How To Tarp a Roof After a Storm

A roof tarp is one of the best temporary fix approaches you can use a storm damages your roof. The aim is not to fix the issue permanently but to ensure it does not lead to further damage as the rain continues to be poor.

You can protect your wooden boards and other parts of your house quite easily that way.

Normally, calling a professional roofer is the best way to get ahead of the situation. However, during emergencies, not many roofers may have the time. Besides, you might be feeling more adventurous and want to DIY.

Today, we will show you how to easily tarp a damaged area of your roof to avoid further damage.

A tarp may not look cute on your roof, but it is a patch that can protect you from expensive roof repairs. Measuring the damaged place, and patching it does not seem like much, but it’s a great way to avoid more serious roof damage.

Here are some more reasons why you should consider it.

Protect Your Roof From Further Damage

As stated earlier, calling a professional roofer is the best way to handle roofing issues. A thorough investigation will reveal and deal with any missing shingles and similar issues.

Unfortunately, it might take longer for the roofer to do the emergency roof repairs needed. A simple tarp will keep the issue from spreading further.

Save on Repairs

A leaking roof is never an amusing site. It gets even worse when the storm hits, and you are not ready. With water getting into your home and other parts of the roof taking in more water, you are bound to spend so much on repairs.

You can avoid all that by simply tarping the roof. A tarp will hold the space, protecting it from further damage. You will spend a lot less on the repairs.

How to Tarp a Roof after a Storm

Now that you know what you should tarp a leaky roof, it’s time to learn how to do it. You can learn this even before bad weather so that you are ready when the need for emergency repairs arises.

Follow these steps:

Gather Tools

Safety comes first when any roof repair task is involved. Therefore, having all the tools and necessary equipment ready before you begin is crucial. These include:

• Safety equipment like gloves, goggles, helmets, and more.
• The tarp wraps
• Cap nails and screws
• Sealant
• Ladder
• A camera
• Thing wooden boards/ roll wood

Check the Weather

Another important safety consideration when working on a roof is the weather. You don’t want to work during severe weather instances as it can be hazardous.

Securing yourself on the roof is very crucial. So, ask for help if you are unsure whether it’s safe to get up there.

Clean the Area

Once you are sure the weather is fine, you can get on the roof and clean it properly. Remove any leaves and debris that may have fallen on the roof to open a path for a clean fit when you start installing.

Many homeowners start working on their roofs without these initial steps, which can be dangerous. You need to know where the damage is, and you can only do that if the roof is clear.

Examine Your Roof and Take Measurements

The next step is to examine your to determine the damaged part and how many tarps you will need. Rushing in without proper measurement can force you to buy less or excess tarp, which is not good.

If you suspect storm damage, it could be that a larger part of your roof is affected. But only proper assessment will give you the correct data.

Use a ladder and wear a safety harness while inspecting the damage. Your tarp width and length will depend on getting the right measurement.

If you cannot access any part of the roof, use a drone. However, this may not be a good option since you need a tape measure to physically determine how much tarp you will need.

Take Photos for the Insurance Company

Most insurance policies took during the initial installation cover storm damage and similar issues. So, you need to take the photos of the compromised area.

An experienced roofer will always ask for pictures as evidence to help you claim any cover. Remember to take photos before installing the tarp.

Clean the area and take pictures unless removing the debris is unnecessary. You can take it from different angles, with each image showing the full extent of the damage.

Choose the Right Tarp

There are several factors to consider when choosing the tarp. Ideally, you want the material to cover the whole place to prevent additional damage. Experienced roofers understand better how to get the best tarp and install it.

Consider that:

• The tarp should be strong to protect the good shingles and part of the roof from further damage.
• A tarp seeks to prevent water damage during a storm. Therefore it should be large enough to cover the damaged area and extend beyond it. Consider a tarp that is long enough to hang over the roof.
• Have the board extend to the peak side, allowing the water to flow more smoothly.
• Avoid tarping areas of the roof that are hard to reach when you don’t have the proper equipment.

You need to set your mind and body in the right position before working on your roof. Even though tarping seems like an easy task, it can get quite challenging if you are not well prepared.

We can never emphasize enough the need to follow the right safety procedures. You need to avoid anything that can compromise the roof’s integrity.

Tarp Unfurling

The next step is to lay the tarp over the damaged part of the house. And for this, you will need two or more people to help you.

If you are using an adhesive, you must remove the backing on the adhesive before securing the tarp. Such materials can be hard to work with, even for a professional roofer. However, they are more like the normal water and ice protectors roofers use mostly.

The shingles under the adhesive tarp will require a replacement, too, once the tarp is secured in place. But this can happen when doing comprehensive repairs on your house.

Where an adhesive tarp is not used, there are a few more steps to follow to ensure the tarp is secured. As you will see below, this is where a screw nail hammer comes into action.

Attach and Secure the Tarp

The next step is to secure the tarp using screws and nails. It begins by wrapping the tarp on a piece of lumber to create an anchor. The board ensures the tarp is properly weighed to the roof, securing it in place.

Using more nails and screws can create points where the tarp could rip easily, forcing you to repair more pieces. This is why the board is extremely crucial.

When the tarp is wrapped on the board, it ensures pressure is evenly spread, making it hard to rip off.

More boards may be necessary to keep the tarp secure and avoid roof leaks. But this depends on the extent of the damage. Thus, measuring the damaged area before you climb the roof is important too.

Screw the Boards

Tarping a roof when the damage is near roof fixtures is more challenging. Working around chimneys, plumbing vents, and skylights requires more, which is why one person alone may not do this job. You need someone to hold one end as you work on the other to keep the tarp tight.

It’s very easy to leave your skylights, vents, or chimney covered with a tarp, which can be a safety hazard. You can fix this by cutting a hole in the fixture as someone else holds the tarp.

Proper taping is extremely crucial to keep this area watertight. The last thing you want is a roof leak because of an improperly taped fixture.

After all these tasks, nails and screws are used to secure the board to the roof. This is the last step, where the nails/screws are driven through the singles safely. You will need to replace these shingles.

Call your local experts at Lenox Roofers if you need an emergency roof repair in Myrtle Beach, SC. The company works in areas that are prone to heavy rainfall and storms. Thus, they understand what materials to use. Don’t worry about how to tarp your roofs anymore, as the experts are ready to help.