A branch punches through your roof during a November windstorm. Rain's pouring in through the hole. You've got buckets going, but the forecast says three more days of steady rain. This is when a tarp makes the difference between a repair bill and a full-blown interior rebuild.
Tarping a damaged roof is temporary. It buys you time until a roofer can get there and do the permanent fix. Done right, a tarp keeps water out for days or even weeks. Done wrong, it blows off in the next gust and you're back to square one. Here's what you need to know.
## When you actually need a tarp
Not every roof problem calls for one. A tarp makes sense when a large section of shingles is missing and the deck is exposed, when there's a puncture from a fallen branch, or when you've got an active leak that's pouring water into the house with more rain on the way.
You probably don't need a tarp if the leak is small and manageable with a bucket, if the damage is cosmetic (a few missing shingles but no water getting in), or if the weather forecast shows dry conditions for the next several days. In those cases, put a bucket under the drip, take photos for your insurance claim, and schedule a roof repair for when a crew can get to you.
For more on what to do in the first ten minutes of a roof emergency, we covered that in detail in our emergency roof repair guide.
## Safety first. We mean it.
Wet PNW roofs are extremely dangerous. Moss, algae, and rain turn shingles into an ice rink. Steep-pitch roofs (anything over about 6/12) are a no-go in wet conditions even for experienced roofers. If your roof is steep, if it's wet, or if you're not comfortable working at heights, do not go up there.
Call a roofer. Most emergency roof repair companies in the Seattle area respond within a few hours, even at night. Your local fire department will also tarp a roof for free in genuine emergencies where there's an active safety hazard. That's what they're there for.
The only scenario where DIY tarping makes sense is a single-story home with a low-pitch roof, dry or mostly dry conditions, and safe ladder access. If all three of those boxes aren't checked, stay on the ground.
## How to tarp a roof yourself
Assuming you've got safe conditions, here's the process.
Get a heavy-duty poly tarp (the blue ones from any hardware store work fine). You want it at least six feet wider than the damaged area on every side. Bigger is better. A tarp that's too small will let wind-driven rain underneath, and then it's doing nothing.
Drape the tarp over the ridge of the roof so water sheds in both directions. You want the tarp running from above the damage, over the ridge, and down the other side. Water flows downhill, so the top edge of the tarp needs to be higher than the damage. Extend the bottom edge past the eave and into the gutter if possible.
Secure the edges. The best method is to wrap the tarp edges around 2x4 lumber and screw through the 2x4 into the roof deck. This gives the tarp something to grip without puncturing the tarp itself. Do NOT nail through the tarp. Every nail hole becomes a new leak point, which defeats the purpose.
If you don't have lumber handy, sandbags or cinder blocks along the edges will work as a short-term hold. They won't survive a strong wind event, but they'll get you through a calm rainy night.
Pull the tarp tight. Wrinkles and slack spots collect water and create pools that add weight. A tight tarp sheds water cleanly.
## What it costs when a roofer does it
In the Seattle area, professional emergency tarping runs $300 to $800. The range depends on the size of the tarp, the pitch and height of the roof, and whether it's a daytime or after-hours call. Steep roofs and two-story homes cost more because they require harnesses and more setup time.
If the same company comes back to do the permanent repair, most will credit the tarp cost toward the final repair invoice. We do this on every job.
For context on what windstorms typically do to PNW roofs and how these repairs play out, we've covered that separately.
## Insurance covers this. Seriously.
Here's something a lot of homeowners don't know. Emergency mitigation like tarping is almost always covered by your homeowner's insurance. In fact, most policies require you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage after an incident. If your roof gets damaged in a storm and you don't tarp it, and then the interior gets soaked over the next week, the insurer can argue you failed to mitigate and reduce your payout.
Keep every receipt. The tarp, the lumber, the roofer's invoice for the emergency visit. All of it goes into your claim. If you're filing a claim for storm damage, our guide on how to file a roof insurance claim in Washington walks through the process step by step. We also handle insurance restoration work and can coordinate directly with your adjuster.
## When the tarp comes off
A properly installed tarp can hold for weeks, but it's not a permanent fix. UV degrades the material, wind works at the edges, and every storm tests the fastening. Get the permanent repair scheduled as soon as weather allows. In Seattle, that sometimes means waiting for a dry window, which can be a week or two in the middle of winter. The tarp will hold if it was installed right.
If you've got a damaged roof right now and need someone there fast, contact us or call the number at the top of the page. We answer 24/7 and can usually get a crew to you the same day.
