How to install roof blue tarp/shrink wrap?

If you are living in a state such as Florida where there is a tropical and hurricane season every year, then you must be aware that more than likely, it will be difficult to get a hold of roofing companies from your area to have them fix your roof immediately due to high volume of calls and customers. Chances are, you will be put on a waiting list and would be waiting for another few more weeks or months depending on the volume of their projects. To save yourself from worry and stress, a blue tarp or shrink wrap can help to prevent further damages.

Before we dive into the details and steps on how to perform a proper shrink wrap and/or blue tarp roof installation for your home, you must first have to determine which type of material is best suited for you. The following materials that you are about to read should give you some insight and/or idea to determine whether a blue tarp or shrink wrap is best for you.

Blue Tarp

Blue tarp, the cheapest therefore most common tarp there is. They are cheaper compared to a shrink wrap but less durable. They are only great for an easy fix and emergency. Note that certain roofs are not best suited for this material, such as having an odd shape of roofing. Since it is only suited for only little amount of time, it can only last up to two months depending on the weather. Additionally, some of them are not waterproof which can cause water damage to your home if an unexpected rain comes in your area. You also have to keep in mind that there are safety risks when choosing to use blue tarp. First are the possibilities for the sand bags to fall from roof causing it for further damages on other items and secondly, if nails were used for sealing, it can come off if there’s a strong wind and/or storm. For these reasons, we usually advised using shrink wrap for roofing installation rather than a blue tarp unless customer preferred blue tarp otherwise.

White Shrink Wrap

There are different kind of shrink wrap. In Rk Restoration, we always use 10 mil UV polyethylene shrink wrap. It’s the strongest type of shrink wrap, reason why we strongly recommend them. One of the main reasons why you, as a homeowner, should choose a shrink wrap over blue tarp is because it is flexible to any shape of roof and a much safer option. Safer because unlike blue tarp, shrink wrap is sealed using heat gun meaning it is tightly sealed on your roof preventing any water from entering. Although it is more expensive than a blue tarp, its lifespan can last from 6 months up to two years depending on the weather. See pictures below to get an idea about the difference in regards to quality and longevity between a blue tarp and a shrink wrap film.

Now that we’ve covered some of the details that you need to know to differentiate between those two, we will now cover some of the basic steps about proper installation.

How to install blue tarp:

Required Materials:

• 2x8 Furring Strips
• Screws
• Nail caps
• Hammer
• Drill/Nail Gun
• Broom

Step 1:
Safety
Safety is always our number one priority. Before proceeding to perform an installation, you have to consider any possible risks of danger. This can be done by making sure first and foremost that the weather is clear to perform such task. If the weather condition is good, make sure roof is safe to step on to proceed with the job but please note to never ever step on the tarp. Once you are done with safety assessment, you can now proceed with installation with proper precaution.

Step 2:
Clean-Up and locating the damaged:
Clear out any debris such as leaves and large tree trunks from your roof and locate where the damage is. You can look for any missing panels or screws to locate the damaged and also checking your attic to see where the leak is coming from to make sure you have the proper location of the damaged roof.

Step 3:
Measurement
You can always do this by looking up your address and use google map to measure your roof. You can also get the measurement by doing it manually and using a tape measure. You can measure your roof as a whole or just the damage itself so you can get an idea about the approximate length of tarp you should buy.

Step 4:
Installation
Cover the damaged part of your roof using the blue tarp. For greater results, we recommend allowing the tarp to overhang the peak all the way down to fascia to prevent from having the need to seal your roof after removing the screws attached as well as preventing any water from entering inside the tarp. Next, attach the end of the blue tarp using hammer and cap nails with the furring strips, once it’s attached, roll the furring strip under the tarp and then attach it on your fascia.

Note:
We highly recommend to cover the whole house for greater peace of mind rather than covering the damaged part of your roof due to the possibilities of water entering inside the tarp.

How to Install 10 Mil UV White Shrink Wrap:

***Please note that installing a white shrink wrap requires someone with experience so we highly suggest to call an experience company to perform this job for you. But to get an idea on how to properly install a white shrink wrap on your roof, read the following information.

Required Materials:

• 2x8 Furring Wood
• Shrink Wrap Heating gun
• Propane tank for heat gun
• Hammer
• Nails
• Nail Gun
• Shrink Wrap Film (we recommend using 10 Mil UV White)

Step 1:
Safety
Safety is always our number one priority. Before proceeding to perform an installation, you have to consider any possible risks of danger. This can be done by making sure first and foremost that the weather is clear to perform such task. If the weather condition is good, make sure roof is safe to step on to proceed with the job. Once you are done with safety assessment, you can now proceed with installation with proper precaution.

Step 2:
Clean-Up and locating the damaged
Clear out any debris such as leaves and large tree trunks from your roof and locate where the damage is. You can look for any missing or broken panels or screws to locate the damaged and also checking your attic to see where the leak is coming from to make sure you have the proper location of the damaged roof.

Step 3:
Measurement
You can always do this by looking up your address and use google map to measure your roof. You can also get the measurement by doing it manually using a tape measure to get an idea about the approximate length of shrink wrap you should buy. Normally for small houses, we used 40x100 shrink wrap roll.

Step 4:
Installation
Once you have the measurement that is needed for your house, you will need to attach the furring wood with the shrink wrap using nails and a hammer. This is needed so the film won’t be blown away by the wind when doing the process of installation. Once the furring strips are attached and all corners of the roof of the house are covered, you can now proceed with placing the furring strips behind your fascia and attach it there for security. This process needs to be done on all corners of the house. Finally, you can start the burning process using a special heating gun and a propane tank. This last process is critical to make the film stronger, stretched out, and sealed making it look like an ice-skating rink.

Note:
Please keep in mind that the information provided are just the basic steps on how to apply these materials if you would like to do it yourself. We still recommend to call an experience company to perform this task for you for safety reasons. Without proper experience and proper knowledge regarding the proper installation of blue tarp and/or shrink wrap for your roof, you are at a higher risk of furthering the damage to your house, as well as, putting yourself in danger. So always remember to proceed with proper precautions and safety is always a number one priority!