Tarping storm-damaged roofs

southsoundtree

southsoundtree

Been here much more than a while
Location
Olympia, WA
What have you found to be the best way to tarp damaged areas?

I was thinking that if strips of wood are nailed down to hold the tarp, there is the problem of residual holes. I think that the roofer would be able to plug the holes with some tar type patch, and this would be most effective for holding the tarp in place.

I try to get the tarp over the ridge to avoid the water running under the top.




Its storm season!
 
That add'l damage to the roof is my concern.

We tarped the roof and tied off to rounds on the ground. The ropes abraded and broke, and the tarp came loose. Once it was catching a lot of wind, that end of the tarping job was near. It was tied to about 10 places. The homeowners nailed it down. Hope the roofer patched the holes.
 
Why should we be doing the tarping in the first place?
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Because if we do, then aren't we liable for any additional water damage, if our tarp job is poorly done? (Or, even if it is done well).

Tarping a storm damaged roof sounds like a great idea for customer service. That's it.

I would be inclined to refer a roofer to do the tarping...
 
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Why should we be doing the tarping in the first place?
thinking.gif


Because if we do, then aren't we liable for any additional water damage, if our tarp job is poorly done? (Or, even if it is done well).

Tarping a storm damaged roof sounds like a great idea for customer service. That's it.

I would be inclined to refer a roofer to do the tarping...

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Customer service and to win a bid.

If one company will bid the job for 20% more, but save the homeowners tons of additional damage overall, they may not blink an eye at the higher bid. During a big storm, the roofers will be as occupied as the tree services. If it is just a tree that goes over, not during a huge storm, then I agree that it would be better to coordinate with the roofer that the homeowner will use to get them to tarp it as soon as the roof is clear of tree debris. Roofs are never as steep from the ground as they seem.
 
I talked with a decent roofer once about tarping. He said that using 1x2 and a few nails to seal down the tarp is a good idea. You don't want to have the wind come under the edge and tear it off. IN a pinch you could use lath too with some roofing nails or the nails with plastic heads.

He said that there is little worry about the resulting holes in typical asphalt roofing. A day or so in the hot sun will melt the holes shut. If you're concerned keep a caulking gun of roofing tar handy when you pull the nailing strips.

Talk with your insurance agent about the possible liabilities that you could be taking on by doing the tarping.
 
[ QUOTE ]
What have you found to be the best way to tarp damaged areas?

I was thinking that if strips of wood are nailed down to hold the tarp, there is the problem of residual holes. I think that the roofer would be able to plug the holes with some tar type patch, and this would be most effective for holding the tarp in place.

I try to get the tarp over the ridge to avoid the water running under the top.




Its storm season!

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at the up side of the tarp:

carefully lift up the shingles a little, put the tarp edge under them and nail using certain nail that has a big 1" tin square under it's head (i found them at home depot or somewhere like that).

down the sides, you can still lift a shingle corner now and then and nail the tarp the same.

i forget what i do on the bottom edge of the tarp... tie it to gutter...

but anyway, putting under the shingles like i said, the shingle will keep any water from running down around the nail.

I've done this several times, but it's been 3 or 4 yrs since i've had to.

good customer service, that's why. I came out in the dark while it was still raining hard one night. Big section of beech fell on house roof and busted through roof. i cut away some limbs on the roof, and tarped like i said. it rained the rest of the night, they would have had LOTS more water damage if I hadn't tarped it. what roofer is going to answer their phone at night?
 
A lot of times doing a little extra thing like some tarping is a good way to get more work from the insurance company. A lot of our storm work is referals from insurance companies that we have worked with in the past. They like our work and know that we are careful with the properties that they are insuring and paying to have put back together. If we can stop water damage from being another thing that they are paying for, they are going to be pretty happy with our work and will be more likely to send more work our way.

I will gladly tarp a comp roof of a reasonable pitch, but I'll pass on those aluminum shingled roofs or slimy wood shake roofs. Those are deadly!
 
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