Most roof damage does not require emergency tarping. A dented gutter and some missing shingles can wait for a scheduled inspection. But if water is coming inside your home, that is a different situation. A wet ceiling becomes a structural problem. Wet insulation becomes a mold problem. You stop both of those by getting a watertight tarp on the roof before the next rain.
What qualifies as an emergency
Call us immediately if any of these are happening:
- Water is actively coming through the ceiling or attic
- A tree or large branch has impacted the roof deck
- You can see daylight through the attic after the storm
- A section of roofing material has been completely removed by wind
- The ceiling is sagging or showing active staining after the storm
If hail came through, gutters are dented, and shingles are granule-bare but the roof is holding, that is urgent but not an emergency. Schedule an inspection within 24 to 48 hours. Get it documented before the next rain. But a tarp can wait until morning.
Response time
We aim to be on your roof within four hours of an emergency call during normal conditions. During active storm events, when multiple properties in the same area are affected simultaneously, we triage by severity. Active water intrusion and structural damage go first. We will give you an honest estimate of your position in the queue when you call.
We run this line 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A live person picks up. During storm season, April through June primarily, we add crew capacity ahead of forecast events so we are not scrambling to staff up after the fact.
If you are not in an emergency but want to get ahead of a storm in the forecast, call or submit the inspection request form. A preventive inspection before a storm is one of the best investments you can make. It establishes the pre-storm condition of your roof and makes post-storm documentation significantly easier.
What we bring
Our tarping crew arrives with reinforced polyethylene tarps ranging from 20x30 to 30x50 feet. The tarp size is matched to the damage zone. A tarp that barely covers the damaged section is a tarp that fails at the edge seam in the next storm. We oversize by at least four feet on every edge.
We fasten with baffled cap strips and screw-secured 2x4 battens along every seam and edge. This system holds through 60 mph sustained winds. It does not rely on staples, nails, or adhesive tape. Those methods fail in follow-up weather and they damage your trim during removal, creating additional repair costs.
We bring lights. Nighttime tarp installations are not uncommon after late-evening Oklahoma storms. We do not wait until dawn to put up a tarp when it is actively raining.
Documentation during the tarp
Every tarping visit includes photo documentation of the pre-tarp damage. We photograph the damage zone from multiple angles before we cover it. We photograph the tarp installation and the fastening method. We provide an itemized invoice noting the date, time, tarp dimensions, and labor.
This documentation matters for your insurance claim. Emergency mitigation costs are typically covered under most Oklahoma homeowners policies as long as the work was reasonable and properly documented. We format the invoice for insurance submission. You submit it with your claim.
The tarping visit also gives us our first look at the damage scope. We will flag what we see and schedule a full inspection for the next available day if the tarping visit was overnight. The full inspection produces the 14-page PDF your adjuster needs.
Insurance and cost
If you proceed with a full claim and repair through AE Roofing, the tarping is included at no additional charge. If you need a standalone tarp without a subsequent repair through us, we provide a flat-rate quote before dispatching. There is no emergency markup.
For most RCV policies in Oklahoma, emergency tarping is a covered expense as emergency mitigation. It is separate from your deductible. Submit the invoice with your claim and let your adjuster include it in the scope of loss. If they exclude it, we will supplement it.
Read more about how the full insurance claim process works or follow the Oklahoma step-by-step guide.
Emergency tarping questions
How fast can I get a tarp on my roof in Tulsa?
We dispatch within the hour for active leaks during storm events. Standard response time is under four hours for confirmed water intrusion, and same-day for wind or impact damage without active leaking. In extreme storm conditions where multiple crews are deployed, we triage by severity and keep you updated on the queue.
What does emergency tarping cost?
If you proceed with a claim through AE Roofing, the tarp is included at no additional charge. If you need a standalone tarp without a full claim or repair, we provide a flat-rate quote before we dispatch. Most residential tarps run two to four hours of labor plus materials. We quote it honestly, without emergency markup.
Will the tarp hold through another storm?
Yes, if it is installed correctly. We use 20x30 to 30x50 reinforced polyethylene tarps fastened with baffled cap strips and screw-secured 2x4 battens, not staples or nails. The batten system holds through 60 mph winds and stays watertight in follow-up rain. A staple-gun tarp does not. If another storm is tracked before your repair is complete, we will inspect the tarp and re-secure any sections.
Does homeowner's insurance cover emergency tarping?
Usually yes, as emergency mitigation. Most Oklahoma homeowners policies cover reasonable emergency mitigation costs as part of the claim. Get the receipt. Document the tarp installation with photos. Submit the cost as part of your claim. Your adjuster expects to see it. AE Roofing provides itemized invoices formatted for insurance submission.
Water is coming in right now.
Do not wait until morning. Call the 24-hour dispatch line and we will have a crew in route.