You may have heard of emergency roof tarping if your roof was affected by unfortunate events like storms or fires. This is a preventative measure that contractors use to prevent roofs from developing further damage until they find a permanent solution.
Here, we can help you better understand what goes into tarping a roof, like how long it lasts and what you should consider before resorting to it.
If your roof has sustained any form of damage, make sure to book your free roof inspection today with Viking Contractors. Our experts will help you effectively assess the situation and will also suggest the best course of action.
What Is an Emergency Roof Tarp?
An emergency roof tarp is a synthetic cover for damaged areas to prevent further deterioration. It shields the interior of your home from roof leaks, ensuring that it’s not affected by outside conditions.
That said, this cover is more of a temporary solution, which means it doesn’t fix the affected parts or address the underlying issues.
When repairing roof damage caused by natural disasters, such as hurricanes, or extreme weather conditions, like storms and heavy rain, we resort to emergency roof tarp services in certain situations.
You’ll find that emergency roof tarps come in various sizes and materials. Since their primary purpose is to protect roofs, they’re made of remarkably durable materials with water-resistant properties, like polyethylene, polyester, and nylon.
What Happens If You Don’t Use a Roof Tarp?
If you ignore a damaged roof until a permanent solution is in place, the damage could quickly worsen, resulting in more roof repairs and, thus, higher expenses. Not to mention that in severe cases, there’s a possibility of the roof collapsing, which will put your and your loved ones’ safety at risk.
Who Should Tarp a Roof?
Find reliable local roofing contractors who provide emergency tarp service and delegate this task to them. This isn’t a job we recommend doing by yourself for various reasons.
The most important of which is that regular roof work is dangerous enough on its own, so imagine the risk involved when the surface is disrupted.
Roofing contractors are trained on how to approach compromised roofs and are outfitted with all the equipment necessary to safely complete the job. They also know exactly how to measure and fit roof tarps correctly so that they work as intended.
If you don’t have much experience in tarping a roof, you may not be able to secure it properly. When this happens, the tarp becomes ineffective, exposing the affected area to sustain more damage.
Overview of Roof Tarping Installation
We believe it’s essential for homeowners to have a general idea of how the work on their homes will be executed.
That’s because knowing the basics of the repairs your house will undergo gives you a better chance of evaluating a contractor’s efficiency. It also helps you prepare for the kind of work that’ll be done; for example, you might need to move your car out of the driveway or protect nearby plants.
When it comes to professional roof tarping, roofing contractors go through two vital stages:
Stage 1: Assessing the Situation
In the first stage, contractors conduct some assessments that determine how they’ll approach this particular case. Starting with identifying potential hazards to avoid and delicate parts on the roof, such as skylights. Then, they map out the embedded wiring and look for nearby power lines to keep electrical hazards at bay.
Next, they move on to examining the roof’s condition, or more precisely, its stability level. Can it support an individual’s weight, or is it too fragile?
If it turns out that it cannot withstand additional load, they use alternative methods to repair the roof without standing directly on it, setting up supporting structures, like scaffolding.
Following that, the deteriorated areas are measured to calculate the tarp size required to cover these parts.
Stage 2: Installing an Emergency Roof Tarp
The first step in tarping setup is clearing the roof of any obstructions. Contractors usually do so by thoroughly cleaning debris and removing broken roofing pieces. This ensures that the tarp is installed smoothly and doesn’t get damaged by rough or heavy items.
Then, they attach the tarps to anchor boards, stretch them over the affected areas, and nail them in place. As simple as it sounds, this step involves many intricate details, such as determining the suitable board size and using a nailing technique that won’t aggravate roof damage.
They also have to ensure that the tarp is tightly stretched out to limit the chance of wind getting under it and eventually detaching it.
How Long Does Emergency Roof Tarping Last?
Roof tarping is a short-term fix, which is why it has a limited lifespan. A standard emergency roof tarp lasts about three months, whereas thicker, high-quality versions can last up to three years.
These time frames are greatly influenced by weather severity. For example, constant exposure to heavy rain and snowfall causes the tarps to wear out faster.
You should also keep in mind that you need to have the tarp inspected regularly if you plan to leave it up for a long period. If you discover a few tears, this indicates that it’s about to fail, so you’ll need to have it removed as soon as possible.
Wrapping Up
When your roof is seriously impacted due to unforeseen circumstances, it’s always a good idea to seek emergency roof tarping services. That’s because roof tarping truly helps you cut your losses by protecting your house from suffering additional damage.
However, tarping only does its job when it’s installed properly. That’s why we recommend that you look into local roofing companies instead of tackling this project yourself.
Viking Contractors serves a wide range of Minnesota communities. If you happen to be living in the area, contact us today, and we’ll send one of our experts right to your door!
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