Our Methodology

Non-destructive tarping is a method of securing a protective tarp over a damaged roof using weight and friction rather than fasteners. No nails, screws, or staples pass through the shingles or the roof deck. The goal is to hold the tarp firmly while leaving the roof surface intact.

Tarping is a form of temporary roof protection. It shields a damaged roof from water intrusion and limits further damage until permanent repairs can be made.

The conventional alternative is nail-down tarping, where the tarp and wood strips are fastened directly through the roofing material. That method holds, but it works by making new holes in a roof that is already leaking. Those holes stay behind after the tarp is removed, and the fasteners can rust and admit water long after the emergency is over.

Because nothing penetrates the roof in our method, the only damage on the roof when the tarp comes off is the storm damage that was there when the crew arrived. On metal, tile, and slate roofing systems, which cannot accept nail penetration without being damaged, a non-destructive method is the only appropriate option.

The tarp is positioned starting at the ridge and extended downward so water sheds off the covered area rather than running under the tarp edge. Furring strips, lengths of dimensional lumber, are laid around the tarp perimeter, and the tarp edges are wrapped around them. This creates a rigid barrier that spreads holding force along the edge and keeps wind from lifting the tarp at a corner, which is the primary failure mode of improperly secured tarps.

Weighted anchors are then placed on top of the furring strips and along the edges and seams. The holding force comes from the weight of the anchors and the friction of the strips against the roof surface. Because that force is distributed along the tarp perimeter instead of concentrated at nail points, the roof deck remains intact. On larger coverings, extra anchors are placed in the middle of the tarp to prevent shifting in high winds.

We anchor tarps with TarpBags® or sandbags. Both secure the tarp through weight rather than penetration, and both are valid anchor types. Crews choose between TarpBags® and sandbags based on the job and logistics, selecting the option that fits the roof and the conditions on site.

Each job is photographed before work begins and again once the installation is complete, and the installation method and measurements are recorded.