How to Tarp a Roof _ HURRICANE PREP

Now , after a hurricane , one of the likeliest places you'll discover damage is your roof .

So I'm going to show you how to tarp over a shingled roof to prevent leaks and some ways to prep your roof before the storm can cause serious structural damage to your home .

So don't treat leaks lightly , try to stop them as soon as you possibly can .

Now , after a heavy storm , it may be difficult to get a professional team out to fix your roof right away .

That means you'll have to cover the damaged area with a tarp .

Now , of course , be careful when working on your roof and if the roof is too steep , put the tarp on from a ladder , never walk on the tarp and please never try to put a tarp on during a storm .

Start by removing any debris .

Then you'll need to locate the leaking area .

Look for torn shingles and missing panels and from your attic , check the underside of the sheathing for water stains .

Next unroll the tarp over the damaged area , allow at least four ft to overhang past the peak and let the rest hang off the eve using cap nails attach the peak end of the tarp to a two by four .

The board should be about two ft longer than the tarp width wrap the tarp around the board so it feeds off the top like this , then secure it to the roof with screws and this will anchor the tarp next attach two by fours to both edges of the tarp again just on the peak side perpendicular to the anchor board to hold the tarp tight to the roof that will help keep the water out if needed .

On this other end , cut off the excess , leaving about a four ft overhang .

Again , nail the tarp to a two by four like you did on the other end , wrap the tarp around the board , pull it tight against the roof and attach it under the eve .

Now attach two by fours down the long sides of the tarp to help keep water out to help prevent tearing .

You can add a two by four on top of your anchor boards and that should help keep your roof dry until you can get it repaired .

And for a professional roof installation call Lowe's , we can do it for you .

Now , here are a few things you can do to help make your roof stronger before a storm , heavy winds can damage roofing or blow trees onto your roof .

But those strong winds can also blow against the gable and cause even more damage .

Consider adding additional bracing between the trusses and at each gable end .

And if you don't have them , it's a good idea to add hurricane clips where the trusses connect to the walls , to see our other hurricane preparedness videos or to download checklists , guides and other tips .

Visit our hurricane preparedness website .