What to do right now, before we get there
- Do not tarp it yourself. Wet roofs and ladders are how people get seriously hurt, and a tarp that is not fastened properly comes off in the next gust and takes more roof with it.
- Contain what is already inside. Buckets, sheeting over furniture, and power off at the breaker to any area where water is near wiring.
- Pierce a bulging ceiling at its lowest point into a bucket rather than letting it collapse on its own schedule.
- Photograph the damage before anything gets covered. Once a tarp is on, nobody can see what was underneath, and that is the evidence a claim runs on.
- Clear what you can from below the affected area so the crew can work and so nothing else gets ruined.
What we do when we arrive
A proper emergency tarp is not a sheet held down with bricks. It is sized to cover the failure and run past it, run up over the ridge or the parapet where the geometry allows so water cannot get under the top edge, fastened at the perimeter into something structural, and secured so wind cannot get beneath it. We photograph the damage before we cover it and we tell you how long the tarp is good for. A tarp is a temporary measure, not a roof, and anybody who leaves you with one and no plan has done half a job.
Annapolis specifics
Open-water wind exposure plus a historic core with low-slope rear sections, standing-seam metal and slate. Wind lifts an edge and driven rain does the rest. Historic district properties have review requirements on permanent exterior work. Emergency stabilisation to stop active water is a different matter, and we document what we did.
We cover Historic District, Eastport, Murray Hill, West Annapolis, Admiral Heights and Hillsmere, across 21401, 21403, 21409.
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Questions people ask at 11pm
How long can a tarp stay on?
It depends on how it was installed and what the weather does, but treat it as weeks rather than months. Tarps degrade in UV, they work loose, and they hold water where the roof underneath is already compromised. It buys you time to scope, permit and schedule a proper repair. It does not replace it.
Will insurance pay for the tarp?
Emergency mitigation is frequently reimbursable, because most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. Keep the invoice and the photographs. Whether your specific policy covers it is your carrier's determination, not ours.
Can you tarp a flat rowhouse roof?
Yes, and it is a different job from a pitched roof. There is no slope and no ridge to run the tarp over, so it is about sealing the opening and making sure the tarp is not creating a new pond. On an attached house we also check whether the failure is even on your side of the party wall.
Once the water has stopped
Storm damage? How a Maryland roof insurance claim works and how to spot hail damage. Planning the permanent repair? What actually drives roof replacement cost here.
Other emergency services in Annapolis: Emergency Roof Repair · Roof Leak Repair · Storm Damage Emergency Response.