Learn Whether You Can Tarp Flat Roof Safely
A tarp can buy you time on a flat roof during an emergency leak-but in most Brooklyn scenarios, it’s neither safe nor effective if you improvise it in the rain without experience. The answer isn’t a simple yes or no.
On flat roofs, wind and ponding water can turn a loose tarp into a sail, a bathtub, or both. I’ve seen DIY tarps rip off and take pieces of membrane with them. I’ve also seen them trap water right over the leak they were meant to protect.
This guide will help you decide if tarping makes sense at all, what you must never do, what safer emergency options exist, and what information FlatTop Brooklyn and other local roofers need to prioritize your call. We’re focused on emergency leak control and safety-not on permanent repairs or do-it-yourself re-roofing.
First Question: Do You Actually Need a Tarp Right Now?
Before anyone climbs onto a flat roof with a tarp, you need to assess two things: what’s happening inside your home, and whether conditions outside are safe enough for anyone to work up there.
Inside the Home: How Bad Is It?
If water is pouring through a ceiling or running down walls, you’re in emergency territory. Your first job is protecting people and belongings, not fixing the roof.
Move furniture and electronics away from the leak. Put buckets under drips. Lay down towels or plastic sheeting on floors to limit damage. Turn off power in any affected area if water is near fixtures or outlets.
If you see only a small stain but no active dripping during a light rain, you likely have time to call a roofer and avoid any roof-top improvising. Most Brooklyn roofing companies can visit within hours or the next morning, depending on demand.
Outside Conditions: Can Anyone Safely Go Up?
If it’s raining hard, icy, or very windy, nobody should be on a flat roof without professional safety gear and fall protection. Period.
In Brooklyn, wet membranes, gravel, and hidden ponding make flat roofs especially slippery-much more than a dry shingle roof. I’ve responded to calls where homeowners slipped on wet TPO and ended up in the ER instead of solving their leak.
If conditions are unsafe, the answer is no: do not tarp yourself. Focus on interior protection and calling a pro.
Why Tarping a Flat Roof Is Very Different from Tarping a Pitched Roof
Most homeowner tarping advice you’ll find online is written for pitched roofs. Flat roofs behave completely differently, and those differences make DIY tarping much riskier.
Water Has Nowhere to Go Under a Tarp
On a pitched roof, rainwater runs downhill under a tarp and off the edge. On a flat roof, it tends to pool wherever there’s a low spot or a dip.
A poorly placed tarp can actually trap water over the leak instead of shedding it. That adds weight and pressure right where you don’t want it. Standing water on a tarp can shift suddenly if the wind catches it, making the surface unstable.
Here’s a simple text diagram of the problem:
[FLAT ROOF CROSS-SECTION]
Deck → Insulation → Membrane → Ponded Water → Tarp Over Top
↓
Water trapped
No drainage path
Weight increasing
The water can’t escape. It just sits there, stressing the membrane and looking for new ways through.
Wind Turns Tarps into Sails
Flat roofs on Brooklyn buildings are often exposed. Gusts can get under a loosely secured tarp and rip it off-or drag anything it’s tied to.
This is a risk to you, your neighbors, parked cars, and nearby windows. I once responded to a Red Hook building where a homeowner’s tarp blew off during a storm and landed on the windshield of a parked Subaru two doors down. The homeowner’s insurance covered it, but barely.
Heavy weights used to “hold down” a tarp can slide or topple in wind, damaging the membrane underneath. Cinder blocks and bricks gouge through soft membranes when they shift.
You Can’t Nail or Screw Through a Flat Roof
On pitched roofs, emergency tarps are sometimes nailed into decking above the leak zone. On a flat roof, every fastener through the membrane is another leak point.
Any attachment must go into appropriate curbs, parapets, or separate ballast-not your waterproofing layer. That’s a technical distinction most homeowners don’t have the tools or knowledge to manage safely.
Flat Roof Tarping Safety: Non-Negotiables
If you take nothing else from this article, remember these four rules. They’re based on 23 years of storm calls and insurance claims I’ve seen go wrong.
Do Not Go on a Wet or Icy Roof Without Fall Protection
Even “only one floor up” is a serious fall risk. Flat roofs can have hidden edges, soft spots, or trip hazards near parapets and hatches.
I’ve seen experienced roofers slip on wet EPDM when they got careless. If you’re not trained and equipped, don’t go up there.
Do Not Puncture the Membrane
No nails, screws, or anchors through the roof to hold a tarp. Every hole must be flashed or patched correctly later.
Many DIY tarps create more leaks than they stop. I’ve replaced entire sections of membrane that were turned into Swiss cheese by well-meaning homeowners who thought “just a few screws” wouldn’t hurt.
Do Not Drag Heavy Objects Across the Roof
Cinder blocks, bricks, or furniture used as weights can gouge or puncture the membrane if shifted by you or the wind.
Weight should be distributed and separated from the membrane with protection-usually rubber pads or plywood. That’s something pros plan for; homeowners rarely do.
Do Not Block Drains or Scuppers
Tarps often sag or bunch around drains, stopping water from leaving the roof. Blocked drains create rapid ponding and can overload structure or force water into new leak paths.
On a Crown Heights three-story I worked on, the homeowner’s tarp covered the only scupper. The roof held 6 inches of water by the time we got there the next morning. The ceiling below nearly collapsed.
⚠ DANGER: Falls and hidden membrane damage from DIY tarping are more common and more serious than homeowners expect. Every year in Brooklyn, I respond to emergency calls where a homeowner or their friend fell off a flat roof trying to secure a tarp in bad weather. The injuries are often worse than the water damage would have been. Don’t become a statistic.
Safer Emergency Options Than DIY Tarping
You have practical alternatives while waiting for a pro. Most of them keep you off the roof entirely.
Interior Protection and Controlled Drains
Use buckets, plastic sheeting, and temporary ceiling drainage only if advised by a contractor. Sometimes a controlled puncture of a bulging ceiling prevents collapse, but you need to know what you’re doing.
Turn off power in affected areas if water is near fixtures or outlets. Call a licensed electrician if you’re unsure about electrical safety.
Call a Roofer Who Offers Emergency Flat Roof Service
Many Brooklyn roofing companies-including FlatTop Brooklyn-will do short-notice visits to place professional-grade coverings or perform temporary repairs.
We bring proper safety gear, weighted protection mats, and compatible materials that won’t void warranties. Emergency visits typically cost $375-$650 depending on time of day and severity, but that’s far less than a hospital bill or a bigger repair from DIY mistakes.
Ask About Liquid Patch Products, Not Just Tarps
Depending on the roof and weather, pros may recommend or apply temporary liquid repairs around specific cracks or penetrations.
These are not long-term fixes, but they can be safer and more targeted than covering large areas with a tarp. On small, localized leaks, liquid patches often work better than any tarp ever would.
Micro FAQ: Quick Tarp Questions
Can I tarp just over my skylight?
Usually not safely. Skylights need specific flashing and curb details; a tarp over one often channels water into the curb itself.
Is a blue tarp okay, or do I need a special roof tarp?
Most hardware-store blue tarps are too thin and have grommets that tear out in wind. Pros use reinforced tarps rated for outdoor exposure and high wind.
Will a tarp void my roof warranty?
Possibly. Many flat roof warranties are voided by unauthorized repairs or penetrations. Check your warranty documents or call the installer before anyone touches the roof.
Can I staple the tarp edges?
Staples through a flat roof membrane = instant leak. Don’t do it.
When a Tarp Might Be Used on a Flat Roof-and How (By Pros)
There are limited scenarios where tarps work on flat roofs. They all involve professional installation, not homeowner improvisation.
Covering a Localized Breach
If a roofer finds a clearly defined damaged area-like storm debris impact or a small puncture from HVAC work-they may use a reinforced tarp or sheet over that zone as part of a temporary assembly.
They’ll usually place protection boards beneath, then ballast or secure to structural elements, not to the membrane itself. The goal is to shed water away from the breach until permanent repairs can be scheduled.
Short-Term Weather Protection During Work
Pros sometimes tarp or temporarily cover sections in the middle of a replacement when weather moves in suddenly. They know how to lap and weigh covers so water still gets to drains without cutting into the roof further.
This is a planned, controlled process with specific materials-not a last-minute hardware-store tarp thrown over the problem.
Insurance or Inspection-Driven Measures
Insurers or adjusters may require “mitigation” after a storm. A contractor-installed tarp or temporary cover is often enough to satisfy that requirement.
Documented professional measures help show you acted reasonably without taking unsafe risks. Many policies explicitly state that you must take steps to prevent further damage, but they don’t expect you to risk your life doing it.
Brooklyn Realities That Affect Flat Roof Tarp Safety
Brooklyn’s building types and weather patterns create specific challenges for any kind of temporary roof covering.
Party Walls and Tight Alleys
Many roofs are close to neighbors. A tarp or loose debris blown off your roof can land on their property or damage parked cars.
Pros consider prevailing wind direction and where any cover or ballast might go if disturbed. In Bed-Stuy, I once worked on a building where the neighbor’s tarp had blown onto our client’s roof and torn through their membrane. Both roofs ended up needing repair.
Multi-Story Falls and Sidewalks
Even a two-story drop onto a Brooklyn sidewalk is serious. Dropped tools or materials can injure passersby.
Professional crews use controlled access, cones, or sidewalk protection when working at the roof edge. Homeowners rarely can do this safely during a storm, and the liability if something goes wrong is enormous.
Snow, Ice, and Freeze-Thaw
Snow and ice accumulate differently on flat roofs. Tarps can freeze into slushy ponds that are very hard to remove without damaging the membrane.
Winter “solutions” often leave long-term problems under spring thaw. Again, professional input is key-especially in Brooklyn, where we can get freeze-thaw cycles several times per winter.
Quick Decision Flow: Tarp, Wait, or Call a Pro?
Use this simple logic path if you’re stressed and need a clear answer fast.
| Condition | If YES | If NO |
|---|---|---|
| Is it currently raining hard, very windy, or icy? | Do NOT go on the roof. Protect inside, document damage, call FlatTop Brooklyn or another local roofer for emergency service. | Proceed to next question, but still consider your own comfort and safety on a roof. |
| Is the leak minor (small drip, slow stain) and confined? | You likely have time to schedule a professional visit without any tarping. Use buckets and protection inside. | If water is flowing or ceilings are bulging, treat as an emergency and prioritize professional help. |
| Are you trained, equipped, and insured to work at height? | You probably wouldn’t be reading this. Even construction-savvy homeowners usually benefit from a roofing crew. | Do not attempt DIY tarping. The short-term risk outweighs the benefit in almost all Brooklyn scenarios. |
What to Tell a Brooklyn Roofer When You Call About a Leak
Clear, concise information helps us triage your call correctly and get to you faster. Here’s what we need to know:
- Where the leak shows up inside: Which room, wall, or ceiling area? How fast is water coming in?
- When it happens: Only with heavy rain? Every rain? When wind comes from one direction?
- Roof age and type: Anything you know-felt, rubber (EPDM), white single-ply (TPO), coated, etc.
- Drains and ponding: Are there visible drains or scuppers? Have you noticed standing water on the roof in the past?
- Prior measures: Have you tried any temporary fixes? Buckets inside? Prior patches? Any tarps used by others?
Photos or video sent via text or email help enormously, especially if we’re triaging multiple calls during a storm. We can often tell you over the phone whether it’s safe to wait or if we need to come immediately.
Flat Roof Tarping Questions-Answered Briefly
Will my insurance deny a claim if I don’t tarp the flat roof?
Usually, insurers expect reasonable efforts to limit damage, but that doesn’t mean risking your safety or making the roof worse.
Document interior protection measures, your calls to pros, and any advice they give. A professionally installed temporary cover counts far more than a dangerous DIY tarp. In fact, most adjusters I work with would rather see no tarp than a bad one that created new damage.
Can I stand a tarp up as a “tent” over a leak?
On a flat roof, tent-like tarps catch wind and water, becoming more hazardous than helpful.
Pros use very specific techniques and anchoring points if they create temporary coverings. Improvising this is not recommended-it’s one of the fastest ways to turn a small leak into a much bigger problem.
If a roofer uses a tarp, how long can it stay?
Most tarps and temporary covers are meant for days or a few weeks, not months or seasons. They should be checked after major weather.
A permanent repair or replacement should be scheduled as soon as feasible. We never leave a tarp longer than necessary; UV exposure, wind, and freeze-thaw cycles degrade them quickly.
The Bottom Line: When in Doubt, Stay Off the Roof
Can you tarp a flat roof? Technically, yes-but in most Brooklyn situations, it’s not safe or effective unless you’re a trained professional with the right equipment and experience.
The risks-falls, new leaks, membrane damage, wind hazards, liability-almost always outweigh the benefits of a DIY tarp job. Your best move is interior protection, clear documentation, and a call to a local flat roof specialist who can assess and act safely.
FlatTop Brooklyn responds to emergency leak calls throughout Brooklyn, day or night. We’ll help you decide whether a temporary cover makes sense or whether a targeted repair is faster and safer. Call us at any hour if you’re dealing with an active leak-we’ll talk you through your options and get a crew to you as quickly as conditions allow.
Stay safe. Protect your home from the inside. Let the pros handle the roof.