Emergency Roof Tarping | 24/7 Storm Mitigation

Quick Answer

If water is currently entering your home, or if shingles, decking, or skylights have been blown off and the roof opening is exposed to weather, call (303) 550-4530 and press 9 for emergency dispatch. AC INC Roofing offers 24/7 emergency tarping across our Colorado and Wyoming service area to limit additional damage while a permanent repair or insurance claim is organized. Emergency mitigation cost is typically reimbursable under most homeowners policies — confirm coverage with your carrier.

When Emergency Tarping Is the Right Call

Not every storm event needs an emergency tarp. The trigger conditions below — active leaks, exposed decking, structural openings — are the ones where waiting for a routine inspection appointment costs more in interior damage than the tarp itself.

• Active leak with water entering an interior space
• Visible opening in the roof field, ridge, or hip
• Tree fall, branch impact, or debris that punctured the roof
• Lifted, missing, or relocated skylight, vent, or stack
• Wind event that stripped a contiguous section of shingles down to underlayment
• Hail event that broke a skylight or tore a flat-roof membrane

What an Emergency Tarp Job Looks Like

An emergency tarp is not a permanent repair — it is a 30 to 90-day weatherproofing layer that buys time for an inspection, an insurance claim, and a permanent roof repair or replacement to be properly scoped. Our crews arrive with rolled tarp stock, screw-down anchor strips, sandbags, butyl sealant, and basic decking material to bridge any open framing.

• Document original damage with timestamped photos before any work starts
• Cover open decking with 6 mil or 10 mil reinforced poly tarp
• Anchor with screw-down 1×4 or 2×4 batten strips at the perimeter
• Lap and seal at any penetration, valley, or transition
• Photograph the completed mitigation for the insurance file
• Schedule the follow-up HAAG Certified inspection within 24–48 hours

What Insurance Typically Reimburses

Most homeowners policies include a "reasonable mitigation" clause that covers tarping, board-up, and other temporary measures taken to prevent further damage after a covered loss. Carriers generally expect documented receipts, photos of the original damage, and photos of the completed mitigation. AC INC Roofing provides all three so the homeowner can submit them with the claim. The actual reimbursement amount and conditions are determined by the carrier and the policy — we do not negotiate that determination.

What NOT to Do Before the Tarp Goes Up

Most "denied for pre-existing damage" arguments start with a homeowner climbing the roof and creating new damage in the wrong direction. Stay on the ground, document from street level, and let the crew handle the work.

• Do not climb a wet, hail-coated, or wind-damaged roof yourself
• Do not move debris off the roof before it has been photographed
• Do not throw a blue plastic tarp over the damage and call it done — unsecured tarps tear free, dump water into the structure, and create new damage
• Do not file an insurance claim before getting an inspection unless water is actively entering the home
• Do not sign a contingency contract under storm-chaser pressure during the emergency call

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast can AC INC Roofing get a tarp on my roof?

During Colorado storm weeks we typically dispatch within 4–8 hours for active leaks. Outside active storm windows we can usually mobilize a tarp crew the same business day or the next morning. Conditions on the roof and weather windows ultimately drive the timing — we will not put a crew up in active lightning or 60+ MPH gusts.

What does an emergency tarp cost?

Pricing depends on the size of the tarp area, complexity of the openings, and whether overnight or weekend dispatch is needed. We provide a written cost before the crew leaves the yard so the homeowner can decide. Most homeowners policies treat the cost as reasonable mitigation and reimburse it after a covered claim — keep the receipt and the photos.

Will the tarp damage my roof?

A properly installed emergency tarp uses screw-down batten strips and butyl sealant at penetrations. The screw holes are sealed and replaced when the permanent roof goes on, so the tarp does not create lasting damage. An unsecured tarp held down by sandbags, on the other hand, almost always creates new damage when it shifts.

How long can the tarp stay on?

We rate our emergency tarps for roughly 30–90 days under typical Colorado weather. UV exposure breaks down poly tarp material after that, so any tarp left longer than 90 days needs to be re-inspected and likely replaced. Most insurance claims, scopes, and material orders move faster than 90 days in our experience.

Do I have to file an insurance claim to get an emergency tarp?

No. The emergency tarp is a paid service whether or not you ultimately file a claim. Most homeowners do file a claim because the underlying roof damage that triggered the tarp is also typically claimable, but the two are independent decisions — we will tarp first and let you decide whether to file later.