a storm, fire, or break-in creates an opening in your Lemont property, the clock starts running immediately — and not in your favor. Within the first few hours, wind-driven rain can pour through broken windows and roof punctures, soaking insulation, drywall, flooring, and structural framing. What starts as a broken window becomes a water damage claim. What starts as a roof puncture becomes mold in the attic. The compound damage from delayed board-up almost always costs significantly more to repair than the original storm damage alone.
After the first night, the risk profile shifts again. A visibly damaged, unsecured property is a beacon for opportunistic theft, vandalism, and trespass. Copper piping, HVAC components, appliances, and personal belongings are all at elevated risk once it becomes obvious that a structure is open and unoccupied. Squatters and animals — raccoons, birds, and rodents are common in Lemont's wooded residential corridors — can establish themselves in damaged structures within 24 to 48 hours, creating additional costly remediation requirements.
There is also a serious insurance dimension. Most standard homeowners and commercial property policies in Illinois include a duty-to-mitigate clause. If your insurer determines that you failed to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage after a covered loss, they may dispute or reduce your claim payout for the resulting secondary damage. An unsecured property is a documented failure to mitigate. Finally, an open structure creates significant personal liability: if anyone — a curious neighbor, a trespassing child, or a contractor — is injured on your property, the open-structure condition becomes a central issue in any legal proceeding. Do not wait. Call (800) 792-0212 right now and let Allied secure your Lemont property before the damage compounds further.
Lemont, Illinois is a historic village of approximately 17,000 residents situated along the Des Plaines River valley in southwestern Cook County and eastern Will County. The community sits at a unique geographic crossroads — bordered by the Calumet-Sag Channel to the north, the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor to the south, and limestone bluffs that give the village its characteristic topography. Neighborhoods range from the historic Old Town district near downtown Main Street, with its 19th-century commercial facades and older residential stock, to newer subdivisions in areas like Covington Knolls, Equestrian Estates, and the residential developments along 127th Street near the I-355 interchange.
Lemont's geography creates weather exposure conditions that vary meaningfully from other Chicago suburbs. The Des Plaines River valley channels wind, and the proximity to both the Sag and the Cal-Sag Channel means that moisture-laden air frequently funnels through the corridor during storm systems. Hailstorms moving northeast across Will County toward Cook County track directly over Lemont's residential areas. The village is served by Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A, Lemont High School District 210, and several private institutions — meaning the community includes a high density of family-owned homes with significant repair investment stakes. Commercial properties along State Street (IL Route 83) and Main Street include historic limestone buildings that require specialized board-up approaches to preserve masonry and fragile original window frames.
Lemont is also home to major landmarks including the Argonne National Laboratory campus to the northwest, Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, Cog Hill Golf Club, and several active quarrying operations. Allied Emergency Services has responded to storm damage across all of Lemont's residential and commercial districts, from the limestone quarry neighborhoods near Canal Street to the newer developments off McCarthy Road near the Romeoville border. We know this community, and we respond fast.
Every service includes photo documentation, itemized materials list, and direct support for your insurance claim process.
Severe weather is the leading cause of property openings in Lemont. Whether a hailstone punched through a skylight, wind tore off a section of fascia, a falling tree limb punctured the roof deck, or a microburst blew in multiple windows simultaneously, Allied's storm board-up crews are equipped to secure every type of opening quickly and correctly. We assess the full scope of storm damage on arrival — not just the obvious breach points — so that secondary openings are identified and secured before they cause additional interior water damage.
A structure fire leaves far more open than the burned areas alone. Heat shatters windows, fire department access creates door and wall breaches, and smoke-damaged openings invite weather and trespass even where flames never reached. Allied Emergency Services works alongside fire departments and property owners in the immediate aftermath of a fire to secure the structure as completely as possible. Post-fire board-up is particularly critical in Lemont's older neighborhoods near Canal Street and Old Town, where historic structures may have multiple window types and non-standard openings requiring custom securing solutions.
A burglary or act of vandalism leaves your property physically vulnerable and emotionally unsettling. Kicked-in doors, broken storefront glass, and shattered windows are immediate security threats that need professional securing, not a hardware store run at 2 AM. Allied Emergency Services responds to break-in and vandalism calls throughout Lemont 24/7, providing same-day securing that protects your remaining property and begins restoring your sense of security. We work directly with Lemont Police Department reports and can document the breach points in a manner that supports both your insurance claim and any criminal investigation.
Commercial properties in Lemont — from the historic limestone-fronted storefronts on Main Street to the strip centers along Route 83 and the industrial properties near Lemont Road — have board-up requirements that go well beyond standard residential work. Plate glass windows can span eight to twelve feet or more. Aluminum storefront systems require specialized panel cutting and fastening to avoid permanent frame damage. Code compliance, ADA access, and the appearance expectations of commercial tenants and customers all factor into a professional commercial board-up response. Allied Emergency Services is experienced with Lemont's commercial environment and responds after-hours to minimize business disruption.
Understanding Lemont's severe weather history puts the urgency of emergency board-up service into context. The Des Plaines River Valley and the greater Chicagoland region are among the most storm-active areas in the continental United States. Lemont sits at a geographic position where cold Canadian air masses collide with warm, moisture-laden Gulf air moving north through the Illinois corridor — a recipe for intense convective storms throughout the spring and summer months. The village has experienced significant property damage from storms in virtually every year on record.
The spring season typically brings the first rounds of severe thunderstorms to the Lemont area, often triggered by warm fronts pushing north from Missouri and southern Illinois. These early-season storms frequently produce straight-line winds exceeding 60 mph that damage older roofing systems — particularly in the historic Old Town neighborhoods where original 20th-century homes may have aging shingles. Hail events in March and April, while smaller than summer hail, can still damage softer roofing materials and skylights.
This is the most active period for property damage in the Lemont area. Supercell thunderstorms tracking northeast across the Des Plaines Valley produce the largest hailstones — frequently golf ball size or larger — that shatter windows, puncture roof decks, and devastate unprotected skylights and siding. The Cal-Sag and I&M Canal corridors provide virtually no windbreak for these systems, leaving residential areas on both the north and south sides of the canal fully exposed to large hail and damaging winds. Cook County has been included in multiple federally declared disaster areas following major hail events in recent years.
Derechos — organized clusters of severe thunderstorms capable of producing sustained damaging winds of 70 to 80 mph over hundreds of miles — track through the Chicago region several times per decade. When a derecho passes over Lemont, the damage can be catastrophic and widespread: trees through roofs in Covington Knolls and Equestrian Estates neighborhoods, garage doors destroyed in the Route 83 commercial corridor, and mass window failure in multi-unit residential buildings. Allied Emergency Services has responded to multi-property board-up operations in the aftermath of regional derechos.
Lemont and Will County fall within the active tornado corridor of northern Illinois. While direct tornado landings in Lemont are relatively rare, funnel touchdowns in neighboring Romeoville, Lockport, and Bolingbrook are documented events that have caused significant structural damage within a few miles of the Lemont village limits. The NWS SKYWARN storm spotter network — which Allied's leadership is credentialed within — actively monitors this corridor throughout the tornado season.
Lake-effect wind patterns and late-season severe weather continue to pose board-up risks through autumn. November wind events have produced gusts exceeding 50 mph across the Lemont area, and ice storms in January and February can cause tree limb failure that punctures roofs and breaks windows. Winter board-up situations are particularly urgent because the combination of cold temperatures and precipitation makes rapid interior water damage almost certain if openings are not secured within hours.
After a storm or break-in, the instinct to grab plywood from the garage and nail it over a broken window is understandable — but it almost always creates additional problems. Homeowners and business owners without board-up training routinely damage window frames, door casings, and surrounding trim by driving nails directly into the wood. What started as a single pane of glass replacement now requires frame repair as well. Improper board sizing and installation frequently leaves gaps that allow wind-driven rain to enter, defeating the entire purpose of the effort. Roof tarping without proper training is also genuinely dangerous — residential and commercial roofs after storm damage are structurally unpredictable, and a fall from a wet, damaged roof is a serious injury risk.
Insurance carriers and restoration professionals have also documented a consistent pattern: DIY board-up attempts that are inadequate or improperly installed result in significantly higher final repair costs, because secondary water intrusion damage during the mitigation period is not clearly distinguishable from primary storm damage. This creates claim complications that professional board-up — with proper documentation — avoids entirely.
Allied Emergency Services uses commercial-grade OSB panels, proper dimensional lumber framing, and professional fastening techniques that secure openings without damaging the surrounding structure. All board-up installations are performed to weatherproof standards, with sealed edges and proper overlap to prevent water intrusion. Our crews work safely on damaged structures using appropriate fall protection and structural assessment before accessing elevated areas — protecting both your crew and your liability exposure.
Every professional board-up job includes insurance-grade documentation: dated photographs of all openings before and after securing, measurements, materials lists, and written condition reports. This creates a clear before-and-after record that supports your insurance claim and establishes the scope of damage at a specific point in time. Commercial storefronts in Lemont receive installations that account for local code requirements and maintain egress access where required by law.
What you should do before our crew arrives: Do not enter any structure that may be structurally compromised — if there is visible roof sagging, wall displacement, or floor instability, stay out. If it is safe to do so, photograph the damage from outside or from a doorway without entering. Move any vehicles away from the damaged structure. Leave access clear for our crew. If there is any possibility of a gas leak, stay away and call your gas utility first. Then call (800) 792-0212 — our dispatcher will walk you through the rest.
Allied Emergency Services manages the complete restoration path for Lemont property owners — from the moment of your emergency call through final inspection and sign-off. Here is how the process works.
The moment you call, our dispatch team identifies the closest available crew and provides an estimated arrival time. Our crews arrive with all materials needed for board-up and tarping — we never make a site visit just to assess and come back later. We secure every open point in the structure, prioritizing the most urgent weather or security risks first, and leave your property stable before we leave the job site. We do not leave partial jobs.
Immediately following stabilization, our team performs a comprehensive damage documentation survey. This includes dated photographic documentation of every damaged area — not just the boarded openings, but all storm damage including roofing, siding, gutters, structure, and interior water intrusion. We measure and record each opening, document materials used in the board-up installation, and prepare a written condition report. This documentation is formatted to support your insurance claim submission and is provided to you as part of our service.
Once your property is stabilized and documented, we work with you as you navigate your insurance claim. We provide all documentation your carrier requests, make ourselves available for adjuster site visits, and ensure that the scope of damage is fully and accurately represented in our records. We are a licensed restoration contractor — we document damage and perform repairs. We do not adjust, negotiate, or settle insurance claims on your behalf. That role belongs to your carrier and, if you choose to hire one, a licensed public adjuster.
Once your insurance claim has been processed and a repair scope approved, Allied transitions directly into permanent restoration work. We handle roofing, window replacement, siding, structural repairs, gutters, and interior work — everything required to return your Lemont property to pre-loss condition. You are not handed off to a subcontractor or a different company. The same team that responded to your emergency handles your permanent repairs, ensuring continuity, accountability, and quality throughout the project.
Every Allied project concludes with a comprehensive final walkthrough with the property owner. We review all completed work against the agreed repair scope, address any punch-list items on the spot, and ensure you are fully satisfied before we consider the project closed. We also provide guidance on maintenance and documentation for future insurance purposes. Our goal is not just to complete your repair — it is to earn your trust so that you call Allied first if you ever need us again.
Reviews represent typical customer experiences.
"A tree came through our roof during a July storm at 11 PM on a Tuesday. I called Allied and they were at our house in Lemont within 45 minutes — I couldn't believe it. The crew was professional, efficient, and had the entire roof opening tarped and the broken skylight boarded before midnight. The documentation they provided was exactly what our insurance adjuster needed. I felt genuinely taken care of during one of the most stressful nights of my life."
"We own a commercial building on Main Street in Lemont and had a break-in that shattered our front storefront glass on a Saturday night. Allied was there by 1:30 AM and had the entire storefront secured with professional panels before 3 AM — the same night. They coordinated with the police report documentation and the crew was courteous and careful with our historic building frontage. We were able to open for business Monday morning. Absolutely outstanding service."
"A hailstorm this past spring broke three windows and punched a hole in our garage roof. I called Allied first thing in the morning and they were on-site within the hour. The board-up crew found damage I hadn't even noticed on the back of the house and documented it all. When my insurance adjuster came out, everything was already photographed and written up. Allied did our full repair too and the house looks better than it did before the storm. Highly recommend for anyone in the Lemont area."
From your first call to a secured property — here is exactly what happens when you call Allied Emergency Services in Lemont.
Call (800) 792-0212 any time — day, night, weekend, or holiday. A live dispatcher answers immediately, takes your Lemont address and damage description, and dispatches the nearest available crew. No voicemail, no callback queues, no waiting until business hours.
Our Chicagoland-area crews are staged for rapid response to Will and Cook County properties. Once dispatched, our crew lead contacts you directly with a confirmed ETA and any safety guidance you need before they arrive. Most Lemont addresses receive crew arrival within one hour of your call.
Our crew arrives fully equipped with all materials needed to complete the board-up. Before beginning work, they conduct a rapid safety assessment of the structure — identifying structural hazards, potential gas or electrical risks, and access issues. They will not put themselves or you in danger, and they will communicate clearly about what can and cannot be accessed safely.
Board-up work begins immediately. Our crews secure all identified openings — windows, doors, roof punctures, structural breaches — using professional materials and proper fastening. Work is performed to weatherproof standards, with sealed edges, correct sizing, and screw-fastened panels that protect frames from nail damage. Roof tarping is completed with proper battening to withstand wind and rain.
Once all openings are secured, our crew completes photographic documentation of the damage and the completed board-up installation. You receive a copy of all documentation, a clear explanation of what was done and why, and a direct contact for your restoration project going forward. We walk you through the insurance process before we leave the job site.
Our team responds within 1 hour — don't let damage get worse.
Allied Emergency Services provides emergency board-up and storm restoration throughout Lemont and the surrounding communities. Within Lemont itself, we serve all residential and commercial neighborhoods including Old Town Lemont, the historic downtown Main Street district, Covington Knolls, Equestrian Estates, the residential subdivisions along 127th Street, neighborhoods near Lemont High School, communities near the Illinois & Michigan Canal corridor, and properties along Route 83 and McCarthy Road.
Beyond Lemont's village limits, our crews respond throughout the greater Chicagoland area and serve all of Will County, Cook County, DuPage County, and Kane County on a 24/7 emergency basis. For property owners in nearby communities, we are typically on-site within one hour of your call.
We serve communities throughout Chicagoland, Northern Illinois, Southern Wisconsin, and Indiana.
Nearby Communities:
Lockport Storm Damage Restoration | Woodridge Storm Damage Restoration | Darien Storm Damage Restoration