I get the appeal of those membranes, but yeah, the price tag made me wince too. I tried tarps for a while when my old roof started leaking last fall—total pain. Every time the wind picked up, I was out there with more bricks and bungee cords, hoping nothing would end up in the neighbor’s yard. The 2x4 batten trick worked better for me too, though I had to be careful not to drive screws through anything important. Not the prettiest fix, but it kept things dry until I could actually afford a proper repair.
Honestly, I almost went the payday loan route just to get the roof done, but patching with battens and saving up a few months was way less stressful in the end. If you’re in a spot where you need a stopgap, I’d take ugly and secure over fancy and broke any day.
I get wanting to avoid a payday loan—those things can spiral fast—but I’d be careful about relying on battens and tarps for too long, especially if you’re in a wet climate. I’ve seen folks patch things up for months, thinking they’re saving money, but then end up with mold in the attic or rotted decking because water still found its way in. Sometimes the “ugly but secure” fix isn’t as secure as it looks.
If you’re going the temporary route, I’d suggest checking under those battens every couple weeks. Look for any signs of dampness or soft spots. And don’t forget about ventilation—trapping moisture under a tarp can cause its own set of headaches.
One thing I’ve seen work better than tarps is using synthetic underlayment (like the stuff roofers use before shingles). It’s not cheap, but it’s tougher than plastic sheeting and less likely to tear in the wind. If you can swing it, it might buy you more time without risking bigger repairs down the line.
Just my two cents—sometimes spending a little more upfront saves a lot of hassle later.
Sometimes the “ugly but secure” fix isn’t as secure as it looks.
Yeah, learned that one the hard way. I slapped a tarp over my shed roof last fall thinking it’d hold till spring—fast forward two months and I had mushrooms growing in the rafters. Not exactly the rustic vibe I was going for. I get wanting to save cash, but man, water finds every little gap. If you’re patching, definitely check under there after every big rain. Synthetic underlayment sounds smarter than my blue tarp special... wish I’d known about it sooner.
water finds every little gap
Ain’t that the truth. But I’ll say, sometimes a tarp is all you’ve got and it’s better than nothing short-term. I’ve seen folks do more damage tearing into things mid-winter trying to “fix” it fast. Sometimes waiting for the right weather and materials is the lesser evil, even if it means a few mushrooms.
Yeah, I get that—sometimes you just have to slap a tarp on and ride it out. Ripping into a roof in freezing temps can make things worse, especially if you don’t have the right stuff handy. Waiting’s tough, but sometimes it really is the smarter move.