An emergency roof tarp covers storm or tree damage until the roof can be permanently repaired. A good tarp runs over the ridge, is fastened with wood battens instead of nails straight through the plastic, and overlaps the damage by several feet on every side. We install tarps the same day for calls during working hours and photograph the damage for your insurance claim.
When a storm peels off shingles or a limb punches a hole in the roof, the next rain does the real damage. A tarp buys you time to get insurance approval, get a written price and schedule the permanent repair, without water pouring into the house every time it rains.
When you need a tarp
- A section of shingles torn off down to the underlayment or wood
- A tree limb or branch through the roof
- A large area of hail or wind damage waiting on an insurance adjuster
- Damage too big to fix before more rain arrives
- A roof opened for repairs when a storm moves in
How a proper tarp goes on
Most tarp failures come from bad installs: plastic nailed straight through, tarps that end halfway up the slope so water runs under them, or flimsy tarps that shred in the first wind. Here is how we do it:
Clear the area
Remove loose debris, broken shingles and limb pieces from the damaged area.
Size the tarp
A heavy-duty tarp that covers the damage plus several feet on each side, run over the ridge when possible.
Fasten with battens
Wood strips screwed through the tarp edges into the roof, so wind cannot rip it off.
Photograph
Before and after photos of the damage and the tarp for your insurance claim.
Running the tarp over the ridge matters. If the top edge of a tarp stops partway up the roof, rain runs down the slope and straight under it.
Call or text Jacob photos of the damage. Same-day tarping for calls during working hours in Pine Bluff.
Emergency tarp cost in Pine Bluff
| Service | Typical Central Arkansas range |
|---|---|
| Emergency tarping after a storm | $275 to $750 |
| Large or steep roof, or tree removal needed first | Quoted on site |
Ranges based on published Central Arkansas roofing cost guides (2025 and 2026). They are not quotes. Your written price comes after we look at your roof, and you approve it before any work starts. Many homeowners policies reimburse reasonable emergency tarping after covered storm damage. See emergency roof tarp cost.
How long can a tarp stay on?
A well-installed heavy-duty tarp can hold for several weeks, sometimes a couple of months, but the Arkansas sun breaks down the plastic and wind works at the edges. It is a temporary fix. The sooner the permanent repair is done, the less chance of the tarp failing in a storm. Our answer on how long a tarp can stay on a roof has more.
Tarps and your insurance claim
Most homeowners policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent more damage after a storm. A tarp is one of those steps. Keep the receipt and the photos. Do not throw away damaged shingles or limb pieces until the adjuster has seen them or you have photographed them. See roof insurance claim help.
Can I tarp my own roof?
If the damage is small, the roof is low and dry, and you are comfortable on a ladder, you can put down a temporary cover. Many injuries after storms come from homeowners falling off wet roofs, so think hard before climbing. Never go up during a storm, near downed power lines, or on a steep roof. If a limb is on the roof, get the tree removed by a tree service before anyone walks near it.
Tarping different roof types
Shingle roofs are the most common tarp job. On metal roofs, we fasten battens into the purlins with gasketed screws so we do not add new leaks, and we seal those holes during the permanent repair. On flat and low-slope roofs, a tarp can trap water, so we often use a temporary membrane patch instead. Mobile home roofs cannot take much weight, so we work from the edges and use boards to spread our weight while fastening. Whatever the roof, the goal is the same: keep water out until it can be fixed right.
Emergency tarping FAQ
How quickly can you tarp my roof?
The same day for calls during working hours in Pine Bluff, weather and safety permitting.
Does insurance pay for emergency tarping?
Often, when the damage is from a covered event like wind, hail or a falling tree. Keep your receipt and photos.
Can you tarp in the rain?
In light rain, sometimes. We will not work on a roof during lightning, high wind or when it is unsafe.
Will the tarp damage my roof?
Screwing battens through the tarp leaves small holes that we seal during the permanent repair. It is far less damage than water getting in.
Do you remove trees from the roof?
Large limbs and trees need a tree service first. Once the limb is off, we tarp and repair the roof.
Back to roof leak repair in Pine Bluff.