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Emergency Roof Tarping in Indianapolis, IN

A temporary cover over an open or damaged roof so the next thaw or rain stays out, with the permanent repair planned afterwards.

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  • Ice dams and freeze-thaw
  • Marion County and suburbs
  • Roof repair and replacement

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Emergency Tarp

Emergency Roof Tarping: what it covers

Quick answer

Emergency roof tarping covers an open section of roof with a tarp or a temporary seal until a permanent repair can be made. In Indianapolis the need often follows a winter ice event, a wind storm or a limb that has come through the covering. The line is answered around the clock, and the crew is sent as soon as one is free.

Emergency Roof Tarping illustration for Indianapolis, IN

An open roof is an urgent problem in Indianapolis, and it is often more urgent in winter than in summer. A thaw can bring a great deal of water in a day, and a section of roof that is open to the snow can take on weight as well as water. The first job is to get a cover on the opening.

Indianapolis Roofing connects Indianapolis callers with a local technician who can respond to an open roof, make it watertight for the time being and set out the permanent repair. The cover is a temporary step, and the report says what it does and how long it is expected to hold.

Call (833) 751-2102 at any hour. The crew is sent as soon as one is free, and no arrival time is promised over the phone, because storm roads and icy streets can change the schedule.

Service area
Indianapolis & Marion County
Availability
Phones answered 24/7, emergencies first

What does an emergency tarp do, and what does it not do?

A tarp keeps rain and melt off an open section of roof and gives the damaged area time to dry. It is a temporary cover, not a repair, and it only works as well as the way it is fixed.

The tarp is laid over the damage, extended beyond the edges and fixed with battens and weights. It sheds water away from the opening and keeps it from reaching the decking and the rooms below. A tarp that is fixed badly can lift in wind and do more harm than no tarp at all.

A tarp does not stop the damage from getting worse over time. Wet decking can rot, and wet insulation can lose its value. The tarp is the first step, and the permanent repair follows once the house is dry.

Is it safe to put a tarp on the roof after a storm or in winter?

Usually not for a homeowner. Snow, ice and loose shingles make the roof slippery, and the decking can be soft. A trained crew checks the access and fixes the cover from a safe point.

The safest course is to stay off the roof and call a crew. Where the damage is above the reach of a ladder, the crew uses the proper equipment and fixes the cover from a secure point. A homeowner who is tempted to climb should not.

Ice and debris are the hazards most likely to catch a person. Ice can make a roof edge fall away, and a limb or sheet metal on the roof can move when stepped near. The crew knows how to handle both.

What should the homeowner do before the crew arrives?

Protect the interior, turn off the power to any wet area at the panel if it is safe, move valuables and place a tray under each drip. Do not touch a wet fitting, and do not stand on a wet floor under a ceiling leak.

A tray or a bucket under the lowest drip catches most of the water. Furniture and rugs should be moved out of the way, and electronics should be unplugged if they are in the path of a leak. A towel or a sheet of plastic over a bed or a sofa keeps the worst of the water off.

Note the time the damage was first seen and photograph it from inside, and from the yard if it is safe to do so. The note helps the crew and the insurer later, and it is part of the record.

How long can a tarp stay on a roof?

A tarp is a temporary measure that should be replaced by a permanent repair as soon as the schedule allows. The technician states how long the cover is expected to hold and when it should be checked.

Tarps are weathered by sun, wind and freezing, and their fixings loosen over time. A tarp left on through several weeks without a check can tear or lift, so the note sets a date for the next look.

The permanent repair is planned from the inspection, and the tarp is removed when the repair is made. Until then the tarp is the homeowner's protection, and the technician will check it when asked.

Does an emergency tarp count toward an insurance claim?

Reasonable protection after a loss is usually expected under a homeowners policy. The insurer decides what is covered, and the homeowner should keep the receipt for the tarp and photographs of the damage.

Most policies expect the homeowner to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage after a loss, and a tarp is one of the most common steps. The policy sets the terms, and this page does not say what it will cover.

The technician's note records the date, the damage found, the cover fitted and the state of the interior. That note and the photographs are the record the homeowner can send to the insurer, along with the receipt.

Warning signs

Signs you need emergency roof tarping

Do not climb onto a damaged or icy roof, and do not try to tarp an opening yourself if the roof is wet, steep or has soft decking. Keep people and pets clear of the area under the damage. If water is near a light fitting or an outlet, turn off the circuit at the panel before touching anything, and call for help if you are not sure which circuit it is on.

  • A missing section of shingles with the decking showing through
  • A ridge torn or displaced along a length of the roof
  • A ceiling leak that gets worse with each hour of thaw or rain
  • A limb or branch on the roof, or a dent in the covering below one
  • Water dripping through a light fitting after a warm day
  • Flashing lifted at a chimney or a wall with the gap open to the weather
  • Daylight visible through the roof from the attic after a storm
Our process

How our emergency roof tarping visit works

  1. Assess the risk and the access

    The technician asks where the opening is, whether water is coming in, whether the roof is safe to reach and whether any electrical risk is present. Ice and snow on the roof change the answer, so the crew checks the access before anyone climbs.

  2. Protect the rooms below

    Furniture and electronics are moved, buckets and trays are set under the drips, and power to any wet area is turned off at the panel where the water is near a fitting.

  3. Secure the cover

    The tarp is laid over the opening and fixed with battens and weights so the wind cannot lift it. Where the roof is too unsafe to walk, the cover is secured from a safe point, and the crew says so.

  4. Check the attic and the ceiling

    The attic is checked for wet insulation and dripping, and the decking is checked for soft spots near the opening. Wet materials are removed where they can be safely reached.

  5. Write the note and plan the repair

    A written note records what the cover protects, the date it was fitted and the permanent repair that is recommended. The note sets a date for the next check, because a tarp needs one.

Options

Types and options for emergency roof tarping

Ice-related opening

A section of the roof opened by ice or a thaw, often at an eave or a valley. The cover is fixed with extra care, and the thaw's water is checked in the attic after each warm spell.

Wind-stripped section

Shingles or a ridge stripped by a gust, leaving the decking open. The cover is shaped to the line of the roof, and the joint is sealed where the materials allow.

Limb through the covering

A limb that has come through the roof and left an opening. The limb is removed by a crew with the right equipment, and the cover goes on once the area is safe.

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Marion County

Why emergency roof tarping is different in Central Indiana

The January 2005 ice storm knocked out power to as many as 150,000 homes in Indiana, and an open roof in an ice event can be left without heat as well as without a cover. A tarp call in winter is often the first call of a longer outage, and the line is answered around the clock.

The 10 August 2020 derecho brought widespread wind damage across central Indiana, with trees and power lines down. Crews sent to open roofs after that storm worked around fallen limbs and downed lines, and the crew makes the same check on every call.

Crews work across the metro, from the central city to Greenwood, Fishers, Carmel and Avon. The response is the same everywhere: make the roof watertight, protect the interior and record the damage for the repair and any claim.

Related

Ice Dam Roof Repair

Clearing the eaves, finding where ice-dam water got in, and repairing the roof and attic so the next thaw does not repeat it.

Wind Damage Roof Repair

Re-sealing lifted shingles, replacing missing ridge caps and securing the flashing that straight-line gusts pull loose.

Derecho and Fallen-Tree Roof Repair

Making an open roof safe after a derecho or a fallen tree, clearing limbs with the right equipment, and recording the damage for the insurer.

Freeze-Thaw Leak Repair

Tracing winter leaks that appear at the first thaw, and repairing the joints and shingles that freezing water opened.

Where we work

Emergency Roof Tarping across Marion County

Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.

Guides

Read before you book

FAQ

Emergency Roof Tarping FAQs

How quickly can a crew come?

The line is answered around the clock, and a crew is sent as soon as one is free. No arrival time is promised over the phone, because storm roads and ice can change it quickly.

Is a tarp a permanent fix?

No. It is a temporary cover that keeps water out while the permanent repair is planned. The technician states how long it is expected to hold and when it should be checked.

Can I tarp the roof myself?

It is not safe for most homeowners to climb a roof after a storm or in winter. Stay off the roof, protect the interior and call a crew.

Will the insurer pay for an emergency tarp?

The insurer decides under the policy. Keep the receipt and the photographs. Reasonable steps to prevent further damage are commonly expected after a loss.

What if the ceiling is dry but the roof is open?

The roof still needs a cover, because the next thaw or rain can reach the decking and the attic. The technician checks the attic even when the ceiling looks dry.

Do you take the tarp off when the repair is done?

Yes. The tarp is removed when the permanent repair is complete, and the note records the date. Ask the technician to confirm it is gone before the crew leaves.

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