Temporary Roof Repairs

First: Safety Before Anything Else

Before attempting any temporary roof repair yourself, assess the safety situation honestly:

• Never get on a wet or icy roof. Falls from roofs are a leading cause of DIY home repair injuries. If the surface is wet from rain or covered in snow or ice, wait until conditions improve or hire professional emergency service.
• Never work on a steep roof alone. Roofs steeper than 5:12 (5 inches of rise per 12 inches of run) require more than basic ladder safety. If you are not comfortable on the pitch, do not attempt it.
• Stay inside during active wind or lightning. Do not attempt roof access during the weather event causing the damage.
• Know when to call professionals. Emergency roof tarping services exist in most markets specifically for this situation. They are equipped and insured for this work.

Step 1: Stop Interior Damage First

While waiting for conditions to improve or a contractor to arrive, focus on protecting interior contents:

• Place buckets, towels, or plastic sheeting to catch water
• Move electronics, furniture, and valuables away from the leak area
• If water is accumulating on a ceiling (you can see it bulging), carefully puncture a small hole to direct the water into a bucket -- this prevents a catastrophic ceiling collapse under the weight
• In the attic, apply roofing cement to the underside of the deck at the entry point if you can safely access it -- this is a temporary measure but can reduce active flow

How to Properly Tarp a Roof

If conditions are safe and you choose to tarp yourself:

1. Get the right tarp. Use a heavy-duty polyethylene tarp, at least 6 mil thickness. The tarp should be large enough to extend at least 4 feet beyond the damaged area on all sides and over the ridge if possible.
2. Prepare 2x4 wood strips. Cut 2x4 lumber into lengths to match the tarp width. These will secure the tarp edges -- never nail through the tarp itself.
3. Position the tarp. Lay the tarp over the damaged area and over the ridge if at all possible. Water will wick under a tarp that ends on a slope without going over the peak.
4. Secure the edges. Fold the tarp edges over the 2x4 strips and nail the 2x4 strips into the roof decking through the folded tarp. This clamps the edge rather than puncturing the flat surface.
5. Weight the downslope edge. On slopes, the lower edge of the tarp needs additional weighting or clamping to prevent wind from lifting it.

What not to do: Do not use duct tape or standard caulk as a tarp substitute for anything but the most minor temporary fix. Do not nail through the middle of the tarp. Do not use a tarp that does not extend past the damage on all sides.

Emergency Patch Options for Contractors or Capable Homeowners

For small areas where tarping is impractical and you have roofing access, emergency patching materials include:

• Roofing cement (asphalt mastic): Available in tubes or cans. Applied over missing granule areas, around lifted shingles, or over small cracks. Not a permanent solution but can stop water entry for weeks or months.
• Self-adhesive flashing tape (peel-and-stick): Ice-and-water shield or aluminum flashing tape can temporarily cover small holes or damaged areas. Better than roofing cement for areas with active water flow.
• Rubber repair patches: For flat EPDM roofs, peel-and-stick EPDM patches provide reasonably durable temporary repairs.

Protecting Your Insurance Claim

If your damage is likely covered by insurance, these steps protect your claim:

• Photograph the damage extensively before any temporary repairs -- date-stamped photos are essential documentation
• Document the temporary repairs you made and when you made them
• Do not make permanent repairs until an adjuster has assessed the damage
• Temporary repairs are required by most policies to prevent further damage -- do not skip them
• Save receipts for any materials purchased for temporary protection

Full guide: How to File an Insurance Claim for Roof Damage

When to Skip DIY and Call Emergency Service

Call a professional emergency service rather than attempting DIY tarping when:

• The roof is steep (over 6:12 pitch)
• Conditions are wet, icy, or windy
• The damage area is large or in a hard-to-access location
• You are not comfortable working at height
• The structural integrity of the roof area is in question

Emergency tarping services exist in most markets specifically for post-storm work. Most roofing contractors provide emergency service. The cost ($300-$1,000 for tarping) is almost always worth avoiding the additional interior damage from delayed protection.