A hurricane or tornado is coming.
Are you prepared with the right supplies? Although you may leave the area during the storm, returning to your home often means surveying the damage.
While such extreme weather often results in some damage, having the right supplies on hand is the difference between stopping further damage and causing more water and mold to enter your home.
Tarps are one supply everyone needs before a hurricane or similar natural disaster, and having a few beforehand, in addition to the supplies to attach them, is helpful when a storm is approaching.
If your home has experienced roof damage, a tarp needs to be applied to the area to prevent water from seeping in and causing damage and inviting mold and mildew to form.
As soon as you have identified all of the places needing tarps, secure them.
Although several methods are used, a popular one consists of wrapping a two-by-four board in one end of the material and nailing the board and tarp down on the other side of the roof peak.
Then, the material extends on top of the peak and over the damaged area.
The other end of the tarp needs to be wrapped in another two-by-four board and nailed on to the other side of the damage.
The remaining two sides should also be nailed down.
Simply throwing a tarp over a damaged area is never effective.
Tarps cannot stay in place alone and need to be held down.
Once the tarp is in place, however, realize that the material is not permanent.
As soon as possible, have a contractor assess the damage and give you an estimate for repairs.
The roof should be repaired in about three months' time.
Tarps can be used on other damaged parts of the home.
Water can enter through other places, and if windows and lights have been damaged, attach tarps around them to temporarily keep out water, mold, and mildew.