How to Tarp Your Roof After Hail (Emergency DIY Guide)
Quick Answer: Tarp a hail-damaged Calgary roof only when interior water entry is active and you can do it safely from a ladder or with someone on the ground spotting. Use a heavy-duty 6 mil polyethylene tarp, 1x3 wood furring strips, screws, and a magnet for nail cleanup. Cover the damaged area plus 1 metre of overlap on all sides, secure with strips screwed into the roof deck along edges, and remove within 90 days. Professional emergency tarping ($300 to $800) is the safer option in almost every case and is typically reimbursable as part of the claim.
A tarp is temporary protection, not a repair. The goal is to stop active water entry until permanent work happens. DIY tarping is possible on simple, accessible roofs in safe conditions, but a steep roof, wet shingles, high winds, or working alone push the risk past where most homeowners should attempt it. This guide walks through the safe method, materials, and the decision between DIY and professional tarping.
At a Glance
When to tarp: Active interior water entry or imminent rain within 24 to 48 hours
Professional tarping cost: $300 to $800 (typically insurance-reimbursable)
Materials cost (DIY): $80 to $150
Tarp size: 6 mil polyethylene, sized for damaged area plus 1 metre overlap each side
Maximum tarp duration: 90 days; permanent repair before then
Safety prerequisite: Two people, ladder, dry conditions, low-pitch roof
Skip DIY if: Roof pitch over 6/12, wet conditions, steep two-storey, no ladder, or working alone
When Tarping Actually Matters
Three situations call for tarping:
Active interior water entry. Water visible inside the home, attic insulation wet, ceiling stains growing.
Imminent rain within 24 to 48 hours with known roof damage that's not yet repaired.
Exposed deck. Shingles missing in patches large enough to expose underlayment or deck to weather.
If none of these are present, tarping is unnecessary. A roof with minor hail damage but no active water entry and no rain in the immediate forecast can wait for permanent repair without temporary intervention.
When to Call a Professional Instead
Five conditions push the decision firmly toward professional tarping:
Steep pitch. Anything over 6/12 (about 27 degrees) is significantly more dangerous to walk on. Calgary residential roofs are commonly 7/12 to 9/12.
Two-storey home. Working at 6+ metres adds a real fall risk. Professional crews use harnesses and roof anchors.
Wet or icy conditions. Walking on wet shingles is roughly twice as slippery as dry. Frost or light snow makes it worse.
Active weather. Don't tarp in rain, wind, or lightning. The damage is already there; the tarp can wait until conditions clear.
Working alone. Ladder work and roof access need a ground spotter at minimum.
Reputable Calgary contractors install emergency tarps for $300 to $800 typically, and the cost is usually reimbursable as part of the insurance claim. The convenience plus the safety differential makes professional tarping the better choice in most situations.
Materials for DIY Tarping
If conditions allow DIY, gather:
Heavy-duty polyethylene tarp, 6 mil thickness minimum. Buy oversized: the tarp should cover the damaged area plus at least 1 metre of overlap on all sides. A 12x16 foot tarp covers most residential damage zones.
1x3 wood furring strips, enough for the perimeter of the tarp. Cut to 1 to 2 metre lengths for easier handling.
Decking screws, 2.5 inch or longer with a coarse thread. These go through the strips into the roof deck.
Cordless drill or impact driver.
Ladder rated for your roof height and your weight plus tools.
Work gloves and closed-toe boots with grip.
Magnet for nail and screw cleanup at the end.
Two people minimum, one on the roof and one as a ground spotter.
Total material cost runs $80 to $150 depending on tarp size and screw quantities.
Step-by-Step Tarping Method
The sequence:
1. Clear the work zone. Move vehicles, garden tools, and anything you don't want hit by falling debris or dropped tools.
2. Set up the ladder against a solid roof edge. Tie off or have your ground spotter steady it. Climb only when you have three points of contact (two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand) at all times.
3. Inspect the damage from the ladder before stepping onto the roof. If you can address the damage from the ladder (small section near an eave), do so without walking the roof. Walking should be a last resort.
4. Unfold the tarp on the ground first, so you understand the orientation before bringing it up.
5. Position the tarp to cover the damaged area plus at least 1 metre on all sides. The tarp should ideally extend up over the ridge of the roof, so water running down the upper slope doesn't run under the top edge.
6. Secure the top edge first. Lay a 1x3 strip along the top of the tarp and screw through both the strip and tarp into the roof deck. Screws every 30 to 40 cm.
7. Secure side edges next, then the bottom edge. The bottom edge can sometimes wrap around the eave for additional drainage protection.
8. Trim excess tarp if it's flapping in the wind. Excess catches gusts and lifts the tarp away from the roof.
9. Climb down, store tools, and do a magnet sweep of the lawn for any dropped nails or screws.
10. Photograph the tarp installation for your insurance claim documentation.
The result is a watertight temporary covering. It will need to come off when permanent repair happens, and the screw holes will need to be sealed during the repair scope.
Safety Rules That Matter Most
Three rules:
Never tarp in active weather. Rain, snow, wind, or lightning makes the roof too dangerous regardless of urgency. If the damage is bad enough to require emergency response in active weather, call a professional emergency contractor.
Never work alone. A ground spotter steadies the ladder, hands up materials, and can call for help if anything goes wrong.
Never overestimate your comfort with heights. If anxiety creeps in once you're on the ladder, climb back down and call a professional. Tarping a roof is not worth a fall.
A professional tarp install takes 1 to 2 hours and runs $300 to $800. A DIY install on a simple roof might take a homeowner 3 to 4 hours and cost $80 to $150 in materials. The price differential is rarely worth the safety differential.
How Long a Tarp Can Stay In Place
When you tarp your roof after hail, polyethylene tarps can degrade in UV light. The practical maximum is about 90 days; aim for permanent repair within 30 to 60 days.
Beyond 90 days:
Tarp material becomes brittle and tears easily
Wind damage to the tarp itself becomes likely
The screws and strips holding the tarp deteriorate the underlying deck
Insurance companies sometimes question coverage if temporary measures persist past reasonable timelines
The tarp is a stopgap. Permanent repair scheduling should begin as soon as the tarp is in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use blue tarps or a different colour?
Blue polyethylene tarps are common because they're widely available and inexpensive. Heavier-duty silver or brown tarps offer slightly longer UV resistance. Colour doesn't affect function; thickness (6 mil minimum) and quality of attachment matter more.
Can I tarp over wet shingles?
Yes, but the tarp can't fully seal water already absorbed into the deck. Tarping primarily stops new water entry; existing damp areas will continue to dry under the tarp.
Will tarping void my insurance coverage?
No. Emergency tarping is explicitly covered under most Alberta homeowners policies as reasonable mitigation. The cost is typically reimbursable. Document the tarp installation with photos and save material receipts if you DIY.
What if my roof is too complex to tarp myself?
Call a reputable Calgary contractor for emergency tarping. Most reputable contractors respond within 24 to 48 hours after a major storm. The cost is recoverable through your claim.
About Angel's Roofing: Angel's Roofing provides Calgary residential hail damage roof repair throughout Calgary and surrounding areas, specializing in fast emergency tarping with a full-time safety coordinator on every site for homeowners requiring trusted post-storm protection.
Ready to protect your Calgary home from further hail damage? Angel's Roofing helps Calgary homeowners with same-day emergency tarping, written damage assessments, and 25+ years of post-storm response experience.
Contact us today at 403-569-2643 to book your emergency hail response.
Disclaimer: Roofing involves safety risks; consult licensed professionals for work beyond ground-level visual checks. Costs and specifications provided are estimates based on typical Calgary market conditions and may vary based on specific project requirements and current material pricing.
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