QUICK FIX FOR ROOF LEAKS: DOES A TARP REALLY HOLD UP?

It did slow the leak for maybe two days, but I still ended up with water in the attic.

That lines up with what happened at my place. I tried doubling up tarps and using furring strips across the rafters after a hailstorm punched holes in the shingles. It held for about 48 hours, then the wind shifted and water started seeping in again. I don’t think there’s a foolproof DIY way to get them tight enough - maybe if you’ve got a low slope roof and zero wind, but that’s rare where I live. At this point, I just budget for a pro patch as soon as possible. Tarps are a last resort for me now.

I hear you on the wind issue - tarps just don’t stand a chance once the gusts pick up. I’ve tried the “triple tarp and 2x4 sandwich” method after a nasty spring storm, and it bought me maybe a day before water found its way in. My roof’s got a pretty steep pitch, so getting anything to stay put is a challenge. I’ve seen folks use those blue tarps with sandbags, but honestly, unless you’re dealing with a flat roof or dead calm weather, it’s more of a temporary band-aid than a fix.

One thing that helped a bit was running the tarp over the ridge and anchoring it on both sides, but even then, the wind eventually worked it loose. I guess if you’re in a pinch, it’s better than nothing, but I wouldn’t trust it for more than a couple days. At this point, I just keep a roll of plastic sheeting and a bucket handy for the attic - less hassle than wrestling with tarps on a ladder in the rain.

I get the frustration, but I’ve actually had a bit more luck with tarps than most folks seem to. My place has a lower pitch (asphalt shingles), and after a hailstorm last year, I managed to keep things dry for almost two weeks with a heavy-duty tarp and some furring strips screwed down along the edges. Was it perfect? Not even close - there was still some seepage around the nail holes, but it definitely bought me time until the roofer could show up.

I do think a lot depends on what kind of tarp you use. Those cheap blue ones are basically disposable in my experience. The thicker, silver-backed ones from the farm supply store seem to hold up better, especially if you double them up. Still, wind is always going to be an issue. I wouldn’t trust any tarp setup long-term, but for short stretches - especially if you can get creative with how you anchor it - it’s not totally hopeless.

Plastic sheeting inside is handy for sure, but I’d rather keep the water out in the first place if I can help it... even if it means another sketchy trip up the ladder.

- Tarps are a mixed bag for me - yeah, they’ll get you through a bad week, but I’ve seen more than a few turn into kites if the wind picks up.
- Agree on those blue tarps... they’re basically tissue paper if you get any real weather.
- I’m always nervous about screwing or nailing anything down though - seems like you’re just making new holes to leak later. Had to patch those after the fact myself.
- If it’s just a couple days till the roofer comes, fine. Any longer and I start eyeing my neighbor’s metal roof with envy...

I get the hesitation about putting more holes in the roof - feels like you’re just trading one problem for another. I’ve used tarps a couple times after storms, and honestly, if you’re dealing with more than a few days of rain or wind, those blue ones are pretty much toast. I did have better luck doubling up with a heavy-duty tarp and using sandbags instead of nails, but it’s still a gamble. Short-term, sure, but I wouldn’t trust it for long. Metal roofs do look better every year, don’t they...