# Board-up and tarping around SouthPark > Securing fire-damaged SouthPark homes and condos: brick ranches, split-levels, large windows, carports and storm-season roof covers. URL: https://firedamagerestorationcharlotte.com/board-up-tarping-southpark/ Section: Home > Service areas > SouthPark > Board-Up and Tarping in SouthPark Last updated: 2026-10-31 Disclosure: Fire Damage Restoration Charlotte is a call-in referral service. Your call is connected to an independent, licensed local contractor who speaks with you on that call; we do not perform the work ourselves. Around SouthPark, a fire might hit a long brick ranch off Sharon Road, a split-level in Cotswold or a unit in a condominium tower near the mall. Each needs openings closed and roofs covered in a different way, and condo owners also have an association to work with. The [board-up and tarping](https://firedamagerestorationcharlotte.com/services/board-up-and-tarping/) page outlines the general method. If you call, you will be connected to an independent local contractor who can work out with you, on the phone, what your property needs. ## Key facts - SouthPark developed around a regional shopping center that opened in 1970, with older ranch neighborhoods surrounding it [6]. - Weakened roof decking and floors after a fire can collapse under a person's weight, the U.S. Fire Administration cautions [2]. - Board-up and later structural repairs in Charlotte fall under Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement when permits are needed [4]. ## Securing a SouthPark brick ranch The brick ranch is the most common house in many neighborhoods near SouthPark. It is long and low, with a shallow roof and often a carport or attached garage at one end. Brick walls usually survive a fire, so the work centers on broken windows, entry doors, the garage or carport side and any opening burned through the roof. Many of these houses have large front picture windows and sliding doors to a patio. Those openings need big panels, cut and braced so they hold through wind and do not flex enough to let rain in around the edges. ## Shallow roofs and attic ductwork in 28209, 28210 and 28211 Shallow-pitched ranch roofs are easier to walk than steep ones, but only where the decking is sound. Fire in the attic can char rafters without showing much from below. Crews check from the attic where they can, and they keep weight off any area that looks soft or dark. Ductwork often runs through ranch attics. When a roof is opened by fire, rain can fall straight into those ducts and the insulation around them. Getting a tarp over the hole quickly limits how much of the duct system has to be replaced. ## Split-level houses near Cotswold and Foxcroft Split-levels stack living areas on staggered floors, so windows sit at several heights and roof planes meet at odd angles. Covering an upper-level bedroom window may need a taller ladder than its neighbor on the lower level. Where two roof planes meet, a tarp has to be lapped carefully so water does not run under it. Lower levels in split-levels are often partly below grade. If firefighting water collected there, board-up crews may also set up pumps or fans to start drying while they close the house. ## Board-up and tarping steps for a SouthPark house A typical order on a ranch or split-level. 1. **Get the release for the SouthPark property:** The fire department clears the site and utilities are checked. 2. **Record the damage on each elevation:** Photos of the front, back, carport side and roof. 3. **Brace big windows and sliding doors:** Panels sized to the openings with solid bracing. 4. **Tarp the shallow roof with battens:** Wide coverage past the damage, fastened to sound framing. ## Condo towers and townhomes near SouthPark Mall Mid-rise and high-rise condominium buildings around the mall are a different situation. Owners rarely board their own windows; the association or building management usually arranges securing the exterior and roof. Inside the unit, an owner may still need doors secured and broken interior glass covered. In a condominium, the master policy and the owner's policy usually split the loss, so check with your association first. The North Carolina Department of Insurance has general consumer help on how these claims work [1]. ## Storm season and SouthPark roof covers Charlotte sees strong summer thunderstorms, and remnants of tropical systems can bring long periods of heavy rain and gusty wind in late summer and fall. A cover that only goes a little past the burned area can lift at the edges. Crews look at the forecast from the National Weather Service office that covers Charlotte before setting the tarp [5]. After each storm, it is worth checking that the tarp is still tight and the battens are holding. A loose corner can let water into the attic and ceilings below. ## Details to have ready for a SouthPark board-up call These help the contractor plan. - **House, townhome or condo:** Condos usually involve the association. - **Large windows or sliding doors that broke:** These need the biggest panels. - **Carport or garage damage:** And whether vehicles were involved. - **Which part of the ranch roof burned:** Over the kitchen, bedrooms or carport. ## Carports, garages and side entries Ranch carports are open on one or more sides, so a fire there can spread to the kitchen door and the eaves. A badly burned carport roof may need temporary posts before anyone works below it. The door from the carport into the house is usually the first one secured. Attached garages bring a warped overhead door to deal with. Bracing the door closed or covering the opening keeps the house sealed even if the garage itself is a loss. ## Keeping a SouthPark home secure while empty A house that sits empty for months during repairs attracts attention. Solid, locked panels on entry doors, a cleared driveway and a sign with a contact number help show it is being watched. Neighbors on a quiet street will often keep an eye out if you let them know. Moving valuables, documents and medicines out early, once the fire department allows it, reduces worry while the home is closed. ## After the SouthPark house is closed up Once openings are covered, drying [firefighting water in the lower levels](https://firedamagerestorationcharlotte.com/services/water-damage-from-firefighting/) and cleaning smoke through the long hallways can start. The [SouthPark](https://firedamagerestorationcharlotte.com/areas/southpark/) page has more on how ranch homes and condos recover. Our guide on [working with your insurance adjuster](https://firedamagerestorationcharlotte.com/guides/working-with-your-insurance-adjuster/) explains how to document board-up work for your claim. ## Board-Up and Tarping in SouthPark: questions ### Who boards up a damaged SouthPark condo unit? Usually the association or building management handles windows and exterior. Check your governing documents and call them early. ### Can a ranch picture window be boarded without damaging the brick? Yes. Panels are usually fastened to the wood frame or braced in the opening rather than drilled into brick. ### How soon should a SouthPark roof be tarped? As soon as the fire department releases the house, especially with storms in the forecast. ## Sources 1. [North Carolina Department of Insurance](https://www.ncdoi.gov/) 2. [U.S. Fire Administration: Home fire prevention and safety](https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/) 3. [American Red Cross: Home fires](https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/fire.html) 4. [Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement](https://code.mecknc.gov/) 5. [National Weather Service: Climate of Charlotte (GSP office)](https://www.weather.gov/gsp/) 6. [Wikipedia: SouthPark Mall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SouthPark_Mall) ## Talk to someone Call (704) 386-9209 (+17043869209). Your call connects to an independent local contractor who speaks with you on that call.