Emergency Tarping
The temporary installation of tarps or similar materials over a damaged roof to prevent further water intrusion while permanent repairs are pending. A core mitigation activity typically covered under the insurance policy as part of the duty to mitigate.
Emergency tarping is the temporary installation of tarps or similar waterproof materials over a damaged roof to prevent further water intrusion. It is one of the most common mitigation activities in property insurance claims and is almost always covered under the duty to mitigate.
Why Tarping Matters
A roof hole is a doorway for rainwater. Every hour of exposure lets more water enter the structure, damaging ceilings, walls, insulation, and contents. Tarping closes the door. Professional tarping crews can be on site within hours of a loss, securing the roof until permanent repairs begin.
What Good Tarping Looks Like
Professional tarps are secured to the roof structure with fastening patterns designed to resist wind uplift. They extend well beyond the damaged area to overlap sound roofing, with laps and wind flaps engineered to shed water. Cheap or rushed tarping that simply drapes over the damage and weights it with bricks typically fails in the next wind event, causing repeat damage.
Tarping as a Bridge, Not a Solution
Tarps are temporary. They buy time for claim processing, permanent roof repair, and supplier lead times on replacement materials. They are not substitutes for permanent roofing. When claim processing drags on, the tarp may need to be replaced because its expected service life has passed. Extended tarp periods should be discussed openly with the carrier so expectations align with reality.
Frequently asked questions
Tarps are temporary. Most are engineered to last weeks to a few months, with performance degrading after that. Extended delays require tarp replacement or upgraded protection. Carriers and policyholders should not treat tarps as a long-term solution because they were never designed to be one.
Emergency tarping is covered under the insurance policy as part of the duty to mitigate. The cost is typically billed as a mitigation line item on the claim. Homeowners who tarp themselves should keep receipts; contractors who perform the work bill it on the claim alongside other mitigation services.
Typically per square foot of coverage, with premiums for steep pitches, two-story or greater heights, and difficult access. Xactimate includes specific line items for emergency tarping with labor, materials, and access factors built in. Very large or complex tarping situations may require custom pricing with documentation.
No credit card required