# Board-up and tarping for Kenwood homes > Securing fire-damaged Kenwood homes near the lakes: large historic houses, leaded glass, steep slate or tile roofs and winter weather. URL: https://firedamagerestorationminneapolis.com/board-up-tarping-kenwood/ Section: Home > Service areas > Kenwood > Board-Up and Tarping in Kenwood Last updated: 2026-10-31 Disclosure: Fire Damage Restoration Minneapolis 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. Kenwood's large historic houses between Lake of the Isles and Cedar Lake have tall windows, leaded glass, steep roofs and fine woodwork. After a fire, closing them up quickly protects the interior, but it has to be done without harming features that are hard to replace. Our [board-up and tarping](https://firedamagerestorationminneapolis.com/services/board-up-and-tarping/) page covers the basics. One call connects you with an independent local contractor who can talk your house through with you right then. ## Key facts - Kenwood was established in the late 1880s after a rail line along Cedar Lake made the area easier to reach [5]. - Fire can leave roofs and floors unsafe to walk on, the U.S. Fire Administration cautions [1]. - The National Weather Service Twin Cities office issues the local winter storm and wind forecasts used to plan roof covers [2]. ## Securing a large historic house Kenwood is known for mansions and large homes along the parkways overlooking the lakes [5]. Many have two or three stories, large window bays, leaded or stained glass, heavy entry doors and porches. When fire breaks these openings, they are big and often high off the ground, so covering them safely takes lifts or tall ladders and custom-cut panels. Panels fixed to the opening frames rather than through decorative trim keep the woodwork repairable for restoration. ## Leaded glass and decorative windows Leaded and stained glass windows are irreplaceable in many of these homes. Heat can crack them and firefighting can break them. Keeping every broken piece lets a glass specialist repair or match them. Ask the crew to bag broken decorative glass and label which window it came from. Intact decorative windows near the damage can be protected with padded covers so they are not broken during cleanup. ## Securing a Kenwood home A typical sequence. 1. **Wait for the fire department to release the house:** No entry or roof work until released. 2. **Photograph each elevation and decorative opening:** Record glass, doors and roof damage. 3. **Cover openings with panels fitted to frames:** Protect trim; save broken leaded glass. 4. **Tarp steep roof sections from lifts:** Anchor tarps with battens against wind and snow. ## Steep roofs, slate and tile Some Kenwood houses have slate or clay tile roofs on steep pitches. These materials break underfoot and are slippery, and a fire-damaged roof may be weak. Crews usually work from lifts and avoid walking on slate or tile. Tarps run past the damage and over the ridge where possible, anchored with battens. Keeping undamaged slate or tile removed during temporary work helps the permanent repair match. ## Winter wind and snow near the lakes Open areas around Lake of the Isles and Cedar Lake can bring strong wind, and Minneapolis winters bring heavy snow. A tarp must be anchored well, and heavy snow on a damaged roof should be watched from the ground. Forecasts from the National Weather Service Twin Cities office help in planning [2]. In winter, protecting plumbing from freezing is also part of securing the house. ## Details to share on your call Helps the crew prepare. - **Number of stories and roof material:** Slate and tile need special handling. - **Decorative or leaded glass:** So it can be protected and saved. - **Heat and water status:** Whether pipes need protecting from cold. - **Access from the parkway or alley:** Where lifts and trucks can park. ## Carriage houses and garages Some larger Kenwood properties have carriage houses or detached garages, sometimes with living space above. If they were damaged, they need their own board-up. Vehicles and valuables stored in them should be photographed before being moved. The [Kenwood](https://firedamagerestorationminneapolis.com/areas/kenwood/) page describes these properties in more detail. ## Carbon monoxide and temporary heat If temporary heat is used to keep the house from freezing, it must be set up safely. Fuel-burning heaters can produce carbon monoxide, and Minnesota requires carbon monoxide alarms in homes [4]. Ask the contractor how the heat will be monitored while the house is empty. ## After securing Once closed in, the house can be assessed floor by floor. In tall houses, smoke rises to the upper floors and water used upstairs runs down. Our page on [smoke damage cleanup](https://firedamagerestorationminneapolis.com/services/smoke-damage-cleanup/) explains what usually follows. The Minnesota Department of Commerce Disaster Information Center has guidance on claims and living expenses [3]. Valuables such as art and jewelry should be removed once the fire department allows entry. ## Keeping a large empty house secure An empty, damaged mansion on a quiet parkway can attract attention. Solid panels on every ground-floor opening, locked gates and a clear sign help. Some owners arrange for a neighbor or service to check the property regularly. Valuables such as jewelry, art and documents should be removed as soon as the fire department allows. Keep a list of what you removed and where it is stored. ## Porches, terraces and entries Kenwood houses often have wide porches, stone terraces and formal entries. Heat can scorch porch ceilings and columns, and broken glass and debris collect on terraces. Clearing debris and covering damaged porch roofs keep visitors safe and stop water from reaching the house through the porch structure. ## Board-Up and Tarping in Kenwood: before and after Slide to see a Kenwood room before and after board-up and tarping work. ## Board-Up and Tarping in Kenwood: questions ### Can leaded glass windows be saved? Often, if the pieces are kept. A glass specialist can repair or match damaged panels. ### Can slate roofs be tarped without more damage? Yes, when crews work from lifts and avoid walking on the slate. ### What about pipes freezing in winter? The plumbing may need draining or safe temporary heat while the house is open or unheated. ## Sources 1. [U.S. Fire Administration: After a fire](https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/after-a-fire/) 2. [National Weather Service: Twin Cities forecast office](https://www.weather.gov/mpx/) 3. [Minnesota Department of Commerce: Disaster Information Center](https://mn.gov/commerce/insurance/home/dic) 4. [Minnesota Statutes 299F.51: Carbon monoxide alarms](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/299F.51) 5. [Wikipedia: Kenwood, Minneapolis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenwood,_Minneapolis) ## Talk to someone Call (612) 471-0995 (+16124710995). Your call connects to an independent local contractor who speaks with you on that call.