How to Tarp a Roof

During severe weather and natural disasters, you want to keep your home protected. Strong storms like hurricanes can cause a lot of damage to your roof, no matter what material it's made of. Shingles, wood and metal can all be affected by the high winds that accompany these havoc-wreaking storms.

While you have no choice but to wait out a storm, you do have the option to protect your home by tarping your damaged roof. A durable, waterproof tarp will help prevent more damage from being caused by heavy rains.

Finding the Right Tarp

Before you can get to work, you need to make sure you have the right kind of tarp. Houses are going to require more than your basic, thin camping tarp. To properly cover your roof, you will need something sturdy that can survive strong winds and heavy rainfalls.

Heavy-duty tarps are going to be the best route to take when covering your roof. Our super heavy-duty tarps are made from 12-millimeter polyethylene and can withstand the most severe weather conditions thanks to their three-ply material. These long-lasting tarps are waterproof, mildew resistant and tear resistant. They will keep water out while also helping prevent mold from growing.

With wind being a big part of rough storms, many people have concerns about how their tarps will fair. So, will a tarp rip on a roof with heavy wind? If you have a good tarp, it shouldn't. Our heavy-duty tarps have reinforced edges and corner guards to prevent fraying and tears.

Now you know what material you need, but what about the size? Before tarping, determine the size of the damage on your roof. Do you need to cover a small section or tarp a complete house? Once you've measured the damaged area, order an appropriately sized tarp to cover it. You'll want enough material to completely cover the area and double back over for extra protection.

How do You Tarp a Roof?

Tarping a roof might sound like a daunting task, but overall, it's pretty simple and can save your house from further damage. To get started, you'll need a few tools in addition to your tarp. Make sure to grab a ladder, some gloves, a utility knife, nails or screws, wood strips and a hammer. The final thing you'll need is another person to help you tackle the task. Due to slippery roofs and possible large damage areas, this is not something you should try to do solo.

Once you are safely on your roof, it's time to get to work. The first step is to roll out your tarp to cover the damaged area and cover an anchor wood strip that has been secured to your roof with the tarp. Don't forget to double back over the area for two layers of protection. Secure the tarp to this anchor strip with either nails or screws. Make sure the anchor board and tarp roll are against the roof to prevent the collection of water or debris.

Next, roll the rest of the tarp over the ridge of your roof and leave at least an extra two feet of tarp around the damaged area. Roll the other end of the tarp over another wood board and secure it with nails or screws, making sure the tarp is taut. Finally, secure the edges of your tarp with more nails or screws.

If you're wondering how to tarp a flat roof, the procedure is similar to a sloped roof. You just want to take extra care to really secure the edges or else water can flow under the tarp.

Disclaimer: Tarping your roof is only a temporary solution until a professional can come to fix it. This guide is only a suggestion for how you temporarily repair your roof. A1 Tarps assumes no liability or responsibility for accidents that may occur during the repair of your roof or if the tarp you choose is not sturdy enough to keep the rain out.

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