When a storm damages your roof, the clock starts ticking. Every hour that your roof is exposed, rain can enter the structure and cause thousands of dollars in interior damage: soaked insulation, warped flooring, ruined drywall, destroyed personal property, and mold growth that begins within 24 to 48 hours in Florida's humidity. Emergency tarping stops the bleeding until a permanent repair can be made. Here is what it costs, what affects the price, and when it makes sense.
Cost Ranges for Emergency Tarping
Emergency roof tarping in South Florida costs between $500 and $2,000 for most residential projects. The price depends on the size of the area being tarped, the complexity of the roof, and the urgency of the situation.
**Small tarp (under 200 sq ft)**: $500 to $800. Covers a localized area of damage such as a missing section of shingles, a tree puncture hole, or a failed flashing location. This is the most common tarping scenario after thunderstorms and minor wind events.
**Medium tarp (200 to 500 sq ft)**: $800 to $1,200. Covers a larger damaged area such as an entire roof slope where wind stripped multiple shingle sections or where a significant tree limb caused widespread damage. Requires multiple tarps overlapped and secured.
**Large tarp (500+ sq ft)**: $1,200 to $2,000. Covers most of one roof slope or multiple damaged areas across the roof. Common after major hurricanes that cause widespread roof covering loss. May require specialty tarps and heavy-duty fastening.
What Affects the Price
Roof height and pitch. A single-story home with a moderate pitch is the simplest and least expensive to tarp. Two-story homes, steep pitches, and tile roofs with fragile surfaces require more time, equipment, and safety precautions, which increases cost.
Roof material. Asphalt shingle roofs are the easiest to tarp because fasteners can be driven directly through the tarp and into the deck without special tools. Tile roofs require care to avoid breaking additional tiles and often use sandbags or adhesive instead of mechanical fasteners, which takes longer. Metal roofs may require clamping systems rather than penetrating fasteners.
Time of response. Standard emergency response (same day or next day) falls within the price ranges above. After-hours and weekend calls may carry a 20 to 50% premium. During the first 72 hours after a major hurricane, prices can double or triple due to extreme demand and material scarcity. This is not price gouging, it reflects the genuine cost of deploying crews in post-hurricane conditions with limited material availability.
Extent of damage. If the roof deck is compromised (plywood torn away or structurally damaged), additional preparation work is needed before the tarp can be secured. This may include temporary shoring, deck patching, or using specialized anchoring systems, all of which add cost.
Free Tarping with Permanent Repair Contract
Many reputable roofing companies, including Goliath Roofing, offer free emergency tarping when you contract with them for the permanent repair. The tarping cost is absorbed into the repair project rather than billed separately. This arrangement benefits both parties: you get immediate protection without a separate bill, and the contractor secures the repair project.
If you choose this option, make sure the tarping agreement is in writing and specifies that the tarping cost is included in the permanent repair price, not added on top of it. Also confirm that you are not obligated to use the tarping contractor for the permanent repair if you later decide to go with a different company.
Insurance Coverage for Tarping
Florida homeowners insurance covers emergency tarping as part of your duty to mitigate damage. After a covered loss such as storm damage, your policy requires you to take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage. Tarping is the textbook example of mitigation.
To ensure reimbursement, document the damage with photos before the tarp is installed, keep the tarping contractor's invoice and receipt, save photos of the completed tarp installation, and include the tarping cost in your insurance claim as a line item. The tarping cost is added to the total claim amount, and your deductible applies to the overall claim, not separately to the tarping.
Why DIY Tarping Is a Bad Idea
Every year after major storms, Florida emergency rooms treat hundreds of homeowners who fell from roofs while attempting DIY tarps. Storm-damaged roofs are the most dangerous surfaces you can walk on. Sheathing may be weakened, shingles are slippery when wet, and structural members may be cracked beneath a surface that looks intact.
Beyond the safety risk, improperly installed tarps frequently cause additional damage. A tarp that is not properly anchored will catch wind and act as a sail, tearing off additional roofing material when the next storm hits. Nails or screws driven through the tarp in the wrong location create new water entry points. And if a DIY tarp fails and causes additional interior damage, your insurance company may argue that the additional damage was caused by your modification rather than the original storm.
Professional tarping crews arrive with reinforced tarps (not hardware store blue tarps), proper fastening systems, safety harnesses, and the experience to install a tarp that will hold through subsequent rain events. The $500 to $2,000 cost is a fraction of the $10,000 to $50,000 in interior damage that can result from an exposed or poorly tarped roof.
When to Call for Emergency Tarping
Call immediately if any roof covering has been removed by wind, exposing the underlayment or deck beneath. Call if a tree or large branch has punctured the roof, creating a hole. Call if flashing has been displaced and water is entering during rain. Call if tiles have been broken or displaced by hail or debris. Call if any portion of the roof deck is visible from inside the attic.
Do not wait for the storm to pass completely. If it is safe for a crew to access your home (no active tornado warnings, lightning has moved away, flooding has not blocked access), emergency tarping should be done as soon as possible to minimize interior damage.
At Goliath Roofing, we deploy emergency tarping crews within hours of storm events across South Florida. For customers who contract with us for the permanent repair, tarping is included at no additional cost. Call (330) 518-9552 or contact us online for immediate emergency roof protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does emergency roof tarping cost in Florida?
Between $500 and $2,000 depending on the area covered. Small tarps under 200 square feet cost $500 to $800. Medium coverage runs $800 to $1,200. Large tarps cost $1,200 to $2,000. Prices surge after major hurricanes. Many roofers offer free tarping with a permanent repair contract.
Does insurance cover emergency roof tarping?
Yes. Florida homeowners insurance covers tarping as a duty to mitigate further damage. Document the damage with photos, keep the contractor's invoice, and include the tarping cost as a line item in your claim. Your deductible applies to the total claim, not separately to tarping.
Should I tarp my own roof after a storm?
No. Storm-damaged roofs are structurally compromised and slippery. Improper tarp installation causes additional damage and can void insurance coverage for subsequent water damage. Professional crews have safety equipment and proper materials. The $500 to $2,000 cost is far less than the $10,000 to $50,000 in interior damage from a failed DIY tarp.