What the tarp prevents
An open roof gets a little worse with every shower. The insulation soaks up water, the wood swells, the ceilings get stained. A tarp covers a large area in little time. The tarp often comes first among the steps of a roofer called for a roofing emergency.
A tarp also has its place on a roof that has not been pierced. When shingles have blown away or a membrane has been torn off, the underlayment is left exposed, and it does not last long in the rain.
A roofer's job
You do not climb up to install a tarp, and neither does anyone around you.
- It is slippery. A wet roof offers little grip, a wet tarp even less. Walking on it means risking a fall.
- What is underneath can give way. A fallen tree or a long-running leak may have weakened the roof deck, to the point that it gives way under a person's weight.
- You have to be tied off. The roofer wears a harness connected to anchors. A ladder leaning against the gutter protects against nothing.
Our method, depending on the roof
What follows describes our work, not instructions for you. A tarp simply rolled out does not stay in place: air rushes under it, lifts it like a sail and tears it off.
On a sloped roof. The tarp covers a much wider area than the damage. At best, it straddles the ridge, so water running down the slope flows over it and not under it. Its edges are rolled around wooden strips that we fasten to the roof, placing the fasteners so as to pierce as little of the sound covering as possible.
On a flat roof. We avoid putting holes in the membrane. We hold the tarp down with well-distributed weights and lay it out so water always finds the drain. If the tarp forms a hollow, water collects there and a second problem begins.
Protection with an end date
Ask us how long the installation can last. The answer depends on the tarp itself, on how solid the fastenings are and, above all, on the wind it will face.
Your part is done from the ground: a look after every windy spell. A flapping corner, a tarp that has shifted, and you write to us through the form before it rains again.
To settle before installation
Have the billing for the installation made clear and check whether removing the tarp is included. Also ask for photos of the damaged area, taken before installation. Once the roof is covered, the damage becomes invisible to you and to any adjuster your insurer might send.
Frequently asked questions
Do the fasteners damage the roof?
On a sloped roof, they leave a few holes. We place them carefully, preferably where the covering will be redone, then seal them when we remove the tarp. Next to a roof open to the rain, the drawback is acceptable.
Who pays for the tarp, me or my insurer?
Only your insurance policy says who pays for the tarp. Reach your insurer as soon as possible, ask what emergency steps it expects from you, and keep the invoice and the photos.
Water no longer gets in. Can I leave the tarp there?
No, the tarp hides the damage without repairing it. Underneath, the wet wood and insulation need to dry, and the covering still has to be redone. Book the date for the work while the tarp is in good condition.