How a Roof Tarp Works and When to Call a Pro

A tarp can save a house from a lot of water, but only when it is fastened the right way. Here is how it works and why it is a job for a crew.

Why Tarps Fail

Tarps held down with bricks or weights shift in the wind and let water run underneath. Nails through the middle of a tarp tear it open and make new holes in the roof.

A tarp that flaps in the wind also scrapes the shingles and can do more harm than good.

How a Professional Tarp Is Installed

A good tarp goes over the ridge so water cannot run in at the top. It is folded and fastened under strapping boards, so the nails go through wood and not the tarp, and it sheds water downhill over the damaged area and the slope around it.

The goal is a cover that stays put through wind and rain until the permanent repair.

Why It Is Not a Do-It-Yourself Job

Climbing onto a wet roof in the wind is dangerous, and a damaged roof may not hold your weight. A crew uses fall protection, proper ladders and the right materials.

If you cannot reach a roofer right away, protect the inside of the house and stay off the roof.