Hurricane Season Tarp Guide: How to Protect Your Property Before the Storm Hits
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When a hurricane is 72 hours out, hardware stores sell out of tarps in hours. Every year along the Gulf Coast — Houston, New Orleans, Tampa, Miami — contractors and homeowners who waited scramble for whatever is left: thin poly sheets that shred in the first squall.
This guide covers what you actually need: the right thickness, the right size, how to tie down a tarp so it survives 100 mph gusts, and how to prepare before the rush.
Why Hurricane Season Is Different
Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, peaking from mid-August to late October. A storm doesn't have to make direct landfall to destroy property — outer bands alone can peel roofing, flood uncovered equipment, and turn stored materials into a total loss.
After a storm passes, a roof tarp is often the only thing between your building and weeks of rain while contractors are booked solid. Insurance adjusters expect it: a properly installed emergency roof tarp prevents secondary water damage claims that can double your payout.
Which Thickness Do You Need? (5 Mil vs 10 Mil vs 12 Mil vs 16 Mil)
Not all tarps are rated for storm conditions. Thickness (measured in mils) is the single biggest factor in whether your tarp survives the storm:
| Thickness | Best For | Storm Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Mil | Dust, debris, short-term indoor coverage | Not for storms |
| 10 Mil | General construction, pre-storm material protection | Light storms only |
| 12 Mil | Harsh weather, long-term exposure, emergency roof coverage | Hurricane ready |
| 16 Mil | Maximum durability — extended roof repairs, high-wind zones | First choice |
Our recommendation for hurricane season: 12 Mil minimum, 16 Mil if the tarp needs to stay up for weeks. A thin tarp that fails in the first night is not cheaper — you lose the tarp and whatever it was protecting.
All Cover-Boss tarps are 100% waterproof with heat-sealed seams (not stitched, which leaks), a UV-resistant coating for sun exposure after the storm, and reinforced corners with rust-resistant grommets.
What Size Tarp Do You Need?
The most common mistake: buying a tarp the same size as the damaged area. You need at least 4 feet of overhang on each side to anchor it properly:
- Measure the damage (roof section, window, equipment footprint)
- Add 4 ft to each dimension — a 20 ft section needs a 28 ft tarp
- Round up to the next standard size
Common hurricane applications:
- Roof damage (single-family home): 20×30 ft or 24×36 ft
- Full roof / large outbuilding: 30×50 ft or 50×100 ft
- Equipment & material stockpiles: 20×20 ft to 30×50 ft
- Windows & doorways: 6×8 ft or 8×10 ft panels
- Boats, vehicles, trailers: 12×20 ft to 20×30 ft
Our heavy-duty tarps come in 14 sizes from 6×8 ft up to 50×100 ft, so you can match the job without paying for excess.
How to Install a Roof Tarp That Actually Holds
- Clear debris from the damaged section and check the surface is dry
- Center the tarp with equal overhang on all sides — never lay it flat against the damaged edge
- Anchor every grommet — skip one and the wind finds it. Use rope through the grommets, screw-in anchors, or 1×3 wooden battens fastened along the edges
- On sloped roofs, run the tarp from the ridge down (over the peak), so water sheds off naturally
- Check it after the first storm — re-tension anything that has slackened
If you're covering a roof, FEMA's own post-storm guidance treats emergency roof tarping as the standard first step to prevent further damage.
Buy Before the Storm, Not After
Three reasons to order now rather than when a storm forms:
- Dispatch is fast now — Cover-Boss ships in 24-48 hours from warehouses in Houston, TX and Anaheim, CA, covering both the Gulf Coast and the West Coast
- During a storm run, demand spikes — popular sizes (20×30, 30×50) sell out regionally, and shipping slows as carriers reroute
- Contractors: stock up now — after every major hurricane, tarps become a resale item at a premium. A pallet in your warehouse is margin waiting to happen
Buying in Bulk or by Container?
Contractors, municipalities, and distributors: we run factory-direct container pricing on all sizes, with worldwide shipping on full container loads. For US-based volume orders, our Houston and Anaheim warehouses support regional distribution.
Request a bulk quote — tell us sizes, quantities, and destination, and we'll respond within one business day.
Hurricane Season Checklist (Save This)
- 12 Mil or 16 Mil tarps sized 4 ft larger than target areas
- Rope, anchors, or battens for tie-down
- Gloves and safety gear for rooftop work
- Backup power and charged lights
- Document your property's pre-storm condition (photos for insurance)
Storm season runs through November. The cheapest insurance you'll buy this year is a tarp that doesn't fail.