Emergency Roof Tarping After a Storm
How professional roof tarping prevents secondary water damage and protects your insurance claim.
Full Transcript
After a storm, the single most important action is preventing additional water intrusion. A properly installed emergency tarp uses 6-mil reinforced polyethylene anchored over the ridge with screwed-down 2x4s — not a tarp draped over the damage. Estate Solutions provides 24/7 emergency tarping across Metro Atlanta and documents the installation for your insurance file.
Step by Step: After the Storm
The transcript above explains what a proper emergency tarp looks like. This written guide puts it in order with the rest of the first response after a storm. It is a companion to the recording, not part of it, and it uses only what the transcript and our Storm Damage Repair page already say.
- Document the damage before any cleanup. Photographs taken before cleanup begins are critical for your insurance claim. Photograph the roof damage you can see from the ground and any water coming inside.
- Call for emergency tarping and board-up. The single most important action after a storm is preventing additional water intrusion. Estate Solutions provides 24/7 emergency tarping and board-up across Metro Atlanta. Call (404) 913-3030.
- Notify your insurance company. Call your carrier to file a claim. Wind, hail, and storm damage are covered perils under standard homeowners policies, but your policy and your carrier decide final coverage.
- Install the tarp the right way. A properly installed emergency tarp uses 6-mil reinforced polyethylene, run over the ridge and anchored with screwed-down 2x4s. A tarp simply draped over the damage is not the same thing.
- Document the installation. Estate Solutions documents each tarp installation for your insurance file, so the claim shows what was done to stop further damage.
- Inspect, then decide on repair or replacement. A free roof inspection comes next. The key factors are the roof's age, the share of shingles damaged, the deck condition, and whether the damage is widespread or isolated. We never upsell a replacement when a repair will do.
Why the tarp comes first
Every hour the roof stays open, more water can reach the attic, ceilings, and walls. The tarp prevents that secondary water damage and protects your insurance claim while the permanent repair is planned.
Hail damage
Hail impact points are often invisible from the ground, so a professional needs to walk the roof. We photograph the damaged shingles and document the full extent of the hail damage for your insurance file.
Meeting the adjuster
We meet with your adjuster on-site, document the full scope of the damage, and work directly with your insurance company.
Confirming the storm date
We cross-reference your address with NOAA and NWS storm reports to confirm qualifying weather events, such as hail, tornado, or high wind, on specific dates. That documentation often supports a claim, and it is free with every inspection.
Filing deadlines
Most homeowners insurance policies in Georgia require storm damage claims to be filed within 1 year of the storm date, and some carriers allow up to 2 years for roof claims. Check your own policy. If you had a storm months ago and never had an inspection, call before the window closes.
If water already got in
Interior water damage after a storm follows the same first steps as any other water loss: stop the water, make the rooms electrically safe, document, then extract and dry. The water damage walkthrough covers those steps.
After the storm at a glance
Document the damage before any cleanup. Call for emergency tarping and board-up. Notify your insurance company. Make sure the tarp is 6-mil reinforced polyethylene over the ridge, anchored with screwed-down 2x4s. Keep the installation record for your insurance file. Then get a free roof inspection before deciding on repair or replacement.
Emergency stabilization
Tarping is one part of emergency stabilization, along with tree debris removal and structural shoring where needed. The goal is to prevent weather intrusion and secondary damage while the insurance claim opens.
What the damage assessment covers
After stabilization comes a systematic damage assessment: roofing systems, including decking, underlayment, and flashing, not just visible shingles; exterior cladding; windows; gutters and drainage systems; and attic insulation and structure.
Where we work
We serve Metro Atlanta, including Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Douglas, Gwinnett, and Cherokee counties, plus Clayton, Fayette, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale counties. Call to confirm coverage for your address.
Getting started
Call (404) 913-3030 at any hour. Georgia license #RBQA006428. The Storm Damage Repair page linked below covers storm repairs after the tarp is on, including roof repairs and water damage mitigation.
Need help right now?
24/7 emergency response across Metro Atlanta.