Why Roof Tarps Don't Work - Roofing Contractor in Miami

You’ve seen them on South Florida roofs dozens of times, they’re an eye-sore, and your neighbor’s house probably has one right now. We’re talking about the dreaded blue roof tarp. Always ugly and never a smart choice for the health of your roof. Sure, they’re a temporary band-aid for a day or two until your trusted roofer can inspect your roof issue, but they’re never a good idea for longer than that, nor should they ever be treated as a long-term solution. We’re lookin’ at you, neighbor across the street who’s had a tarp since Hurricane Irma in 2017! Now let’s dive into the facts of roof tarps and why they don’t work as a roof leak solution.

History of Roof Tarps

Roof tarps are typically made of a woven UV-resistant poly-blend ranging in thickness and size and can be found at your local hardware and home improvement stores. “Blue roofs”, as they’re known by public emergency agencies, claim to be mildew resistant although we beg to differ. Due to their easy accessibility and fairly low costs, many homeowners seek to install them themselves or with the help of a handyman after noticing a roof leak in their home.The thought process makes sense: 1. Notice a roof leak in your home. 2. Run and out and purchase a tarp thinking you’re going to prevent further damage to your home’s interior by stopping the roof leak. But what homeowners don’t consider is the further damage the tarp is actually causing on the exterior to the roof itself.

If They’re So Bad, Then Why Does Everyone Get Them?

Monkey see, monkey do! The heinous blue roof tarps like to make their grand debut usually after a hurricane or other large weather pattern blows through town. Before you know it, the whole neighborhood is sporting a “blue roof”. As mentioned above, tarping your roof causes more problems than it would be preventing. The biggest factor that weakens shingles or tile roofs are drastic temperature shifts. Shingles in particular, will expand and contract, which in turn causes them to crack allowing for water penetration. When a roof tarp is covering your roof, it isn’t able to “breathe” and access air flow as it normally would. Also, if the tarp isn’t installed perfectly smooth, it may potentially hold small pools of standing water. Not only is this a perfect scenario for mosquitoes to breed, but this can cause mold to grow underneath the tarp, and you may end up with greater roof damage and having to replace your roof anyway. But now the situation is messier and more hazardous.

Shreds of Truth

Roof tarps are not permanent solutions, nor are they suitable for a period of more than 30 days, as emphasized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In addition to causing more damage to your already leaking roof, tarps begin to deteriorate over time from the sun and rain, causing them to literally shred apart and litter your and your neighbor’s yard with debris.

A Smarter Choice

Smart roof maintenance and biannual roof inspections are always key in preventing desperate DIY roof fixes. We strongly advise to never attempt to repair your roof yourself. Schedule your roof’s pre-hurricane season inspection today! Perkins Roofing recommends a roof inspection before and after hurricane season. Roof inspections are key to taking proper preventive measures in the health and longevity of your roof. Early detection of roof issues will save you money and time in the long run!

Call us anytime at (305) MIA-ROOF or email us at hello@perkinsroofing.net. We look forward to serving you!

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