A roof tarp is a temporary cover, not a repair. FEMA says the plastic sheeting in its Operation Blue Roof program is designed to last 30 days, and shingle maker GAF says a tarp should be on a roof for a maximum of three months. Hire a roofer to check it, and line up the permanent repair now.
How long can a tarp stay on a roof?
No source we found gives one number for every tarp. FEMA says its Operation Blue Roof sheeting is designed to last 30 days. GAF, a shingle maker, says you should only have a tarp on your roof for a maximum of three months. IKO, another shingle maker, gives no number and says to leave it up for as little time as possible.
| Source | What it says | What to take from it |
|---|---|---|
| FEMA, Frequently Asked Questions About Operation Blue Roof | “The plastic is a reinforced, water-proof material that is designed to last 30 days. We recommend homeowners make arrangements for permanent roof repairs within 30 days if possible.” | Describes the program’s own sheeting, not every tarp. FEMA marks the page as archived. |
| GAF, What to Know About Tarping a Roof | You “should only have it on your roof for a maximum of three months,” and it is “worth having a roofer come one month after initial installation to inspect the tarp and confirm it’s still securely attached.” | Three months is a ceiling, not a target. A deteriorated tarp may need replacing. |
| IKO, How to Tarp a Roof | “Ideally, you would leave the tarp on your roof for as little time as possible.” It can be left in place “as long as the tarp is in good condition, without tears or rips and as long as the water isn’t getting beneath it.” | No fixed number. Wear depends on the tarp’s quality and conditions. |
Read these as planning figures, not promises. Wind, tarp quality and how the tarp was fastened differ from house to house. Plan the repair date, not the tarp’s last day.
What can shorten how long a tarp lasts?
Tarp quality, how the tarp is fastened and the weather all matter. IKO says when a tarp wears out depends on its quality and the conditions it is exposed to. GAF says a tarp should be thick enough to resist weather and heavy impacts, and that nailing it straight to the shingles without boards can lead to ripping.
- Wind. GAF says a tarp attached with nothing to weigh it down “can easily fly off if the winds are strong enough.”
- Rips and loose nails. GAF says a roofer checking the tarp can replace loose or lost nails, and that if you notice any rips you should call a contractor immediately.
- Water getting underneath. IKO’s test for leaving a tarp in place includes that water is not getting beneath it.
IKO says that if you are concerned the tarp is no longer protecting the roof, you should reach out to the roofers who put it in place.
Should I put on or check a tarp myself?
No. GAF and IKO both say to leave tarping to a professional, and OSHA lists falls, electrocutions and other hazards for the workers who install tarps. Stay on the ground. Hire a roofer to put the tarp on and to check it, and keep clear of any downed power lines.
Stay off the roof. IKO says that standing on a roof without proper safety training and equipment is dangerous, that wet roofs and roofs with loose shingles make a fall easier, and that roofs that are extremely damaged “may even collapse under the weight.”
The OSHA fact sheet is written for employers and workers. It is listed here so you know what a trained crew is expected to do, not so you can follow it:
- Crews look for downed overhead power lines and treat all power lines as “live.”
- Crews assess the roof’s condition and stability first. OSHA says not to let workers on top of a damaged roof until its strength and structural integrity have been determined.
- Crews do not install a tarp during a storm while it is windy or raining.
- Crews do not walk on a tarp. OSHA says “A tarped roof will be very slippery, especially when wet.”
OSHA’s Fall Protection in Residential Construction page links to the fact sheet.
What does a professional tarp job involve?
A professional crew examines the roof, measures the damage, picks a tarp that reaches past it, clears loose debris and anchors the tarp with boards rather than bare nails. These steps come from GAF and IKO. They show what to ask a roofer about, not how to do the work yourself.
- Examine and measure. IKO says roofers may survey the roof from a ladder, wear a safety harness or use a drone, and measure the damaged area to pick a tarp size.
- Size the tarp. GAF says the tarp should extend past the damaged areas by at least four to five feet, to keep wind-driven rain out. IKO says that ideally it hangs over the ridge so water rolls off without getting beneath it.
- Anchor with boards. IKO says the end of the tarp is wrapped around a board so the pressure spreads across the tarp, and that boards should be placed so water can drain and does not dam.
- Leave marks on the roof. IKO says the shingles that boards are fastened through will need to be replaced when the roof is repaired.
How do I move from a tarp to a permanent repair quickly?
Get written bids on one scope of work, ask each bidder for a start date in writing, and ask whether they will check or re-secure the tarp before work begins. GAF says roofing companies “tend to get booked up fast” after a storm, so dates are worth asking about early.
- Put the job on one written scope. Every bidder then prices the same job, including removing the tarp.
- Send it to several contractors. Our roof bid comparison worksheet has room for each line and each date.
- Ask for a start date in writing. Ask for the date work begins and the days it should take. Our guide on how long a roof replacement takes covers what stretches a schedule.
- Ask whether they will check the tarp. Ask if the bidder will inspect it, and re-secure it, before the start date.
- Ask who takes the tarp off. Ask whether the bid covers removing the tarp and boards and replacing shingles they were fastened through.
- Ask again if the date moves. If a start date slips, ask for a new tarp check and the new date in writing.
If every roofer you call is booked, our guide on what to do when roofers are backed up after a storm has questions to ask about start dates.
What should I ask every contractor about the tarp?
Send the same questions to every bidder and ask for written answers:
- What date will work start, and how many days do you expect it to take?
- Will you check the tarp, and re-secure it if needed, before the start date? Who do I call if it comes loose?
- Does the bid include removing the tarp and boards?
- Does the bid include replacing the shingles that the boards were fastened through?
- If you find damage under the tarp that the bid did not show, how will you tell me before you do the work?
Where Otter Quotes fits
Otter Quotes creates a written scope of work for your roof project and sends it to multiple contractors. Every bid is on the same scope, so you can compare start dates and what each bid says about the tarp side by side. You compare bids online, next to reviews and licensing information, without a salesperson in your home.
Otter Quotes does not install tarps or inspect roofs. Otter Quotes is not a contractor, does not sell upgrades and does not work with your insurance company. Contractors pay Otter Quotes a fee on the accepted bid.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a tarp stay on a roof?
No single figure fits every tarp. FEMA says Operation Blue Roof sheeting is designed to last 30 days and recommends arranging permanent repairs within 30 days if possible. GAF says a tarp should be on a roof for a maximum of three months. IKO gives no number and says to leave it up as little time as possible.
Can I put a tarp on my roof myself?
Shingle makers GAF and IKO both say to leave tarping to a professional. OSHA’s Roof Tarping (Blue Roof) Safety Fact Sheet lists falls and electrocutions as hazards for the workers who do it, and says a tarped roof is very slippery. Stay on the ground and hire a roofer.
What is Operation Blue Roof?
FEMA describes Operation Blue Roof as a program offered through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to eligible homeowners and landlords. It provides a temporary covering of blue plastic sheeting until permanent repairs can be made. The homeowner or landlord signs a Right of Entry form. FEMA marks that page as archived, so check current details with FEMA.
Who should check the tarp while I wait?
GAF says it is worth having a roofer come one month after installation to inspect the tarp and confirm it is still securely attached. IKO says that if you are worried the tarp is no longer protecting the roof, you should contact the roofers who put it in place. Do not go up to check it yourself.
What should a repair bid say about the tarp?
Ask each bidder in writing for a start date, whether they will check or re-secure the tarp before work begins, and who removes the tarp and boards. IKO says shingles that boards were fastened through will need to be replaced, so ask whether the bid includes that work.
Sources
- FEMA, Frequently Asked Questions About Operation Blue Roof. FEMA marks this page as archived content, last updated January 21, 2025.
- GAF, What to Know About Tarping a Roof, February 21, 2025.
- IKO, How to Tarp a Roof.
- U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, Roof Tarping (Blue Roof) Safety Fact Sheet, OSHA Publication 3926, December 2017.