Emergency Roof Tarping That Stays Put in the Wind

Plenty of blue tarps go up after a Michigan thunderstorm. A good share of them are shredded or gone a week later, usually because they were held down with a few bricks or nailed straight through the plastic into the shingles. Our approach is slower and more deliberate, because the goal is a cover that keeps working through the next storm too.

When does a roof need a tarp instead of a quick seal?

A tarp is the right call when the opening is larger than a few shingles: a limb puncture, a torn-off section, exposed decking, or damage across several courses. Small, defined gaps such as a cracked vent boot or one lifted tab are better handled with sealant, which we cover on our temporary roof sealing page.

Tarping also makes sense when the weather will not allow permanent work for a while, such as a stretch of rain or a hard freeze, or when an insurance adjuster still needs to see the damage before repairs begin.

How we install a tarp so the wind cannot get under it

• Clear and check. We remove loose debris and broken pieces, then make sure the decking around the opening will hold a person and fasteners.
• Size it generously. The tarp should extend well past the damage on every side. Where possible, it runs up and over the ridge so water sheds down the far slope instead of running under the top edge.
• Batten the edges. We roll the tarp edges around wood strips and fasten the strips, rather than punching nails through bare plastic. Battens spread the load so gusts cannot rip the material at each fastener.
• Mind the fastener holes. Fasteners go where they will be covered or repaired later, in a pattern that keeps penetrations to a minimum.
• Shape it to shed water. We pull the tarp taut with no pockets, so rain runs off instead of pooling and dragging the cover down.
• Photograph everything. Pictures of the damage before the tarp goes on, and of the finished installation, go to you for your records.

Why is a loose do-it-yourself tarp risky?

A tarp that is not fastened well catches wind like a sail. It can tear loose, pull shingles off with it, and drag fasteners through the decking, creating new openings. Water also runs under an upper edge that stops below the ridge. And the climb itself, on wet, storm-damaged shingles, carries a real risk of a fall.

If you already put a tarp up yourself to get through the night, that is understandable. Leave it in place, stay off the roof, and let us check and re-secure it when we arrive.

How long can a tarp stay on?

Think in weeks, not seasons. A well-secured tarp buys time to document the damage, meet the adjuster and schedule the permanent repair, but sunlight breaks down the material and wind works at the fasteners. Plan on the permanent repair as soon as the weather and your claim allow, especially ahead of winter snow load.

A tarp does not fix anything. It does not replace missing underlayment, restore flashing, or dry out water already inside walls. It simply keeps more rain out. Once the cause is clear, storm damage repair or emergency roof repair is what actually closes the roof. When the storm left too little sound roof to save, roof replacement becomes the permanent answer the tarp was holding space for.

Will my insurance company want to see the tarp?

Many policies ask homeowners to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, and a tarp is often one of them. Keep the photos we give you, the invoice for the tarping, and receipts for anything else you bought to protect the house. Your policy and adjuster decide what is reimbursed, so ask your insurer directly.

We can be on site during the adjuster's visit if you would like. See how we help with insurance claims for the full picture of what we do and what stays with you.

Where tarping calls come from in the county

Tarping work tends to follow trees and open ground. Homes on wooded lots near Hadley and Metamora take limb strikes that leave real holes. Lake homes in Otter Lake catch wind coming across the water, and farmhouses outside Almont have little to slow a straight-line gust. Long driveways and roofs set back from the road also mean damage sometimes goes unnoticed until water appears inside, which makes a solid temporary cover even more important.

Get a secured tarp on your roof

Tell us roughly how big the opening is and what caused it, and send photos taken from the ground if you have them.

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