When your roof starts leaking after a storm, your first instinct may be to throw a tarp over the damaged area. While tarps have their place as a very short-term emergency solution, they should never be considered a repair. In fact, leaving a tarp on a shingle roof for days, weeks, or even months can actually create additional problems that cost far more to fix.
At The Roof Repair Guys, we’ve seen countless homeowners throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania discover that a temporary tarp turned into a much bigger roofing issue. Understanding the risks can help you protect both your home and your wallet.
Tarps Can Trap Moisture
A tarp may keep some rain out, but it can also trap moisture underneath it. If water becomes trapped between the tarp and your shingles, it creates the perfect environment for mold, mildew, and wood rot. Once your roof decking begins to deteriorate, repairs become much more extensive.
Wind Can Cause More Damage
NEPA weather is unpredictable. Strong winds can cause a loose tarp to flap against your shingles day and night. This constant movement can scrape away protective granules, loosen shingles, and even pull nails free. What started as a small repair can quickly become a much larger one.
Tarps Hide the Real Problem
One of the biggest dangers of using a tarp is that it covers the damaged area, making it difficult to monitor the condition of your roof. Small leaks often continue underneath the tarp without the homeowner realizing it. By the time the tarp is removed, water may have spread into the attic, insulation, ceilings, and walls.
Improper Installation Can Create New Leaks
Many homeowners secure tarps by driving nails or screws directly through the shingles. Unfortunately, every new fastener creates another hole in the roofing system. Even if the original leak was minor, improperly attaching a tarp can introduce multiple new leak points.
Insurance May Expect Permanent Repairs
Insurance companies generally understand that emergency tarps are sometimes necessary after severe storms. However, they also expect homeowners to arrange permanent repairs within a reasonable timeframe. Leaving a tarp in place for months may complicate certain insurance claims if additional damage occurs because repairs were delayed.
Professional Emergency Protection Is Different
When emergency weather protection is necessary, professional roofers use proper techniques designed to minimize additional damage until repairs can be completed. More importantly, they inspect the entire roofing system to identify hidden issues that a tarp alone cannot solve.
Protect Your Home the Right Way
If your roof has been damaged by wind, hail, falling branches, or heavy rain, don’t rely on a tarp as a long-term solution. The sooner the damage is professionally inspected, the better your chances of avoiding costly structural repairs.
At The Roof Repair Guys, we provide honest roof inspections, expert shingle roof repairs, and complete roof replacement services throughout Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Hazleton, Bloomsburg, and surrounding Northeastern Pennsylvania communities. We’ll identify the source of the leak, recommend the most cost-effective solution, and restore your roof properly.
Call The Roof Repair Guys today at (570) 332-1223 or email office@theroofrepairguys.com to schedule your professional roof inspection before a temporary fix becomes a permanent problem.