24/7 Emergency Tarp Service

Screw-down, not nail-down. Roofing nails pull out under wind load. Screws through 1×3 furring strips into the roof deck don't. The screws also penetrate the deck through the existing shingle field rather than driving new fasteners into bare deck — so the holes self-seal under the next layer of shingles when the proper repair happens.

Furring strip perimeter. We don't lay a tarp flat with screws around the edge — the tarp would tear at every fastener under flapping. Instead, 1×3 pressure-treated furring strips bound the tarp on every edge, then the screws go through the furring strip into the deck. The furring distributes load and prevents tarp tearing.

Polyurethane perimeter seal. The seam between tarp and existing shingles gets a bead of Sika 1A polyurethane along the uphill edge so wind-driven rain can't get under the tarp at the top. Polyurethane stays flexible 15-20 years; doesn't crack like silicone caulk does at 5-7 years.

Tarp size + overlap. We size the tarp to extend at least 24 inches beyond the damage zone in every direction. On exposed eaves, we run the tarp 12 inches past the eave and wrap it back to the underside of the soffit — water-driven uphill (in a nor'easter) can't ride up under the tarp.

Heavy-duty material. The 12 mil contractor-grade tarp we use is 4-6× the weight of a home-center blue tarp. UV-resistant, tear-resistant at fastener points, doesn't shred in the first windstorm.

Active leak during business hours (M-F 7 AM-7 PM, Sat 7 AM-3 PM): 2-4 hours from call. We have crews positioned across Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Hudson, Union counties for fast response in North Jersey. Central and South Jersey routes from Garfield: 3-5 hours depending on traffic.

Active leak overnight or holiday: 4-6 hours from call. 24/7 dispatch — we don't have a 'call back tomorrow' policy. After-hours rates apply for true emergencies, fully reimbursable through most policies' emergency-mitigation provisions.

Major storm event (nor'easter with widespread damage): triage. We prioritize active interior leaks first, then high-velocity wind situations where damage is escalating, then standard tarp requests. We never refuse to come — wait time may extend to 24-36 hours in a major event with hundreds of NJ claims simultaneously.

What to do while you wait. Move furniture away from active drips, place buckets, photograph everything with timestamps for the insurance claim, shut off electricity to any wet circuit. We talk you through this on the dispatch call.

Most NJ homeowner policies cover emergency tarp service under 'reasonable mitigation' or 'emergency repair' provisions. Coverage is typically full repair cost minus deductible if the underlying damage is itself covered (wind, hail, fallen tree). Documentation matters: we provide an itemized invoice in the format adjusters use, plus photos of the damage condition before and after tarp installation.

Tarp service is mitigation, not repair. We document it as a separate line item on the eventual insurance claim — the tarp is removed and discarded once permanent repair or replacement happens, but the tarp install cost is a separate reimbursable mitigation expense.

Carriers we work with daily on tarp reimbursement: NJM, State Farm, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, Travelers, Plymouth Rock, AIG, USAA, Selective. Each has a slightly different documentation format; we use the one that matches your carrier so reimbursement processes faster.

What's not covered. Tarp service for damage caused by lack of maintenance (failed pipe boot, worn flashing, age-related deterioration) is not covered by homeowner insurance — that's an out-of-pocket cost. We give you an honest read on the call: if the underlying damage isn't claim-worthy, we tell you so you know what to expect.