SecureView polycarbonate clearboarding is a practical alternative to plywood for securing vacant and abandoned properties. A patented state-of-the-art technology, SecureView Clearboarding looks like traditional windows, camouflaging buildings and preventing intrusion from vandals and squatters looking for their next target.
Residential mortgage servicers, municipal government officials, commercial building owners, property managers, and facilities directors are using SecureView as an effective method to maintain property values while supporting neighborhood stabilization.
In his February 2017 study, “Curing Community Blight: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Clearboarding versus Plywood to Secure Vacant and Abandoned Properties,” Aaron Klein, Former U.S. Treasury Department Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy, confirms that a single vacant or abandoned property that is improperly secured can result in economic loss of nearly $200,000, even under conservative assumptions, for not only the property itself, but also to neighbors surrounding the property, as well as the broader community. Taking the simple step to replace plywood with clearboarding can mitigate the loss, Klein concludes.
SecureView is virtually unbreakable, so it protects properties from criminal trespass so often associated with plywood and steel board ups. SecureView can stand up to blows from bricks, bats, and sledge hammers, and cannot be pried loose with a crowbar when properly installed according to instructions.
Made from recycled materials, SecureView is an industrial grade sheet material extruded from polycarbonate resins. Each sheet is 200 times stronger than glass and SecureView can be easily modified onsite to fit any window or opening. SecureView is weather-resistant and will not decay over time, eliminating the need for seasonal re-boarding.
SecureView Clearboarding sheets come in a variety of sizes, including 3’ x 4’, 4’ x 4’, and 4’ x 8’, as well as larger sheets, to maximize purchasing flexibility and yield less waste. Window systems are installed using interior clamping beams or bracing bars that are composed of high-density polyethylene. The interior bracing bars are 1 inch in thickness and secured using corrosion resistant carriage bolts and/or security head screws. This installation process does not damage the interior or exterior of a property.
SecureView has been installed on more than 50,000 properties in thousands of communities across the U.S., and is available nationwide at more than 60 locations. SecureView is available for delivery within 24 hours of placing an order, and free shipping is provided on moderate-to-large size orders.
Unlike plywood boarding, SecureView cannot be easily removed by intruders who cause irreparable property damage. Properties boarded with plywood require constant attention from code enforcement agents to address violations. Police, fire and first responder calls to the property are continuous, placing a strain on city and community resources and budgets. The average emergency call to a vacant property costs an average of $1,400 to each local community, every time.
While SecureView is approximately twice the cost of plywood for materials, it is far more effective at properly securing the property. The installation costs are as cheap, or cheaper, than plywood. The economic impact of boarding with SecureView is significantly cost-efficient over time and the increase in security and safety it provides is priceless.
For first responders, plywood boarded properties are a major safety hazard. Firefighters and rescuers cannot see inside the building when arriving on the scene, placing them at serious risk. SecureView provides clear views inside, enabling first responders to assess the situation immediately. Firefighters can gain access into the property by cutting through the clear polycarbonate material with a rig-standard power saw. Quick egress from the building is provided by striking the bracing bar from the inside.
Legislators and policy makers are taking steps to address community blight, and the adoption of clearboarding for securing vacant and abandoned properties is center stage. Major residential property mortgage companies as well as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the VA have made game-changing decisions to eliminate the use of plywood boarding on vacant and abandoned properties having mandated the use of polycarbonate clearboarding as a more effective boarding method. Several states, including Ohio and New York, have recently passed or are considering legislation banning plywood boarding. More states and municipalities across the country are considering similar legislation.
These huge developments are further validation that plywood is an unacceptable boarding solution, and SecureView is changing the face of vacant and abandoned properties.
For more information, visit secureviewusa.com.