If water is coming in right now, call. Our shop is at 2117 S Stoughton Road, which puts a truck anywhere in Madison quickly, and tarping is what stops a roof problem from becoming a ceiling, insulation and drywall problem.
Local conditions
Not every leak needs a truck tonight. Here is how we triage it when you call.
Active water entry
Water coming through a ceiling, a visible hole, or tree impact. Tarping is time-sensitive — every hour of water entry adds insulation, drywall and mold remediation to the bill.
Missing shingles after a storm
Exposed decking with more weather coming. The roof may not be leaking yet, and it will be.
Stain on the ceiling, no active drip
Real, but not a midnight call. We will get someone out promptly and diagnose the source, which is often not directly above the stain.
Missing shingles, dry interior
Worth fixing before it escalates, but it is a scheduled repair, not an emergency. We will tell you that instead of charging emergency rates.
Secured properly so it holds through the next storm, not draped and weighted. It’s the same 24/7 emergency roof repair we run across Dane County.
The entry point is often not above the stain. We trace it rather than guessing.
Structural assessment before anyone goes on the roof.
If a city street tree came down, report it to Madison Urban Forestry.
Steam removal rather than chipping, which damages shingles. Here’s how ice dams form and how to stop them.
Photographed before the tarp goes on, which matters for the adjuster. See how we handle storm damage claims in Madison.
The tarp is temporary. We book the real fix at the same visit. That’s handled by our roof repair and replacement team in Madison.
Details that matter
Five things that limit the damage and protect your claim.
| 1. Photograph everything | Before you move anything |
|---|---|
| 2. Move belongings out | Away from the drip |
| 3. Contain the water | Buckets, tarps inside |
| 4. Do not go on the roof | Ever, in weather |
| 5. Puncture a bulging ceiling | Yes — controlled drain |
| 6. Call your insurer | After you call us |
Pricing
Straight numbers so you are not deciding in the dark at 11pm.
| Option | Best for | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Inspection and documentation | Always | FREE |
| Emergency tarping | Typical Madison home | $400–$1,200 |
| Localized permanent repair | Once weather allows | $450–$2,500 |
| Tarping under an approved claim | Usually covered | $0 to you |
If the damage came from a storm event, tarping is frequently covered by your policy as mitigation. If the roof needs replacing, here’s what a new roof costs in Madison. Keep the receipt and photograph everything before the tarp goes on.
Your local exterior experts
Exterior General Contracting Questions
Emergency tarping in Madison is same-day, and often within a few hours. We are at 2117 S Stoughton Road, so we are not driving in from another county. After a major storm the queue is longer because everyone calls at once, and we will give you a real time rather than a vague one.
Emergency tarping is priced as its own service and we quote it before we come out. We do not add surprise after-hours multipliers once we are on site.
No! Wet roofs, storm conditions and steep pitches are how people get seriously hurt, and an improperly secured tarp usually makes the water entry worse. Contain the water inside and let us handle the roof.
Put a bucket underneath and puncture it in the center with a screwdriver to drain it in a controlled way. A ceiling that collapses on its own does far more damage than a small hole you made on purpose.
If the damage came from a storm event, mitigation is frequently covered. Photograph everything before the tarp goes on and keep the receipt. We document the damage as part of the visit for exactly this reason. Our insurance restoration team handles the rest of the claim with you.
No. A tarp buys you weeks, not months. We schedule the permanent repair at the same visit so you are not calling back when the next storm comes through.
Built for Wisconsin · Backed by Expertise
Get your free, no-obligation inspection today.
