How to Briefly Tarp a Roof

Put on your protective gear so that your eyes and hands are protected from sharp edges and flying debris. Brace the ladder securely, making sure it can’t shift while you are on it or when you are on the roof.

Cover the damaged area with the tarp. In most cases a single tarp will be more than you need and you will have to trim it. If the area is bigger than one tarp can cover, use two and overlap them by six inches or more to minimize leaks, but treat them as a single tarp when you nail them down.

Roll the tarp around a 2-inch-by-4-inch board that is about 4 feet longer than the tarp, and leave approximately 2 feet of board sticking out of each side of the tarp.

Place this board over the center ridge on the opposite side of the house from where the damage is. The board should be against the roof and the tarp should come over the top of it, so that leaves and other debris don’t collect there. Nail the board securely in place, using nails about every foot along its entire length.

Wrap another 2-inch-by-4-inch board in the tarp at least a foot or two below the damaged part of the roof. Allow approximately 2 feet of board to stick out on either side of the tarp. The board should be against the roof with the tarp coming up over it so that debris doesn’t get trapped. Nail it in place with nails placed about every foot for the entire length of the board. This will make a temporary fix until the roof can be properly repaired.