When a storm damages your roof or a tree crashes through your window, the clock starts ticking immediately. Every minute your home is exposed to the elements, the damage grows — water saturates drywall and insulation, wind drives rain deeper into the structure, and the conditions for mold growth begin forming. According to the EPA, mold can begin growing on wet surfaces in as little as 24 to 48 hours. Emergency board-up and tarping services are the critical first line of defense that stops the damage from spreading and protects your property until permanent repairs can be made.
People First Restoration provides 24/7 emergency board-up and tarping services throughout Central Florida, including Orlando, Sanford, DeLand, DeBary, Daytona Beach, Kissimmee, Winter Park, and Apopka. We respond immediately because we understand that speed is everything when your home's protective envelope has been breached.
What Emergency Board-Up and Tarping Involves
Board-Up Services
Board-up is the process of securing openings in your home's exterior — broken windows, damaged doors, holes in walls, or any breach that allows weather, animals, or intruders to enter. Professional board-up involves:
- Measuring and cutting plywood to fit each opening precisely
- Securing plywood with screws (not nails, which can pull loose in wind) into the structural framing around the opening
- Sealing edges with weather-resistant caulk or flashing tape to prevent water intrusion around the board
- Securing entry points including garage doors, sliding glass doors, and pet doors
Board-up is essential not just for weather protection but also for security. FEMA reports that property crime increases significantly in disaster-affected areas, and unsecured homes are primary targets.
Tarping Services
Roof tarping involves covering damaged sections of your roof with heavy-duty polyethylene tarps to prevent rain from entering the structure. Professional tarping is not as simple as throwing a blue tarp over the damage. It requires:
- Assessing the roof safely — Damaged roofs can be structurally compromised, and walking on them without proper training is dangerous
- Selecting the correct tarp size — The tarp must extend at least 4 feet beyond the damaged area on all sides to ensure coverage against wind-driven rain
- Securing the tarp properly — Professional crews use 2x4 lumber battens, screws into the roof decking, and sandbags at the edges to ensure the tarp stays in place during subsequent storms
- Creating proper water runoff — The tarp must be installed to direct water away from the damage, not pool on the roof where it can create additional weight and leaking
A poorly installed tarp can actually cause more damage than it prevents. Water pooling, tarp blow-off, and improper drainage are common problems with DIY tarping attempts.
Why Immediate Response Matters
The Cascade Effect of Delayed Mitigation
When a roof is breached or a window is broken during a storm, the damage doesn't stop when the storm passes. The cascade of secondary damage begins immediately:
- Hours 1-6 — Rain and wind drive water into attic spaces, wall cavities, and living areas. Insulation becomes saturated and loses its effectiveness. Drywall begins absorbing moisture and swelling.
- Hours 6-24 — Water migrates through the structure via gravity and capillary action. Ceiling drywall becomes soft and may collapse under the weight of absorbed water. Hardwood flooring begins to warp and buckle. Personal belongings in affected areas sustain water damage.
- Hours 24-48 — Mold spores, which are always present in Florida's humid air, begin colonizing on wet surfaces. The EPA confirms this 24-to-48-hour timeline. Once mold becomes established, remediation costs increase significantly.
- Days 3-7 — Structural components like framing lumber, roof decking, and subfloor begin to weaken. Mold spreads rapidly in Florida's warm, humid climate. The scope of restoration — and the cost — has now expanded far beyond the original storm damage.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, water damage and freezing account for approximately 29% of all homeowners insurance claims. The average water damage claim is $12,514, but claims involving mold remediation can be significantly higher. FEMA estimates that mold remediation alone can cost between $15,000 and $30,000 depending on the extent of contamination.
Insurance Implications
Your homeowner's insurance policy includes a provision requiring you to mitigate further damage after a loss. This means you are contractually obligated to take reasonable steps to protect your property from additional damage. If you fail to board up broken windows or tarp a damaged roof, your insurer may deny coverage for secondary damage — including water damage and mold — that could have been prevented.
The good news: the cost of emergency board-up and tarping is typically covered by your insurance policy as part of the overall claim. Keep all receipts and document the mitigation work with photos and video.
Cost Ranges for Emergency Board-Up and Tarping
Understanding typical costs helps homeowners make informed decisions during a stressful time. These ranges are general estimates and vary based on the scope of damage, accessibility, and materials required.
Board-Up Costs
- Single window — $75 to $200 per opening
- Standard door — $100 to $250 per opening
- Sliding glass door — $150 to $350
- Large or custom openings — $200 to $500+
- Full-home board-up (multiple openings) — $500 to $2,500+
Tarping Costs
- Small area (under 100 sq ft) — $200 to $500
- Medium area (100-300 sq ft) — $500 to $1,200
- Large area (300+ sq ft) — $1,200 to $3,000+
- Full roof tarp — $1,500 to $5,000+
These costs are typically covered by homeowner's insurance when performed as part of storm damage mitigation. People First Restoration bills your insurance company directly, so you do not need to pay out of pocket for emergency mitigation services.
24/7 Emergency Availability
Storms do not wait for business hours, and neither do we. People First Restoration maintains a 24/7 emergency response team throughout Central Florida. When you call (888) 278-8054, you reach a live person — not a voicemail — and our crew is dispatched immediately.
After Board-Up and Tarping: What Comes Next
Emergency board-up and tarping is the first step in the restoration process, not the last. Once your property is secured against further damage, the next steps include:
- Water extraction and drying — Remove standing water and begin professional drying to prevent mold growth
- Damage assessment — Detailed inspection of all affected areas including hidden spaces behind walls and above ceilings
- Insurance claim support — Xactimate estimates, moisture mapping, and direct adjuster communication
- [Storm damage repair](/services/storm-damage-repair) — Full restoration of your property to pre-loss condition, including roof repair, drywall replacement, flooring, and painting
Review our storm preparation guide before the next storm to learn how preparation reduces damage. And read our hurricane season preparation checklist for proactive steps every Central Florida homeowner should take.
Don't Wait — Call Now
If your home or business in Volusia, Seminole, Orange, or Osceola County has sustained storm damage, call People First Restoration at (888) 278-8054 for immediate emergency restoration services. Every hour of delay increases the damage and the cost of restoration. We respond 24/7, work with all major insurance companies, and secure your property fast.
Sources
- EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) — Mold growth timelines on wet building materials (24 to 48 hours) and indoor moisture management guidelines.
- Insurance Information Institute (III) — Water damage claim frequency (29% of homeowners claims) and average claim amounts ($12,514).
- FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) — Post-disaster property crime data, mold remediation cost estimates ($15,000 to $30,000), and emergency mitigation guidelines.
- IICRC S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration — Industry standards for emergency mitigation response times and procedures.