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...