Who to Call for Emergency Roof Tarping, What It Costs, and What to Use Instead
Storms in Orlando do not ask for permission. Afternoon downpours turn into overnight wind bursts, and by morning a bedroom ceiling can show a brown ring the size of a dinner plate. Emergency tarping exists for this exact moment. It buys time, protects the structure, and keeps an insurance claim clean. Done right, it prevents thousands in interior damage. Done wrong, it rips off in the next gust or traps moisture and feeds mold.
This guide explains who to call for emergency tarping in Orlando, what a typical tarp job costs, how pricing is built, why some tarps fail, and what to use instead once the weather clears. It reads like a field brief because that is what homeowners need when water is already inside the house.
What emergency tarping actually does
Emergency tarping is a short-term weatherproofing method. A crew covers the damaged roof area with a heavy-duty polyethylene or reinforced fabric tarp, then secures the edges so wind and rain cannot lift or push water beneath it. The goal is simple: stop active intrusion and prevent new damage until proper repairs or a replacement can happen.
In Orlando, the job often involves steep-slope asphalt shingle roofs, but crews also tarp tile, low-slope modified bitumen, and metal panels. The approach changes with each material. On shingles, installers prefer sandbagged edges or screws with furring strips into deck seams rather than a forest of nails through the field. On tile, they avoid breaking pans and use ridge anchors where possible. On low-slope roofs, they build an overlap path that sheds water to drains and scuppers, not across seams.
A good tarp job sheds water, breathes at the right places, and stays tight through gusts in the 30 to 45 mph range. A poor job turns into a sail, rips, or channels water under the cover and into the home.
Who to call first in Orlando, FL
Homeowners have three practical options when water starts coming in. The order depends on safety, weather, and claim timing.
- Hurricane Roofer – Roofing Contractor Orlando FL: The right call for same-day or same-night emergency tarping, followed by repair or replacement planning. The team handles steep and low-slope roofs across Orlando, Winter Park, Conway, College Park, Baldwin Park, and Doctor Phillips. They document damage for insurance with photos and video, then return after the storm for permanent fixes.
- Insurance carrier or adjuster: Inform the insurer, but do not wait for approval to mitigate. Policies require homeowners to stop further damage. Calling a roofer for emergency tarping protects the claim.
- Fire department or 911: Call only for life safety issues like live wires, structural collapse, or active fire. They will not tarp a roof, but they can secure the scene.
In practical terms, homeowners in Orlando often need a tarp within hours, especially during peak hurricane season or a stalled front. A local roofer with an emergency line and storm inventory can move faster than a general handyman or a national call center. The advantage is speed and method. Crews that tarp after every storm understand where a roof is likely to fail next and how to anchor a cover without creating future leaks.
What emergency tarping costs in Orlando
Prices vary by access, roof type, height, pitch, and coverage area. Most homeowners see a range between $350 and $1,200 for a single-family home. Small, easy-access leaks over a one-story section are at the lower end. Two-story homes with steep pitch, skylights, valleys, or tile increase cost. Commercial or multifamily buildings fall outside this range and need a site quote.
Local crews usually price by a mix of factors:
- Minimum mobilization fee that covers a two-person crew, truck, insurance, and basic materials. In Orlando that often lands between $250 and $450.
- Size of the tarp and setup complexity. Expect $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot covered on shingle roofs, more for tile or metal due to anchor methods and risk.
- After-hours or severe weather premium. Calling at 11 pm during a squall line costs more than a 10 am service window. Budget an extra 20 to 40 percent for late-night or storm-peak dispatch.
As an example, a 12-by-16-foot damaged shingle area on a one-story Conway ranch home, with easy driveway access, might come in near $475 to $650 for same-day service. A two-story College Park home with a 10/12 pitch and a 20-by-20-foot tarp during active rain could run $900 to $1,200. These figures assume quality materials, proper edge securement, and documentation for the claim file.
Homeowners sometimes ask if the insurer reimburses tarping. Most carriers in Florida do, as part of reasonable mitigation costs, provided there is a covered cause of loss. Save receipts and all photos. Hurricane Roofer supplies a photo set before, during, and after tarping, plus an invoice that clearly states mitigation services and square footage covered.
Materials that hold up in Florida weather
Not all tarps are equal. Thin blue big-box tarps tear quickly and break down in UV. A crew that works storms uses heavier covers and matching fasteners.
A durable setup involves a 10-mil to 20-mil woven polyethylene tarp or a reinforced poly scrim with UV treatment. Clear tarps have their place for skylights, but colored or silver tarps usually last longer under sun. Grommets help, but crews should not depend on grommets alone. Edge battens or furring strips spread load and prevent tearing. For fasteners, techs prefer screws with neoprene washers into decking at seams and edges, or ballast systems using sandbags where penetrations would introduce risk. On tile, strap-style anchors that catch under the batten or ridge reduce breakage. On metal, installers use clamps on standing seams rather than drilling through the panel.
Tape is not a primary fastener outdoors in Orlando’s humidity. But butyl tape or sealant can help seal minor openings around a vent boot or a small shingle tab lift under the tarp. The tarp should extend at least 3 feet beyond the damaged area on all sides to create a safe shed path.
How long a tarp should stay on
A solid tarp job can last from a few days to several weeks. In Orlando sun, tarps degrade faster than in cooler climates. For a claim in process, a homeowner should plan for repair or replacement within 2 to 6 weeks. Past that, UV damage, wind fatigue, and thermal expansion start to open gaps. A tarp is mitigation, not maintenance. If a carrier delays a decision and the tarp must stay longer, a crew should reinspect and retighten after major weather.
It is common to see DIY tarps still on a roof months later. By then, the material has chalked, cracked, and allowed water to creep under. Prolonged tarping can void parts of a roof warranty or complicate a claim if the insurer believes new damage occurred due to neglect. Regular check-ins prevent that outcome.
What to use instead once the roof is dry
Once weather clears, a tarp should give way to a more stable temporary or permanent solution. The choice depends on roof type and damage.
On shingle roofs, a proper temporary repair uses shingles and underlayment. Techs lift tabs, cut back to sound deck, replace any soft OSB or plywood, lay self-adhered underlayment, and install matching shingles with correct nailing and sealant. Where a full slope took damage, a quick-dry synthetic underlayment can protect the area for a week or two before shingles arrive. This approach sheds water far better than a tarp and resists wind.
On tile roofs, crews replace broken tiles, install new underlayment segments, and resecure battens or foam. If replacement tile is backordered, a peel-and-stick underlayment patch with a small, well-secured tarp over that specific area may bridge the gap. Avoid walking the field in midday heat, which makes tiles brittle.
On low-slope roofs, a patch with compatible materials beats a tarp by a wide margin. On modified bitumen, a heat-welded cap sheet patch is durable. On TPO or PVC, a solvent-welded or heat-welded membrane patch restores continuity. On built-up roofs, new plies and a flood coat provide a longer-lasting stopgap. Avoid mixed-material patches that do not bond.
If the roof is at end of life, the best “instead” is a replacement. Homeowners in Orlando often learn this the hard way after a second or third leak. A tired shingle roof with widespread granule loss and curled edges will not hold patches well. Spending on repeated tarps becomes a false economy.
The Orlando factor: wind, sun, and daily rain
Local conditions force different decisions than in a dry climate. Afternoon thunderstorms dump fast, then the sun returns and bakes the roof. Heat expands both the tarp and the roof deck. Wind gusts follow outflow boundaries and can shake a tarp loose in minutes if edges are not secured with the right spacing and overlap.
Crews in Orlando plan tarp edges around prevailing wind directions. They prefer the leading edge to run under an overlap rather than face into the wind. They use more than four anchor points for a mid-size tarp, often every 16 to 24 inches along the edge. Valleys and wall flashings need extra attention because they channel water. Skylights get a raised tent method to avoid ponding, rather than a flat lay that can collect inches of water and collapse.
Another local quirk is tree litter. Oak leaves and small branches collect under a tarp lip and wick water back under the cover. A quick sweep during install and a follow-up after the first storm can prevent this.
Safety matters more than speed
No tarp is worth a fall. Wet shingles are slick. At night, hazards multiply. A trained crew uses fall protection on steep slopes, secures ladders on stable ground, and works in pairs. They stage tools so nothing slides off the roof. They stop if lightning is within range. Homeowners should not climb on their roof during rain to throw a tarp. The risk of injury outweighs the benefit. Calling a pro pays for itself in avoided harm.
A field practice worth highlighting is edge control. Nails or screws too close to the tarp edge tear out under load. Set fasteners a few inches in, and back them with wood strips that spread tension. On eaves, wrap the edge and fasten into fascia framing if the deck is questionable. On tile, avoid drilling tiles to hold a tarp; the future leak cost is higher than any time saved.
How a professional crew in Orlando handles an emergency tarping call
A call to Hurricane Roofer in Orlando typically triggers a short series of steps. Dispatch gathers the address, roof type, safe access notes, and active leak location in the home. The crew loads tarps, battens, screws with washers, sandbags, sealant, and fall protection. On site, they photograph exterior elevations, the roof area from the ladder, and interior damage. They locate the breach by tracing water marks to penetration points like chimneys, vents, valley junctions, or lifted shingles.
If the rain is active, they place catch protection inside first to protect drywall and flooring. Then they install the tarp with correct overlap, pull tight across the high point, and secure edges with batten strips or sandbags. If lightning is close, they stage the work between cells. Before leaving, they check attic insulation around the leak and remove soaked batts where required to reduce trapped moisture.
Documentation wraps the visit. The team marks the tarp edges on photos, adds measurements, and sends a digital invoice that reads clearly for insurers. If the homeowner approves next steps, the crew schedules a return with materials for a permanent fix.
Common mistakes that lead to failure
A few errors show up over and over after storms:
- Short coverage. A tarp that ends right at the damaged spot invites capillary action. Water migrates under. Crews extend the cover by several feet in all directions.
- Fasteners through valleys and flashing. Penetrating these zones creates a new leak path. Secure edges on the field, not in the flow channels.
- Grommet-only anchoring. Grommets tear out under wind load. Edge battens or seam wraps handle wind far better.
- Flat lays over skylights. Pooling water stretches and then rips the tarp. A tented shape or custom wrap avoids ponding.
- Leaving saturated insulation in place. Wet insulation holds moisture and feeds mold. Removing and drying the area speeds recovery.
Avoiding these mistakes takes experience and the right materials. A homeowner with one ladder and a light tarp is at a disadvantage during a storm.
DIY or professional: a clear-eyed look
Homeowners ask if they can tarp their roof themselves to save money. In dry weather on a single-story low pitch with safe access, a skilled person might manage a small cover. The risk goes up with every factor: height, pitch, wet surfaces, active rain, and wind. The cost of a fall or a mishandled tarp far exceeds a service call.
From a claim perspective, a professional invoice and photo set help the adjuster validate local emergency tarping mitigation steps. If a temporary patch fails and causes more damage, liability becomes murky. A licensed roofer in Orlando who documents the work protects the homeowner’s position.
What to expect on the invoice and what insurers want to see
A clean, insurer-friendly invoice lists the date, time window, materials used, square footage covered, roof type, and photos with captions. It states “emergency tarping and water mitigation” or similar language. Insurers in Florida look for reasonable cost and prompt action. Delays that lead to more damage can complicate coverage. The adjuster may ask for the roof’s condition before the storm. Drone shots or recent listing photos can help, but a roofer’s initial inspection photos usually do the job.
Hurricane Roofer provides a package that includes before and after images, a sketch or measurements, and a line item note of materials. That stack reduces back and forth with the carrier and shortens claim timelines.
What happens after tarping: repair or replace
Once the roof is dry and safe, a roofer assesses the larger picture. If the roof is younger, a repair with a few bundles of shingles and underlayment may restore performance. Costs for a typical repair in Orlando range from $350 to $1,200 for small areas, up to a few thousand for larger sections. If there is widespread hail bruising, wind uplift, or aging beyond viable repair, a replacement quote makes sense. Shingle replacement ranges depend on square footage, pitch, and material grade. Orlando homeowners often choose architectural shingles rated for higher wind speeds. Upgrades like peel-and-stick underlayment along eaves and valleys pay off in storm seasons.
For tile roofs, replacement decisions weigh underlayment life as much as tile condition. Many tile roofs in Central Florida rely on underlayment that fails before the tiles do. In those cases, a proper underlayment replacement with careful tile handling solves recurring leaks.
A local note on permit and code
Orange County and the City of Orlando enforce roofing permits for replacements and many structural repairs. Emergency tarping does not require a permit. Permanent repairs may. A licensed contractor handles permits, inspections, and code-required improvements such as secondary water barriers or updated flashing details. That matters for resale and insurance compliance.
How to prepare before the next storm
A homeowner cannot control the weather, but small steps improve outcomes. Keep tree branches trimmed back from the roof by several feet. Clean gutters and downspouts before the wet season so water leaves the roof fast. Replace UV-cracked pipe boots and brittle sealant around flashings. Schedule a roof check each spring. Quick fixes in fair weather cost less than emergency calls during a squall. For those living in wind-prone pockets like Lake Nona or near open water, consider a shingle rated for higher uplift and add peel-and-stick underlayment zones.
If a storm is forecast, bring tarps inside the garage and stage towels and buckets indoors. Know the shut-off for power in rooms that might see water. Keep the roofer’s number handy so the call happens early, before crews stack up with work orders.
Why choose Hurricane Roofer for emergency tarping in Orlando
Homeowners need two things under pressure: fast response and work that holds. Hurricane Roofer runs dedicated emergency crews during storm cycles in Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland, Altamonte Springs, and the surrounding neighborhoods. The team understands local wind patterns, code details, and material behavior under Florida sun. They show up with the right tarps, the right fasteners, and fall protection every time.
Just as important, they plan the next step before leaving the driveway. That means honest guidance on whether a repair will last, clear pricing, and a written scope that supports an insurance claim. They answer the phone after hours and keep the homeowner updated with text and photos. That is what reduces stress while water is still on the move.
When rain is already coming through the ceiling, the best move is simple. Call Hurricane Roofer – Roofing Contractor Orlando FL for emergency tarping and fast, documented mitigation. A stable tarp today leads to a proper repair tomorrow, and that stops a small leak from becoming a major remodel.
Hurricane Roofer – Roofing Contractor Orlando FL provides storm damage roof repair, replacement, and installation in Orlando, FL and across Orange County. Our veteran-owned team handles emergency tarping, leak repair, and shingle, tile, metal, and flat roofing. We offer same-day inspections, clear pricing, photo documentation, and insurance claim support for wind and hail damage. We hire veterans and support community jobs. If you need a roofing company near you in Orlando, we are ready to help. Hurricane Roofer – Roofing Contractor Orlando FL 12315 Lake Underhill Rd Suite B Phone: (407) 607-4742 Website: https://hurricaneroofer.com/
Orlando, FL 32828, USA