Certified Building Contractor CBC1265305 · Certified Roofing Contractor CCC1334811
Is it okay for a roofer to fasten a tarp through the middle of the roof?
A straight answer from a Florida state-certified contractor — then what you can check yourself and when to call. Free estimate: (954) 620-7812.
Generally, no. A tarp is better anchored with wood battens along its edges and run over the ridge where the roof allows, because every fastener driven through the middle of the roof makes a new hole in the roofing underneath. Those holes can let water in under the tarp, which defeats the purpose of covering the roof.
A tarp or shrink wrap is a temporary cover, not a repair. It only holds the weather off until the permanent repair is done, so how it is attached should not create new damage for that repair to fix.
Why a tarp fastened through the middle causes trouble
Shingles, tile, underlayment and flashing shed water because they overlap and stay sealed. A fastener pushed through a tarp and into the roof breaks that system. Wind-driven rain can follow the hole down into decking, insulation and ceilings, and once the roof is already open from storm damage, wet framing and drywall that stay wet can lead to rot and mold.
A tarp that stops short of the ridge has a similar weakness. Water can run in under the top edge and get beneath the cover. Sun, heat and wind also wear a cover down the longer it stays up, so a poorly attached tarp tends to loosen over time.
Shrink wrap works differently. The polyethylene film is heat-shrunk tight to the roof, leaving fewer loose edges for wind to lift. It is designed to last up to about a year (a typical lifespan, not a promise), longer than a standard blue tarp. It is still temporary, and the permanent repair is still needed.
What you can check yourself (from the ground and inside)
Look from the ground
From the yard or street, see whether the cover is flapping, sagging, or pulled loose, and whether it reaches the ridge. Do not climb onto the roof to check.
Check ceilings and walls inside
New stains, drips, bubbling paint or a damp smell can mean water is getting in somewhere under the cover. Note where and when you see it.
Photograph everything
Take photos of the damage and of the cover, and save any receipts and notes. Records help with your own files and with a claim.
Talk to your insurer or agent
Let them know about the storm damage and ask what they need from you. We cannot say what a claim will or will not include.
Ask the installer how it is attached
Ask whether the cover is anchored at the edges and over the ridge, and whether any fasteners go through the middle of the roof.
When to call a pro
Call a roofer if a cover is loose, stops short of the ridge, was fastened through the middle of the roof, or if water is showing up inside. The roofing under the cover will also need a look, because holes from fasteners and storm damage to decking or framing are easier to find and fix once the roof is opened up properly.
The permanent repair or new roof, and any structural repair, typically needs a permit from your city or county building department. The usual path is permit application, work, in-progress inspections where required, a final inspection, and the permit closed out. Open or unpermitted work can surface at sale, refinance or insurance renewal and may be cited by code enforcement. Whether a temporary cover needs anything from the building department is up to that department, so confirm with them. Permanent roofing products must also meet the local rules: a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (Miami-Dade and Broward), Florida Product Approval elsewhere in Florida.
We do the permanent work under our Florida Certified Roofing Contractor CCC1334811 and Certified Building Contractor CBC1265305, both verifiable on the Florida DBPR website. Call (954) 620-7812 or use the quote form for a free estimate.
What we do
- Cover the roofA blue tarp is fastened with wood battens along the edges and run over the ridge where the roof allows. Shrink wrap is another option, with fewer loose edges for wind to lift.
- Photograph before and afterWe take photos of the damage before and after the cover goes on, for your records and your insurance claim.
- Write up the scopeYou get a written scope of everything the storm damaged, including roof covering, decking, framing, fascia, ceilings and walls, before the repair work starts.
- Repair and rebuildWe handle the structural and interior repair under our building certification and the new roof under our roofing certification.
- Permit, inspect and close outWhen the work needs a permit, we pull it under our own certifications, schedule the inspections and close the permit out at the end.
Related questions
- Is a blue tarp a roof repair?
- No. A tarp is a temporary cover that keeps weather out until the permanent repair is done. Sun, heat and wind wear it down the longer it stays up.
- How long does shrink wrap stay on a roof?
- Shrink wrap is designed to last up to about a year, which is a typical lifespan and not a promise. That is longer than a standard blue tarp, but it is still temporary.
- Does a temporary roof cover need a permit?
- That is up to your city or county building department, so confirm with them. The permanent roof repair or re-roof and structural repairs typically do need a permit.
- What should I do if my tarp was fastened through the middle of the roof?
- Photograph it from the ground, watch for stains inside, and have a roofer look at it. The fastener holes can be addressed as part of the permanent repair.
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