No homeowner wants to deal with a leak. But if you’ve got water coming from your ceiling and contractors can’t make it to your property immediately, a temporary roof repair can minimize the damage and save you a lot of money in the long run.
With over 60 years of combined experience, the contractors at PITCH Roofing are experts in keeping local roofs performing at their best. In addition to fixing leaking roofs, that means making sure you’re informed and able to protect your property. Keep reading as we cover some easy ways to protect your roof and stop a leak from spreading!
3 Temporary Roof Repairs for Florida Roofs
Roof leaks can get exponentially worse over time. What starts as a small amount of water in your roof can quickly accumulate to the point that it eats away at your water-resistant barrier. From there, you could even see damage to your roof decking, which may require a full or partial roof replacement to fix.
Thankfully, you can prevent damage from spreading with a simple temporary roof repair. Once you’ve identified the damaged section of your roof, you’ll be good to go. Let’s talk about the easiest and most reliable ways to protect against a leak on your roof!
Plastic Sheets
If you have plastic sheets lying around, then you’ve got a way to cover your roof leak. Plastic sheeting is not the most durable material, but it can certainly serve as a temporary roof repair in a pinch. You just have to know how to install it.
To start, cover any damage to your roof with the plastic sheeting. You then need to adhere it to your roof. You can accomplish this by nailing the sheeting into place, provided you’re careful not to damage your shingles.
Alternatively, you can weigh down the edges of the sheet with bricks or heavy stones. Be careful when you do this to make sure there are not going to be high winds in your area. The last thing anyone needs during a hurricane is more storm debris!
Tarping
In Florida, a waterproof tarp is the gold standard for a temporary roof repair. The most difficult part of setting up a waterproof tarp is making sure that it’s flush with your roof. Otherwise, you run the risk of water getting underneath the tarp and into your roof.
If you’re not completely sure that you installed a tarp right the first time, you can always add a second or even third layer. This can minimize the risk of water continuing to get into your roof and protect against rain until roofers can make it to your property.
Roof Tape
You’ll notice that up to now, all our suggested temporary roof repairs have required you to get on your roof. This isn’t an option for everyone, though. If you’re not comfortable or able to access your roof, roof tape could be exactly what you need. But how do you use it for a temporary roof repair?
Go to your attic and try to identify where the leak is coming from. The spot will have some wetness and perhaps even mold. If you’re not sure where to start, follow your nose. The source of the mustiness is where you’ll find your leak!
From there, all you have to do is cover the leak with roofing tape. This will prevent water damage from spreading to other parts of your attic, which can save you a lot of money when your contractors come to complete your roof leak repairs.
When to Use Temporary Roof Repairs
With temporary roof repairs, there is definitely a right and wrong way to use them. We want your roof to stay in the best shape possible, so let’s talk about when you need to tarp a leaking roof.
After a hurricane, it’s normal for local roofing companies to be overwhelmed with people seeking roofing services. While we always strive to get to our customers as soon as possible at PITCH, sometimes there are just too many people to help everyone at once.
This is the perfect situation for a temporary roof repair. By covering your roof leak, you can stop storm damage from spreading while you buy yourself time for roofers to make it to your home. The danger with temporary roof repairs, however, comes when you put off getting help.
Temporary roof repairs are meant to be exactly that — temporary. They can protect your roof from the elements for weeks at a time, but they aren’t intended to last forever. Over time, tarps will start to fray and loosen, and you’ll find your roof leak acting up again. That’s why temporary roof repairs are never a reason to put off professional repair services.
At PITCH Roofing, we don’t do temporary roof repairs. While we encourage our customers to use them when necessary, we focus on providing long-term solutions to your roofing problems. Whether your leaking roof can be resolved with a repair or you need a new roof after a storm, you can count on PITCH to come through for you the way that local contractors should. And it all starts with your roofing estimate.
Get a Free Roof Leak Repair or Replacement Estimate
After you’ve applied your temporary roof repair, reach out to professionals you can trust for help. At PITCH, we pride ourselves on clear, easy-to-understand roof estimates. This means roofing quotes with clear, itemized prices and no annoying guesswork or nasty surprises after the job is done.
To see for yourself how we can help, reach out for your free, no-obligation estimate by calling us at 727-677-4824 or using our online appointment scheduler. We’ll inspect your leaking roof to determine the cause and extent of the damage, then put together a plan to set your roof to rights. Whether we’re repairing minor damage or giving you a whole new roof, we bring our best to every single job.
When you’ve got a roof leak, don’t settle for just any roofer. Choose local professionals with a proven track record of results. Give PITCH Roofing the chance to earn your business, and we’ll show you how much easier life can be with roofing done right!
Heather Ware is an In-House Roofing Specialist at PITCH Roofing. Working daily alongside our internal roofing teams, she translates complex Florida building codes and roofing techniques into clear, actionable advice for homeowners. With 4 years of experience in the Florida roofing industry, her goal is to ensure property owners have the exact facts they need to protect their investments.
