TLDR: Emergency roof tarping is a temporary cover installed over a damaged section of roof to stop water from getting in until a permanent repair can be made. You need it when water is actively entering the home, when shingles or decking are missing, or when more rain is coming before a repair is possible. Insurance usually expects you to tarp promptly. It is not a fix, it is a stop-loss.
Emergency roof tarping is the least glamorous thing we do and one of the most important. When a storm opens up a roof and more rain is on the way, a tarp is the difference between a repair and a rebuild of the rooms underneath. Here is when you need one, how we do it, and what to expect.
When a tarp is the right call
You need emergency roof tarping if any of these are true:
- Water is coming into the house and you cannot stop it from inside
- Shingles are missing and the underlayment or bare decking is exposed
- A tree limb or debris has punctured the roof
- Flashing has torn away from a chimney or wall
- A repair cannot happen before the next rain
You probably do not need a tarp for a single small drip from a pipe boot on an otherwise sound roof. That is a repair we can usually do the same day the roof is dry.
How we tarp a roof
A proper tarp is not a blue sheet thrown over the roof and weighed down with bricks. We use heavy-duty reinforced tarps, extend them well past the damaged area in every direction, run them over the ridge when possible so water cannot get underneath from above, and secure them with wood strips (furring strips) screwed through the tarp into the roof framing. Done right, a tarp holds through wind and rain for weeks.
Done wrong, a tarp fails in the first storm. We see it every season: tarps that were nailed only along the edges, tarps that stopped short of the ridge, tarps held down with sandbags that slid off. Water gets under them and the homeowner thinks they are protected when they are not.
Timing: we tarp when it is safe, not while it is pouring
We do not put crews on a wet roof during active heavy rain. It is not safe and the tarp will not seal. What we can do is get to you in the first break in the weather, often within hours. If you know your roof is damaged and rain is forecast, the best time to call is before the rain starts. That is the window when a tarp goes on quickly and cleanly.
What tarping means for your insurance claim
Most homeowner policies require you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage after a storm. Tarping is exactly that step. Keep the receipt. The cost of the tarp and installation is typically part of the claim. Here is how Texas insurance treats roof leaks. Skipping the tarp and letting rain pour in for a week can give the adjuster a reason to reduce what they pay for the interior damage, because that part was preventable.
We photograph the damage before and after the tarp goes on, and we give you those photos for your claim file.
What happens after the tarp
The tarp buys time, usually a few weeks. In that window we do a full inspection, write up what we found, and meet your adjuster on the roof if you file a claim. Then we schedule the permanent repair or replacement. The tarp comes off the day the real work starts.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a tarp stay on a roof?
A properly installed tarp will hold for several weeks, sometimes longer. It is not meant to be a long-term solution. Sun and wind break down the material over time.
Can I tarp my own roof?
You can, but we do not recommend it. Roofs are dangerous, wet roofs more so, and a tarp that is not secured correctly gives you a false sense of safety. If you do it yourself, never work alone and never in wind or rain.
Is emergency tarping expensive?
It is a small fraction of the cost of the interior damage it prevents. Pricing depends on the size of the area and roof access. We will give you a number before we start, and the cost is usually recoverable through an insurance claim.
Do you tarp roofs at night?
We tarp as soon as it is safe to be on the roof. If the rain stops in the evening and there is enough light to work safely, we come out. In the dark or in active rain, we schedule for first light.
Water coming in? Call now
If you need emergency roof tarping anywhere in San Antonio or the Hill Country, call or text (210) 460-8896. Tell us what you are seeing and we will get you on the schedule for the first safe window.