A storm-damaged roof can let rain into a home, but climbing onto a roof to cover it can create serious risks. A tarp is a temporary weather barrier—not a repair—and it must be installed without exposing people to falls, electrical hazards, or unstable materials. The safest choice is often to call a qualified roofing contractor. When conditions are safe and the damage is limited, careful planning can help reduce further water intrusion until permanent repairs are made.
Decide Whether It Is Safe to Tarp the Roof
Do not climb onto a roof during a storm or while it is wet, icy, windy, or otherwise slippery. Wait until the weather has cleared and the surface is dry. Wind can catch a tarp like a sail, and even a small gust can pull a person off balance or loosen the cover.
From the ground, look for sagging roof sections, large holes, fallen trees, hanging branches, damaged chimneys, and exposed electrical wires. If the roof appears unstable, a tree is resting on it, or power lines are involved, keep people away and contact emergency services or the utility company as appropriate. Do not touch wires or debris that may be energized.
Roof work may be especially dangerous on steep, high, or multistory homes. Metal roofing, wet shingles, skylights, fragile roofing materials, and debris add risks that may not be obvious from the ground. A ladder can also slip on soft ground or gutters. If a safe access route and fall-protection setup are not available, leave the work to trained professionals.
Workers in the construction industry are subject to OSHA fall-protection requirements, including rules that generally require protection at certain heights. Those regulations do not make a roof safe for a homeowner to climb. Anyone unsure about the hazards should stay off the roof and call a licensed or otherwise qualified roofing contractor.
Make the Area Below the Damage Safer
Before arranging a tarp, reduce hazards inside the home. Keep people and pets away from rooms with a bulging ceiling, active dripping, or falling debris. A water-filled ceiling can collapse without warning. If it is safe to do so, move furniture and valuables, place containers under small leaks, and take photos or video of the damage.
If water is near light fixtures, outlets, appliances, or a breaker panel, do not touch wet electrical equipment. If the main electrical shutoff is in a dry, safe location and can be reached without walking through water, turn off power to affected circuits or contact an electrician. For a serious electrical hazard, leave the area and call the appropriate emergency service.
Small amounts of water can be removed from belongings, but structural damage needs professional assessment. Do not poke or cut a sagging ceiling to release water; the ceiling may fail unpredictably, and water may be close to wiring. Contact a roofer or emergency mitigation company for advice.
Choose a Suitable Roof Tarp
A roof tarp should be large enough to cover the damaged area and extend onto sound roofing. Measure from a safe location on the ground when possible. A tarp that barely covers a hole can allow water to run beneath its edges. For damage near a ridge, the cover may need to pass over the ridge and extend down the opposite slope to help shed water.
Heavy-duty polyethylene tarps are commonly used for temporary weather protection. Select a tarp with reinforced edges and grommets, but do not rely on grommets alone as the only attachment points; they can tear under tension or wind. A tarp should be large enough to overlap the damage substantially, while avoiding a fit so loose that it billows.
There is no single tarp size for every roof. The appropriate size depends on the location of the damage, roof pitch, and the distance to sound attachment points. A contractor can determine the coverage needed when a roof’s shape or condition makes measuring difficult.
Gather Materials Before Starting
Having materials ready can reduce time spent on the roof. Do not begin if the right supplies, safe access, or another capable adult are missing. Typical materials for a temporary tarp installation may include:
- A heavy-duty, UV-resistant tarp large enough to cover the damaged area and overlap onto sound roofing.
- Long, straight boards, often called furring strips or battens, to spread pressure along tarp edges.
- Exterior-rated screws and a compatible driver, if the attachment method calls for fastening through boards into suitable roof framing.
- A ladder suited to the height and surface, with a stable, level base and a secure setup.
- Fall-protection equipment and training appropriate to the roof and work conditions.
- Work gloves, sturdy footwear with good traction, eye protection, and a flashlight for ground-level inspection.
Do not use loose bricks, cinder blocks, or other heavy objects to hold a tarp on a roof. They can slide, fall, damage the roof, or injure someone below. Ropes tied to gutters, vents, chimneys, or other weak components are also unreliable and may cause additional damage.
How to Tarp a Roof After a Storm
Inspect and document the damage from a safe location
Take photographs of the roof, interior leaks, and damaged belongings before temporary work begins, if it is safe to do so. Photos can help a roofing contractor and insurer understand what happened. Do not climb onto an unstable roof just to get a better picture. Note when the damage occurred, where water is entering, and any temporary measures already taken.
Plan the direction of water flow
A tarp should guide water down the roof and away from the damaged section, rather than create a pocket where water can collect. Whenever possible, arrange it so the upper edge is above the damage and the lower edge extends toward the eaves. Keep the tarp flat enough to avoid channels or folds that trap water.
For damage near the roof ridge, a contractor may place a tarp across the ridge so it covers the affected slope and part of the opposite slope. The best configuration depends on the roof and damage. Do not cover chimneys, vents, or other openings in a way that blocks necessary ventilation or creates a carbon monoxide hazard. Never operate a generator indoors or near an open window while working on storm damage.
Position the tarp over the damaged area
With a safe access plan in place, unroll the tarp carefully and center it over the damaged section. The tarp should extend beyond the hole or missing shingles far enough to reach sound roofing and provide room for secure attachment. Keep it taut without stretching it so tightly that the material or grommets are under excessive strain.
Do not step on a skylight, plastic roof panel, damaged section, or area that could be weakened beneath the shingles. Hidden rot or storm damage may make apparently solid roofing unsafe. If the tarp cannot be positioned without walking over questionable areas, stop and call a professional.
Secure the edges with boards
A common temporary method is to sandwich the tarp edge beneath a board, then fasten the board securely. Boards spread the load across a longer section than a single nail or screw and can help prevent the tarp from tearing. The attachment must reach a sound part of the roof structure; fastening only into shingles or thin roof decking may not hold in wind.
Fasteners can create new holes and may complicate permanent repairs, so their placement matters. Avoid fastening into valleys, flashing, vents, chimneys, or visibly damaged framing. Do not assume that boards and screws make a roof safe in high winds. If the roof is exposed or the forecast calls for strong gusts, a professional installation is a safer choice.
Check drainage and the ground below
From a safe position, confirm that the tarp slopes toward an appropriate drainage path and does not direct water into an attic opening, wall, or neighboring property. Keep people away from the area below the roof edge while the cover is being installed. Watch for loose tools, boards, and debris that could fall.
Once the tarp is in place, inspect it from the ground after weather conditions permit. Look for flapping, pooling water, loose boards, or new leaks. Do not climb back onto the roof during rain or high winds to adjust it. If the cover loosens, contact a roofing professional.
Common Tarping Mistakes to Avoid
- Working in unsafe weather: Wet surfaces, lightning, darkness, and strong wind make roof work more hazardous.
- Using an undersized tarp: A small cover may leave damaged roofing exposed or let water enter at the edges.
- Attaching only through grommets: Concentrated tension can tear the tarp, especially when wind lifts it.
- Using heavy objects as weights: Loose objects may slide or fall and can cause injuries or more roof damage.
- Covering vents or combustion exhausts: Blocked openings can interfere with ventilation or create dangerous indoor conditions.
- Assuming the tarp is a permanent repair: A temporary cover does not restore shingles, flashing, insulation, or structural components.
- Ignoring interior moisture: Water can continue to damage ceilings, insulation, wiring, and framing even after the roof is covered.
After the Tarp Is Installed
Contact a roofing contractor as soon as possible to inspect the roof and plan permanent repairs. A tarp can shift, wear, or fail, and it does not address hidden damage. Ask the contractor to check the roof deck, underlayment, flashing, gutters, attic, and any areas where water may have traveled.
Report storm damage to the homeowners insurance company promptly and follow the policy’s instructions. Coverage and deadlines vary by policy and state. Keep receipts for emergency materials and temporary services, and save photographs and contractor estimates. Do not discard damaged materials until the insurer has explained its documentation or inspection requirements, unless they pose an immediate safety risk.
Use caution when choosing a contractor after a major storm. Confirm the business’s identity, licensing requirements where applicable, insurance, written scope of work, and references. Avoid paying the full amount upfront or signing a contract that is unclear about materials, costs, and repairs. The Federal Trade Commission recommends getting written estimates and checking a contractor’s credentials before hiring.
For water inside the home, address moisture promptly to reduce the chance of mold growth. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours when possible. That timeframe is guidance, not a guarantee that mold will not develop. Porous materials that remain wet may need professional evaluation, especially after contaminated floodwater or extensive water intrusion.
When to Call a Professional Immediately
Call a qualified roofer rather than attempting a do-it-yourself tarp when the roof is steep, high, wet, structurally damaged, or difficult to access. Professional help is also warranted when a tree or large object is on the roof, damage is near power lines, the tarp would need to cover a large area, or the forecast includes high winds or additional severe weather.
If a roof opening is too large to cover safely, a temporary tarp may not be enough to protect the home. A contractor or emergency mitigation service can assess whether other measures are needed, such as securing a damaged area, protecting interior contents, or arranging temporary lodging when the home is unsafe.
Reliable Sources for Storm-Damage Guidance
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Fall Protection explains workplace fall hazards and applicable protections.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Mold Course, Chapter 2 discusses drying wet materials and moisture control.
- Federal Trade Commission: How to Avoid a Home Improvement Scam offers guidance on checking contractors and protecting against fraud.
- Ready.gov provides federal guidance on flood and disaster safety; local emergency-management instructions should also be followed.