Emergency Roof Tarping: What to Do After Storm Damage
Emergency roof tarping is a temporary waterproof cover fitted over storm-damaged roofing to stop rain getting in until a proper repair is done. If your roof is leaking significantly or has structural damage, call VICSES on 132 500. If the damage is a smaller leak, broken tiles or lifted sheets, call a local roofer to cover it. Then photograph everything and talk to your insurer before authorizing work. A tarp buys you time. It is not the repair.
Below is how that works in practice for homes in Narre Warren and the south-east: who to call first, what a professional tarp job involves, what it does and does not cover, how insurance fits in, and how to get from a tarp to a roof that is properly fixed.
TL;DR
- Life at risk, or a collapsed ceiling or roof section: call 000, then VICSES on 132 500. For minor leaks and superficial damage, VICSES points you to a professional tradesperson.
- Photograph the damage before anything is moved, and speak to your insurer before you authorize building work, including emergency repairs.
- A tarp is a stopgap that keeps water out of the roof space and ceiling. The cause of the damage still needs a proper repair, such as replaced tiles, rebedded ridge capping or new valley iron.
- Be wary of door-knockers after a big storm who ask for cash upfront or push you to sign on the spot.
- We can inspect, make the roof weathertight and quote the permanent fix. See our emergency roof repairs.
Table of Contents
- Who to call first when a storm damages your roof
- What to do in the first hour
- What emergency roof tarping actually involves
- What a tarp does and does not do
- Insurance and emergency tarping
- What does roof tarping cost?
- From tarp to permanent repair
- Our perspective on emergency tarping
- Getting help from our team
- How to check a roofer before they go on your roof
- FAQ
- Sources
Who to call first when a storm damages your roof
The right call depends on how bad the damage is, not how much water is coming in.
Life-threatening danger: call Triple Zero (000).
Significant damage: Victoria’s State Emergency Service asks you to call 132 500 when there is storm damage to the roof, a tree has damaged the home, or the roof is leaking significantly. VICSES says it may undertake emergency temporary repairs if required. During severe weather, demand on its volunteers is huge, so expect a queue and a wait.
Minor damage: for minor leaks, superficial damage and debris removal, VICSES directs you to a professional tradesperson. That is where a roofer comes in. Think a few slipped or cracked tiles, a lifted section of ridge capping, a damaged gutter or a ceiling stain that is growing but not collapsing.
It also helps to know what the SES does not do. Council guidance based on SES practice says the SES does not clear debris, organize permanent repairs or attend basic repairs that a homeowner can manage. That guidance comes from Western Australia, but the division of labor is similar: the SES handles emergencies, and your roofer handles the roof.
One practical point. Many people end up calling both. If the SES cannot reach you for hours or days, a local roofer who can attend the same day is often the fastest way to get water out of the house.
What to do in the first hour
Before you worry about the roof itself, protect the people and the contents of the house.
- Stay off the roof. Wet tiles and sheet metal are slippery, and storm-damaged roofing can give way. Tarping a roof is work at height and belongs to people with the equipment and training for it.
- Turn off power if water is near lights, fittings or the switchboard. If a ceiling is bulging with water, keep clear of the area and, if safe, make a small hole or release point only if an electrician or emergency service tells you to.
- Move furniture, rugs and electronics away from drips. Use buckets and towels, and lay plastic sheeting over what cannot be moved.
- Photograph and film the damage. The Insurance Council of Australia advises taking photos or videos of damage to the property and your possessions before you start cleaning up. Include wide shots of each room, close-ups of the ceiling and any damaged belongings, and the outside of the house if it is safe to look.
- Call your insurer. The same Insurance Council guidance is to speak with your insurer before authorizing building work, including emergency repairs. Ask what they will cover, whether they have a preferred repairer, and whether a make-safe is included.
- Call a local roofer. Describe the roof type (concrete tile, terracotta, Colorbond or Zincalume), where the leak is and what you can see from the ground.
What emergency roof tarping actually involves
A tarp job is simple in principle and fiddly in practice. The aim is to cover the damaged area so water runs off the cover instead of through the roof. How well that works depends on the roof and the weather.
Inspection and make-safe
A roofer first checks the roof and the ceiling space to see where water is entering. Photos taken during the inspection are useful for your claim. Loose tiles, bent sheets and hanging debris are removed or secured so nothing falls while the work happens.
Covering the damage
The cover has to extend past the damaged area, up and over the ridge where needed, so rain cannot run underneath it. It is then fixed down so that wind cannot lift it. The fixing method differs by roof:
| Roof type | Typical challenge | What it means for a tarp |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete or terracotta tile | Broken or displaced tiles, damaged ridge capping, uneven surface | The cover must span the damage and be anchored without cracking more tiles |
| Colorbond or Zincalume sheet | Lifted or torn sheets, damaged flashings and valleys | The cover must be secured against wind that can get under the sheet edges |
| Valley and gutter areas | Concentrated water flow | Water has to be directed so it does not pond on the cover |
This is general guidance on how we approach each roof type, and the exact method is decided on site once the roof is seen.
Why wind matters
A badly secured tarp can flap, tear and make the damage worse, and it can become a hazard in its own right. That is a key reason tarping is done by a roofer rather than from a ladder with whatever is in the shed. Storms also tend to come in runs, so a tarp has to survive the next one.
Alternatives to a basic tarp
Some systems use heat-shrunk polymer film instead of a loose tarpaulin. IP Australia’s case study on a patented polymer product notes that such shrink technology can reduce the need to keep refitting temporary tarpaulins and so conserve emergency service resources. What is right for your roof is a decision for the roofer on the day, based on the damage, the roof and the forecast.
What a tarp does and does not do
It does:
- Reduce further water entering the roof space and ceiling while you wait for repairs.
- Protect insulation, plasterboard, wiring and belongings from additional damage.
- Give you time to get a claim assessed and a proper quote prepared.
It does not:
- Fix the cause. Broken tiles, failed bedding, a rusted valley or a split gutter are still there underneath.
- Last forever. How long a cover holds depends on the weather, the roof and how it was fixed. Ask your roofer how long they expect it to hold on your roof, and plan the permanent repair accordingly.
- Replace the insurer’s assessment. The Insurance Council describes a “make safe” as immediate work to prevent further damage or make a site safe, and says it may include fitting roof tarpaulins. It is a first step in a recovery process, not the end of it.
Insurance and emergency tarping
Storm claims are where many homeowners get tripped up, so a few plain rules.
Talk to your insurer first. Check what your policy covers and how it wants emergency work handled. Keep the photos, the roofer’s inspection photos and every invoice.
Get a written record. A written quote and photos of the damage make the claim easier to assess. We provide a free roof inspection with photos, detailed written quotes and insurance support for storm damage claims.
If you take a cash settlement. The Insurance Council notes that if you manage repairs yourself through a cash settlement, you must make sure the work complies with local council regulations and building codes and use a licensed builder to maintain insurability.
Beware of disaster chasers. After major events, the Insurance Council has warned that some operators ask for upfront cash, pressure homeowners to sign contracts or claim the insurer will pay. Signs of a safer arrangement are a business with a local address, a written quote, photos of the work and a person you can call after the job. Never sign anything under pressure at your front door.
What does roof tarping cost?
There is no single honest figure, and we would rather say so than quote a number that does not fit your roof. The price of a tarp job depends on:
- How big the damaged area is, and so how much cover and fixing it needs.
- Roof pitch and height, which affect access and safety equipment.
- Roof type, because tile, metal and valley work are fixed differently.
- Timing, since after-hours and storm-peak attendance is harder to schedule than a weekday visit.
- Whether it is a make-safe covered by your insurer or work you pay for directly.
We do not publish set prices for emergency work, because every job starts with seeing the roof. We give a detailed written quote after inspection, so you know what you are agreeing to before work begins.
If your insurer is covering a make-safe, ask them what it includes before work begins so there are no surprises on the invoice.
From tarp to permanent repair
The tarp is the bridge. The sooner you plan what comes next, the less time the temporary cover has to hold.
The common permanent fixes after storm damage are:
- Replacing broken or displaced tiles and repairing the roof. See our roof repairs.
- Finding and sealing the leak properly. Leaks often travel along timber and show up far from the entry point, so detection matters. See roof leak repairs.
- Rebedding and repointing ridge capping that has cracked, shifted or come loose in high winds. See rebedding and repointing.
- Replacing valley iron that has rusted through or been damaged by debris.
- Restoring the whole roof if the storm exposed an ageing roof that was already near the end of its coating life. See roof restoration, or metal roof restoration for Colorbond and Zincalume.
- Re-roofing when damage is so widespread that repair is no longer sensible. See re-roofing and replacement.
After a storm it is also worth having the gutters and downpipes checked. Blocked or bent gutters push water back under tiles and into the roof space, and a leak that looks like a roof fault can start there.
Our perspective on emergency tarping
Most of the storm calls we get follow the same pattern. A homeowner has a wet ceiling, a stressed family and a lot of conflicting advice. The first thing we tell them is simple: stop the water, photograph everything, ring your insurer.
A tarp is only as good as the person who fixed it down and the plan that follows it. We treat it as step one of a repair, not a job in itself. That is why we inspect the whole roof, take photos and give a written quote for the permanent fix, so you can see the full picture and talk to your insurer with real information in hand.
We are a local, family-run team, and you deal directly with the people doing the work, not a call centre or subcontractors. You get before-and-after photos for every job, and our workmanship is backed by a 10-year guarantee. Restoring a sound roof usually costs significantly less than replacing it, so getting the leak and the damage fixed early is what keeps that option open.
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Getting help from our team
If your roof has been damaged and water is getting in, we can attend across Narre Warren, Narre Warren North, Narre Warren South, Berwick, Hallam, Hampton Park, Lynbrook, Lyndhurst, Cranbourne North, Beaconsfield, Doveton, Dandenong North and Clyde North. Our emergency roof repairs service covers inspection, making the roof weathertight and quoting the permanent repair, with photos you can pass on to your insurer.
We handle concrete tile, terracotta, Colorbond and Zincalume roofs, plus gutters, downpipes and valley iron. See everything we do on our services page, or contact us for a free roof inspection.
How to check a roofer before they go on your roof
Storm weather brings out both good tradespeople and bad ones. A few checks take five minutes:
- Ask for a written quote that names the work, the roof area and what is and is not included.
- Ask who will do the work. A local team who answers the phone afterwards beats a lead-generation call centre that passes the job on.
- Ask for photos of the damage and of the finished work. They protect you in a claim.
- Ask about the guarantee on the permanent repair, and get it in writing.
- Do not pay in full upfront. Cash-first demands are exactly what the Insurance Council warns about.
- Confirm licensing and insurance with the relevant Victorian regulator before authorizing structural or roofing work.
FAQ
Can I put a tarp on my roof myself?
We advise against it. Wet, damaged roofing is slippery and can fail under your weight, and a poorly fixed tarp can blow off and cause more damage. Stay on the ground, protect the inside of the house, and have a roofer attend.
Will the SES tarp my roof?
Possibly, if the damage is significant. VICSES says it may undertake emergency temporary repairs and asks you to call 132 500 for storm damage to the roof or significant leaking. For minor leaks and superficial damage it directs you to a professional tradesperson, so a local roofer is the usual route.
Do I need to call my insurer before getting a tarp fitted?
Call them as early as you can. The Insurance Council advises speaking with your insurer before authorizing building work, including emergency repairs. If water is actively coming in, take photos first, then get the roof covered and keep all your paperwork.
How long will a roof tarp last?
That depends on the roof, how it is fixed and the weather that follows. It is a temporary measure, so book the permanent repair as soon as the claim and quote allow. Your roofer can tell you what to expect on your roof after seeing it.
How much does emergency tarping cost?
It varies with the size of the damage, the roof type, its height and when the work happens. We give a detailed written quote after inspecting the roof so you know the cost before work starts.
Sources
- When to call 132 500, VICSES
- Storms and Floods, City of Albany
- Frequently asked questions after a disaster, Insurance Council of Australia
- What to expect from the insurance recovery and claims process, Insurance Council of Australia
- Recovery underway following ex-TC Alfred, Insurance Council of Australia
- Polymer Technology Case Study, IP Australia
