What proper emergency tarping looks like — and what's a waste of time.
Why tarping matters
Stopping water intrusion within 24 hours can prevent thousands in interior damage.
What proper tarping looks like
Heavy-duty 6-mil minimum tarp, anchored under undamaged shingles, secured with battens — not just thrown over and weighted with bricks.
Common DIY mistakes
Insufficient overlap, no batten attachment, and using a thin painter's tarp that fails in the next wind gust.
When to call us
Always — emergency tarping is one of the most common services we provide and is often free if you become a repair customer.
Need a real opinion on your roof?
Free, no-pressure inspections across Huntsville and North Alabama.
Local Factors That Change Emergency Tarping After Storm Damage in Huntsville
River-valley humidity across Madison, Morgan, and Limestone Counties feeds algae streaking and keeps decking damp after leaks. Moisture that lingers is what takes a minor flashing failure into rotted sheathing.
Local code matters too. Roofing work inside Huntsville city limits follows the International Residential Code as adopted locally, which sets nailing patterns, drip edge, underlayment, and attic ventilation minimums — and allows no more than two roof coverings before a full tear-off is required. When a roof is replaced, the new installation has to meet current code even if the old one predated it.
What to Do Next
- 1Write down when you first noticed the issue — carriers and contractors both ask for a date.
- 2Look for granules in gutters and at downspout outlets, which signals shingle wear or impact.
- 3Avoid climbing the roof yourself; wet or aging shingles cause most homeowner falls.
- 4Have the roof and attic inspected together, since half the useful evidence is underneath.
- 5Compare any two estimates line by line: underlayment, flashing, ventilation, warranty.