The branch comes down at two in the morning, or the wind peels back a section of shingles during a November front, and suddenly there is water where water should never be. When we get that call from a homeowner in Lake Stevens or Mukilteo, the first job is not the permanent repair. The first job is stopping the water, and that means a proper tarp. Done right, an emergency tarp is not a sign of panic — it is a controlled, professional step that protects your home while the real fix gets scheduled.
What Professional Tarping Actually Involves
A tarp thrown over a hole and weighted with bricks is not a tarp job. Our crews approach emergency tarping the same way we approach roofing, because it is roofing.
- We cover well beyond the visible damage. Water travels under shingles before it shows itself, so the tarp extends past the damaged area on every side and carries over the ridge whenever possible, so water sheds over the tarp instead of running under its top edge.
- We anchor without creating new leak points. Every fastener that goes through a roof is a future hole. We secure tarps with furring strips placed deliberately, keep penetrations to a minimum, and put them where the permanent repair will address them anyway.
- We manage the water path. A tarp that pools water or dumps it into a valley just moves the problem. The tarp is set so runoff follows the roof’s natural drainage to the gutters.
- We document as we go. Photos of the damage before and after tarping become part of your repair file and, if a storm caused the damage, part of your insurance claim.
A Proper Tarp Buys You Weeks, Not Hours
There is a real difference between a tarp that survives the next squall and one that fails at the first 30 mph gust. A professionally installed tarp on a roof in Everett or Arlington can protect the home for several weeks through typical Puget Sound weather. That matters, because the permanent repair often cannot happen the next morning. Materials may need to be ordered, an insurance adjuster may need to see the damage, and the weather itself has a vote.
A good tarp takes the emergency out of the situation. Instead of rushing a repair in the rain with whatever shingles are on the truck, we can order the right materials, match your existing roof, and schedule the work for a dry window — all while your attic stays dry.
Why DIY Tarping in the Rain Is How Homeowners Get Hurt
We understand the instinct. Water is coming in, the hardware store is ten minutes away, and the ladder is in the garage. But a wet composition roof is genuinely slick, the damaged area is by definition structurally compromised, and doing this work at night in wind is dangerous even for people who walk roofs every day. Falls from roofs are one of the most common serious homeowner injuries, and a disproportionate number happen during storms.
If water is actively coming in, the safe moves are inside the house: contain the water with buckets and plastic, move belongings, poke a small drain hole in a bulging ceiling to relieve the weight, and call us. No section of drywall is worth a fall.
What Happens Between the Tarp and the Permanent Repair
Once the tarp is on, the process is orderly:
- We complete a full inspection to define the actual scope, since storm damage often extends beyond what is visible from the ground
- We provide a written scope and a free estimate for the permanent repair
- If insurance is involved, we prepare date-stamped photo documentation and can meet your adjuster on-site
- We order materials matched to your existing roof, and we schedule the repair for the first workable weather window
- If the damage reveals a roof at the end of its life, we walk you through the repair-versus-replacement decision honestly, with photos
Nothing about the tarp phase is wasted time. It is when the paperwork, materials, and planning come together so the permanent work goes smoothly.
Storm Damage in the Greater Puget Sound Area? Call Us First
Our crews handle emergency repairs across Snohomish County and King County, from Edmonds and Shoreline up through Snohomish and Arlington. We are locally owned, we have been doing this for more than 30 years, and we know exactly what a Puget Sound storm can do to a roof. If your home takes damage, reach Premier Roofing NW at (425) 247-0088 — we will get a proper tarp on, keep your home dry, and manage everything from documentation to the permanent repair.