Temporary Roof Repair: How to Tarp a Roof and What It Costs

A temporary roof repair keeps water out until the roof can be fixed properly. For anything bigger than a small leak, that means a tarp: a heavy-duty tarp laid over the damaged area, carried over the ridge, and held down with boards screwed to the roof. Done right, it holds for a couple of months. Professional tarping averages around $450 nationally, according to HomeAdvisor, with small jobs under $200 and large emergency jobs over $3,000.

Safety first: don't go on a roof during a storm, in the dark, when it's wet or icy, or if the decking feels soft. If you can, tarp from a ladder at the eave or call a pro. Falls from roofs are among the most common serious home-repair injuries.

What you need

• A heavy-duty polyethylene tarp, ideally 10 mil or thicker, big enough to cover the damage plus about 4 feet on every side and over the ridge
• 2x4 boards, several 8-foot lengths
• Exterior screws (about 3 inches) and a drill
• A utility knife, tape measure and a helper
• Soft-soled shoes and a harness if you'll be on the roof

How to tarp a roof

1. Clear debris off the area so the tarp lies flat and nothing punctures it.
2. Measure from the eave edge over the ridge to the other side, adding 4 feet past the damage on every side.
3. Anchor the top first. Carry the tarp over the ridge to the opposite slope. Roll the top edge around a 2x4 two or three times and screw the board to the roof through the rolled tarp. Water running down from the ridge now goes over the tarp, not under it.
4. Roll and fasten the bottom edge the same way near the eave.
5. Add side boards along the edges, rolled the same way, and a few boards across the middle if it's windy. Sandwiching the tarp in boards keeps screws out of the open tarp, where they'd tear holes.
6. Check it after every storm and re-tension anything that's flapping. Wind destroys loose tarps fast.

Don't nail directly through the tarp with no board, and don't use sandbags as the only anchor on a sloped roof.

Small leaks: quick patches

• Missing or torn shingle: slip a piece of aluminum flashing or a spare shingle under the course above and seal the edges with roofing cement.
• Small hole or cracked flashing: peel-and-stick flashing tape or roofing cement as a stopgap.
• Leak around a vent boot: a rubber boot cover or sealant until the boot is replaced.

These are temporary. Plan the permanent repair right away.

How long a temporary repair lasts

Standard tarps are good for about 60 to 90 days, per cost guides; heavier long-term tarps can last longer. Sun breaks down cheap blue tarps quickly. If you're waiting on an insurance adjuster or a roofer's schedule, check the tarp weekly.

Insurance

• Document first. Photos and video of the damage, inside and out, before you tarp.
• Mitigate. Most homeowners policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, and the cost of doing so is often reimbursed when the damage itself is covered.
• Keep receipts for tarps, lumber and any emergency service.
• Don't sign a contract that assigns your insurance benefits to a contractor without reading it carefully.

After a federally declared disaster, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may run Operation Blue Roof, which installs free temporary roofing on eligible homes. Check local disaster announcements.

Metal roofs

On metal panels, don't screw boards through the panels if you can avoid it. Use rope or straps anchored at the eaves and ridge, or clamps made for standing seam. For dents and hail, see hail damage on a metal roof.