---
title: "Emergency Roof Tarping: How It Is Done Right | NEMA Roofing"
description: "Emergency roof tarping explained: when a tarp is the right fix, how it is fastened so wind cannot lift it, tile and flat roof differences, and insurance."
url: "https://nemaroofing.com/roof-emergency-repairs/fast-fixes-when-it-matters-most-roof-emergency-repairs/"
updated: "2026-09-29"
---

**Emergency roof tarping covers a damaged part of a roof with a heavy waterproof tarp, secured so wind cannot lift it, to keep rain out until the permanent repair.** A tarp that holds runs past the damage on every side, continues over the ridge so water cannot run under its top edge, and is fastened through wood battens rather than through the tarp itself. For a roof that is open to the weather, call NEMA Roofing at [866-631-3366](tel:866-631-3366).

## When is a tarp the right emergency fix?

A tarp is for damage too large to seal: a section of shingles torn off, a hole where a limb came through, a patch of broken or slipped tiles, or a seam of metal panels lifted by wind. It is the wrong tool for a small gap at a vent or chimney, where sealant or a flashing patch is simpler, and usually for a flat roof, where a loose sheet collects water instead of shedding it. The other stopgaps and what each can handle are compared in [temporary roof repair vs. permanent repair](https://nemaroofing.com/roof-emergency-repairs/tary-fes-peent-roof-emergency-repairs/).

## How is a roof tarp installed so it holds?

1. **Make the area safe.** Loose debris comes off first. A large limb resting on the roof is a job for a tree crew before any roofer walks near it.
2. **Size it generously.** The tarp should extend well beyond the damaged area on the sides and downhill edge, and its top edge should go over the ridge and down the far slope. Water then runs over the tarp rather than under it.
3. **Roll the edges into battens.** Each edge is wrapped around a length of lumber, and the lumber is fastened down. The load spreads along the board instead of pulling at grommets, which tear out in gusts.
4. **Pull it tight.** A tarp that can billow acts like a sail. Slack is removed so wind slides over it.
5. **Leave the water a path.** The bottom edge ends where water can drain into the gutter or off the eave, not onto a wall or into a valley that is already overloaded.

## Does tarping differ by roof type?

| Roof | What changes when tarping it |
| --- | --- |
| Asphalt shingle | Every nail left in a good shingle becomes a future leak point, so fastening is kept to the area that will be replaced anyway or along the ridge. |
| Clay or concrete tile | Tiles crack under careless footsteps. The tile industry’s TRI Alliance advises stepping on the bottom 3 inches of each tile, where it is supported by the tile beneath, and notes most manufacturers do not warrant breakage from foot traffic. Crews plan their path and fastening points so they break as few tiles as possible. |
| Metal panels | Wet metal is slippery, and screws through sound panels add holes; the tarp is secured at seams, trim or the damaged area. |
| Flat or low-slope | A tarp tends to hold water and hide the problem. A temporary patch or membrane over the split is usually better; if a sheet is used, it is weighted and kept clear of drains. |

Tile sheds water, but the membrane under it does the sealing: the TRI Alliance installation manual calls the underlayment critical to the success of a tile roof, and its walkability brief asks for broken tiles to be replaced as soon as possible so rain and sun do not reach that layer. That is why a gap in a tile roof gets covered quickly. More in [emergency tile roof repair](https://nemaroofing.com/roof-emergency-repairs/qui-able-roof-emergency-repairs-w/).

## Why do homemade tarps fail?

- The top edge stops short of the ridge, so rain runs straight under it.
- Nails go through the grommets or the tarp itself and rip out in the first strong gust.
- The tarp is too small and water enters at its sides.
- It flaps, scuffing shingles and cracking tiles beneath it.
- Someone falls. A wet roof is slick, and a steep or tiled one is hard to stand on even when dry. Tarping is work for a crew with fall protection, not a homeowner on a ladder in the rain.

## What should you check while the tarp is on?

A tarp buys time; it does not end the emergency. Sun weakens the plastic and wind works at the fastenings, so treat it as short-term and book the permanent repair right away. Until then:

- After any windy night, look from the ground for lifted edges or a sagging middle.
- During the next rain, check the ceiling or attic under the damaged area.
- Keep gutters and the drainage edge clear of leaves collecting against the battens.
- Call the roofer if the tarp shifts; do not climb up to straighten it.

## Does tarping help an insurance claim?

It can. The California Department of Insurance tells homeowners after a storm to make temporary repairs that prevent further damage, to photograph the damage, to keep records of all cleanup and repair costs, and not to make permanent repairs until the adjuster has seen the damage. A tarp does exactly that job, so keep the invoice and before-and-after photos. The [roof damage insurance claim guide](https://nemaroofing.com/roof-emergency-repairs/roof-emergency-repairs-that-protect-your-home-instantly/) goes through the claim step by step.

## What happens when the tarp comes off?

The permanent repair replaces what failed underneath: damaged deck, underlayment, flashing and the roof covering, matched to the rest of the roof. The batten fastening points are sealed or replaced as part of that work. How the repair is scoped, estimated and checked is set out in [the roof repair process from call to dry ceiling](https://nemaroofing.com/roof-repair/roof-repair-e-eth-nfing/).

## Emergency tarping from NEMA Roofing

Our crews tarp and repair storm-damaged roofs throughout Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, working from NEMA Roofing’s five locations in Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Woodland Hills, Tarzana and Downey ([see every area we serve](https://nemaroofing.com/service-areas/)). Learn more about our [emergency roof repair service](https://nemaroofing.com/our-services/roof-emergency-repairs/), or call [866-631-3366](tel:866-631-3366) to get a damaged roof covered.