As announced a week ago on this blog and other news outlets in the South, it’s the time of year for hurricanes, and one image associated with hurricane season – and also tornado season in the Midwest – is a blue tarp. As even minor damage to a roof can result from a hurricane, being prepared for the aftermath of a storm is necessary, with such supplies as blue tarps, wood, nails, water bottles, shovels, and rain gear being stocked at home before the storm. You can’t be too prepared for a hurricane and, because of the official start of the hurricane season, many news outlets in the South are publishing pieces regarding preparation for a hurricane. One of those, KY3.com published in Missouri, gives tips for effectively applying a blue tarp.
Although a blue tarp is a quintessential hurricane supply, having it on hand is only half of the preparation in case of roof damage from a hurricane. The other half, which makes sure the inside of your house stays undamaged, is applying the blue tarp correctly. Many options are available for patching a roof with a blue tarp, including wrapping the edges in 2×4 boards and nailing them down or using a blue tarp with sticky edges to attach in less than ten minutes. This article has its own suggestions for effectively patching a roof in case of damage. One point brought up is that a blue tarp should only be used for large roof repairs, as shingles can be used for minor holes, but for large roof repairs, the tarp still needs to be put on correctly. Some points this article brings up include:
• Double layers of tarp for full protection.
• Cover the hole with shingles first before applying a tarp, and;
• Cover the top ridge of the home to prevent rain from rolling down the peak and permeating the tarp patch.
While no one set way exists for attaching a tarp to a damaged roof, many options are available for effective roof protection and, in addition to a tarp, be prepared with other materials for fixing a hole, including additional tarps, a hammer, nails, and wood.
