Roof Tarping
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Temporary covering of a damaged roof section with secured tarps to keep water out until permanent repair — a standard, usually insurance-reimbursable mitigation step.
What Is Roof Tarping?
Roof tarping covers a breached roof area with heavy polyethylene sheeting so rain cannot reach the decking and interior while the claim and permanent repair are arranged. Done correctly, the tarp extends well past the damage on all sides and over the ridge where possible, so water sheds over — never under — the upper edge; it is fastened with wood furring strips screwed through the tarp into decking rather than loose bricks or sandbags, which shift in wind. Standard poly tarps are ultraviolet-degradable and are generally treated as a measure for weeks, not a season. Under most property policies, tarping falls under the policyholder's duty to mitigate further damage, and reasonable tarping costs are commonly reimbursable when documented with receipts and photographs of the underlying damage taken before covering it. Tarping over wet decking should be noted, since trapped moisture can worsen rot if the tarp stays on too long.
Important Distinction
Note: A tarp is mitigation, not repair: it protects the claim and the interior, and a properly installed tarp is typically expected to serve for weeks, not months.
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Also Known As
These are the search terms and phrases that commonly refer to this topic, so you can find it however you describe it.
Related roofing topics
Emergency tarping is reinforced poly fastened down over the opening to stop water entering the structure while the permanent work is scoped.
A tarp is mitigation, not repair: permanent repairs should follow soon after, once weather permits and materials are available.
Topics related to this one
Tarping is the common form emergency work takes, and doing it properly — fastened to furring strips, run over the ridge, not weighted down with debris — is what separates a tarp that holds through the next storm from one that does not.
Questions about Roof Tarping?
Zilker Roofing inspects before recommending. Honest assessment.