Emergency Roof Tarping in Eden Prairie, MN
Covering damaged or opened roofing to stop water entry until permanent repair.
A tarp is the fastest way to stop a roof putting water into a building, and the job is entirely about the edges. A cover that is not properly anchored and sealed at its perimeter will channel water underneath itself, which is worse than no cover at all.
What this service covers
- Covering storm, fire, or impact damage to roofing
- Anchoring so the cover holds against wind loading
- Sealing edges so water runs off rather than under
- Assessment of whether the roof can be safely accessed
- Covering of openings made by the fire service
- Interior protection where water has already entered
Signs to watch for
- Water staining spreading across a ceiling
- Daylight visible in the attic
- Missing shingles or exposed decking after wind
- Damp or compressed attic insulation
- Dripping or active water entry during rain
- Debris or tree impact visible on the roof
Common causes
- High wind removing shingles or roofing material
- Hail damage compromising the roof surface
- Tree and limb impact
- Fire damage and fire service ventilation openings
- Ice damming and winter roof failures
- Structural failure of ageing roofing
What to do first
- Do not go onto the roof yourself, particularly if it is wet, iced, or damaged.
- Move contents out from under the leak and put down containers if it is safe.
- Photograph the interior water damage as well as the roof.
- Turn off electricity to any area where water is entering near fittings.
- Note whether rain is forecast, and say so when you call.
Before anyone arrives: do not go near an opening if the structure above it looks compromised, and never climb onto a damaged roof. A vehicle impact or fire can leave a wall standing that is no longer carrying load.
Sometimes the honest answer is that the roof cannot be accessed
There are conditions in which putting someone on a roof is not a reasonable thing to do — active high wind, ice, a steep pitch with a compromised deck, or structural damage that means the roof may not carry weight. A provider who says so is telling you the truth, and it is a better answer than an injury.
When that happens, the alternatives are interior containment and protection until conditions change. It is less satisfying than a tarp on the roof, but it is what genuinely protects the building and the person doing the work.
Ice dams are a different problem wearing the same clothes
A great many winter roof leaks in Eden Prairie are not roof damage at all. They are ice dams — meltwater from a warm attic refreezing at the cold eave, backing up under the shingles, and entering the building through a roof that is otherwise completely intact.
Tarping does not fix that, because the water is getting in underneath the covering rather than through a hole. It is worth establishing which situation you are in before securing work is scheduled, and a provider should be able to tell the difference on inspection.
What a provider may assess on site
- Whether the roof can be safely accessed in current conditions
- The extent of the opening and the surrounding roof condition
- Whether the decking will hold anchoring
- The pitch and how that affects the covering method
- Where water has already entered and how far it has travelled
- Whether interior protection is needed as well
What gets secured depends on how many openings there are and whether the surrounding structure will hold a fixing. Nothing starts until a provider confirms scope and terms with you.
Related services
Property open right now?
Tell us what is open and where. A coordinator can review the request against the type of opening and what securing capacity looks like right now.