What does a roof tarp actually do, and what does it not do?
A tarp sheds rain off an opening so water stays out of the attic and ceiling while a permanent repair waits. It does not fix the damage, it does not last indefinitely, and it does not replace a roofer's inspection of what is underneath the damaged area.
Sheeting can be torn by wind, chewed at by flapping edges and degraded by weather, so a tarp is a stopgap measured in days or weeks, not years. Ask the roofer how long they expect it to hold up in the weather you have, and what to watch for.
If water is still getting in under a tarp, tell the roofer. It usually means an edge has lifted or a hole was missed.
What should I do before the roofer arrives?
Move people and valuables away from wet or sagging areas, put buckets under drips, and keep clear of fallen trees and downed lines. Photograph the damage from the ground. Do not go on the roof or try to cover it yourself. Call, then wait for the roofer to say when they can come.
If a tree is on the house, the first question is whether a tree service has to come before a roofer can reach the roof. Tell the person who answers the call so the roofer can plan around it.
If a power line is down or touching the tree or the roof, call the utility and stay well back. No tarp is worth being near a live wire.
Who pays for emergency tarping, and does insurance cover it?
You pay the contractor unless your insurer agrees to cover it, and the insurer decides, not this call line and not the roofer. Many people photograph the damage, keep the roofer's written description and ask the insurer before work starts. No claim outcome can be promised.
Policies differ in what they cover and in what they require, so read yours or ask your insurer what it wants documented. Keep receipts and the roofer's written scope.
Be wary of anyone who promises that insurance will pay for everything. Nobody reached through this site can promise that.
How long can a tarp stay on?
A tarp is meant to be temporary, so plan the permanent repair as soon as materials, weather and a roofer's calendar allow. No time limit is promised here, and the roofer can tell you how long the cover is likely to hold in the weather you have.
Winter weather is hard on tarps. The area's snowy period runs about November 29 to March 16 on average, and freeze-thaw cycles and wind both work on fastenings and edges. Check the cover after each storm, and again after any stretch of ice or heavy wind.
What happens after the tarp goes on?
The permanent repair gets planned: the roofer opens up the damaged area, replaces broken deck and shingles, restores flashing and removes the cover. Scheduling depends on materials, weather and the roofer's calendar. Any permit that applies is something to ask about before the work is signed for.
The tarp buys time but also hides the damage, so the roofer will want to look under it before pricing the permanent work. Expect that visit to include a closer look at the deck and the attic, since a limb or a tree that hit hard can crack rafters as well as shingles.
Re-roofing needs a building permit in Winston-Salem, while patching a few shingles typically does not, and structural changes can need engineered plans. Where the damage is large enough to turn the repair into a replacement, see the roof replacement page for how the permit step works. Houses in West End, Old Salem and other historic districts add a Certificate of Appropriateness for roof replacement.
