Emergency Roof Tarping by Type of Damage
The tarp itself is cheap: HomeGuide lists a 10-by-20-foot tarp at $15 to $25. What you pay for is the climb, the cleanup and fastening it so it stays put. These are the situations that bring most tarp calls.
Tarping After Wind Damage
The tarp has to cover the torn area with room to spare, and it should run up and over the ridge so rain lands on the tarp instead of running under its top edge. HomeGuide's figures by covered area:
- 100 sq ft: $70 to $200
- 500 sq ft: $350 to $1,000
- 1,000 sq ft: $700 to $2,000
Tree on the Roof: Removal Comes First
Nobody can tarp under a trunk. The tree comes off first, and HomeGuide puts an average tree removal at $400 to $1,200. A limb that has cracked a rafter or truss turns a tarp job into a structural repair, which needs a permit in Leon County. After Hurricane Isaias in October 2026, the Attorney General called texts offering "insurance-coordinated" tree service a scam, according to a news report. Hire the tree crew and the roofer yourself, and check both.
Tarps on Tile vs. Shingle Roofs
HomeGuide notes that tarping tile costs more than tarping shingles, because installers can't nail through the tile. The tarp has to be weighted or fastened at its edges instead. Low-slope sections over porches and additions are tricky too. Standing water has to be cleared and small holes sealed, then the tarp is wrapped over the eave and fastened to the fascia.
How a Tarp Is Secured and How Long It Lasts
Expect anchors such as lumber and screws along the tarp edges, or sandbags where nailing would do more damage. Thickness decides how long the tarp lasts (HomeGuide):
- Standard 5- to 6-mil tarp: up to about 3 months. A typical temporary tarp lasts 60 to 90 days.
- Heavy-duty 10-mil tarp: up to 2 years when installed for the long term.
Walk around the house after every storm while the tarp is on, and have a loose corner refastened before wind gets under it.
Why Tallahassee homeowners call Tallahassee Expert Roofing
- Your request reaches one roofer, never a call list
- Homeowners pay nothing to use this line
- Ask for the shingle wind class and Product Approval number in writing
- The roofer's estimate is free and you're not obliged to hire
Photos, Permits and Claims After the Tarp Goes On
What you do in the first few days shapes the claim and the repair.
Photos before the tarp
Shoot every damaged slope, the attic and any ceiling stains before anything is covered. Claim deadlines and the storm-contract rules are on the storm damage roof repair page.No permit for the tarp itself
Leon County's post-storm guide exempts temporary tarping, debris removal and minor nonstructural roof repairs of 100 square feet or less. A replacement, a repair over 100 square feet or any work on rafters or trusses needs a permit. The County expedites storm permits, and after a Governor-declared emergency the County Commission can reduce or waive the fees. Inside city limits, the City's roofing-permit line is also 100 square feet; its FAQ doesn't mention tarps.Keep the invoice
Whether the tarp bill is covered is up to your policy and your insurer. Ask for a dated, itemized invoice that lists the covered area.Operation Blue Roof
After some declared disasters, FEMA tasks the Army Corps of Engineers with free temporary roofs made of fiber-reinforced sheeting. The program opens county by county for a single storm. It covers primary homes and permanently occupied rentals with less than 50% structural damage, and the roof must be shingle or a similar nailable material; flat, clay, slate and asbestos-tile roofs don't qualify. You sign a Right of Entry form at blueroof.gov or 888-ROOF-BLU, and the homeowner must have any tree removed first. Leon County wasn't on the October 2024 Milton list, so check whether a given storm's mission includes it.Then the permanent fix
A tarp over a small, clean tear usually leads to a roof repair. Widespread damage on an older roof leads to a roof replacement.