Yeah, those blue tarps are kind of a joke on flat roofs. I tried one after a hailstorm last year—ended up with more water pooling in the middle and it actually seeped through a weak spot. Heavy felt worked better for me too, at least until the roofer could get out. Tarps just don’t cut it for more than a day or two, especially if there’s any wind.
Tarps just don’t cut it for more than a day or two, especially if there’s any wind.
That’s been my experience too. I’ve had tenants call after storms, and every time we try to tarp a flat roof, it turns into a mess—wind gets under it, water pools, and suddenly you’ve got leaks in new spots. I’ve had better luck with those big rolls of roofing felt or even some heavy plastic sheeting, just to buy a little time. Tarps are really just a last resort for me now.
Yeah, tarps are basically the duct tape of roofing—good in a pinch, but you’re gonna regret it if you leave it too long. I tried to secure one on my uncle’s old shed last fall, and after the first windy night, half of it was flapping like a flag. Flat roofs are even worse... water just sits there and finds every possible way in. Heavy plastic sheeting with some weight on the edges has worked better for me, but honestly, nothing beats getting the real fix done ASAP.
“tarps are basically the duct tape of roofing—good in a pinch, but you’re gonna regret it if you leave it too long.”
Couldn’t agree more. I tried to stretch a tarp over my garage roof last winter when a branch punched through the shingles. Looked fine for about two days, then the wind picked up and it was like watching a sailboat take off. Ended up with water pooling underneath and a bigger mess inside. I get wanting to save money, but honestly, every time I’ve tried to cheap out with tarps or plastic, I’ve paid for it later. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and get it fixed right, even if it stings the wallet.
Yeah, tarps are a classic “it’ll do for now” move, but they’re not magic. I used one after a hailstorm took out some shingles—lasted maybe a week before it started leaking around the nails. If you have to tarp, here’s what worked for me: get it as tight as you can, use wood strips to anchor the edges, and check it after every storm. Still, it’s really just buying yourself time until you can patch or replace the damaged section. In my experience, the longer that tarp stays up, the more likely you’ll be dealing with mold or rot later.