Temporary Roof Leak Fixes: Tarping & What NOT to Do

Tarping a leak in Idaho Falls can hold for 3–8 weeks when winters bring heavy snow and ice dams form along the Snake River corridor, but it fails faster on older homes in Downtown Idaho Falls or East Idaho Falls if the tarp is not secured against 30–40 mph winds common in Bonneville County.

Preparing a Tarp on Idaho Falls Roofs

Homes built before 1980 in West Idaho Falls and near the Idaho Falls Zoo often have asphalt shingles that crack during cold snaps. Measure the leak area from inside the attic first, then add 4–6 feet on every side so the tarp overlaps the ridge. Use 6-mil reinforced poly sheeting because thinner plastic rips under the dry summer winds that follow spring melt. Walk the roof only when temperatures stay above 40 °F to avoid cracking brittle shingles. Clear debris from gutters along the Snake River side of the house so water does not pool behind the tarp and push under flashing.

Step-by-Step Tarping Process

Start at the ridge and roll the tarp down past the leak by at least two courses of shingles. Secure the top edge with 2x4 battens nailed into rafters, not just shingles. Run straps or ropes over the tarp and anchor them to the fascia or secure points on the opposite side of the roof. In neighborhoods like Ammon or Rexburg where wind funnels through open fields, add extra straps every 4 feet. Seal the bottom edge with roof cement only after the first rain test. Check the tarp weekly because freeze-thaw cycles in Bonneville County loosen fasteners quickly.

What Not to Do During Temporary Fixes

Never staple a tarp directly into shingles; staples create new leak points that ice dams exploit later. Avoid covering more than one valley or running the tarp under existing flashing, which traps moisture and rots decking on homes near the Museum of Idaho. Do not climb onto icy roofs in January; slips on the Greenbelt side of properties cause most local injuries. Skip using household plastic sheeting or blue tarps from hardware stores because they shred after two weeks of UV exposure in dry summers. Never ignore interior water stains thinking the tarp solved the problem; hidden rot spreads fast in unvented attics common in older Idaho Falls stock.

When Tarping Is Not Enough

If water still appears after two weeks or the leak sits near a chimney or pipe boot, tarping alone will not protect the home through another freeze. Schedule a roof leak detection & inspection before damage reaches drywall in Fairway Estates or Comore Loma. Persistent leaks tied to ice dams require ice dam removal & prevention rather than repeated tarps. For sudden failures after wind events, move directly to emergency roof leak repair instead of attempting another temporary cover. Review the seasonal checklist in our guide on Ice Dams: Why They Cause Leaks & How to Stop Them to plan permanent roof repair before the next cold front arrives from the Tetons.