KING-A-MA-JIGS Heavy-Duty Tarp - 12' × 16' Thick 10 mil polyethylene with reinforced corners keeps attic insulation dry. Pair it with 1¼" Galvanized Roofing Nails - 1 lb box for a fast, temporary shield. Two people, four boards, and 20 nails - job done before the next lightning flash.
Emergency roof-repair tools for Buford, GA
Lake Lanier winds can flip a trash-can lid into low orbit and peel shingles back like a sardine can - often in the middle of the night. When that happens, rain doesn’t wait politely for a roofing crew to arrive. Good news: you don’t need a crane or a contractor’s toolbox to keep water out until help arrives. A roll of tape-backed flashing, a fistful of screws, and a sturdy blue tarp can save drywall, floors, and family heirlooms in under an hour. This expanded guide rounds up the simplest, most affordable tools any Buford homeowner can keep in the garage for “oh-no” moments - no fancy gauges, no power-tool gymnastics, just common-sense fixes that work while the storm is still rumbling.
Patch now, repair later - without busting the budget
Big roofing jobs feel scary, but most storm leaks start small: a lifted shingle corner, a dime-size hail bruise, or a rusty nail that finally wiggles free. Catch them fast and you’ll spend pennies instead of payroll checks.
* Simple tools, serious results. A $20 roof-cement tube stops the same leak a $300 service call
would - provided you spot it early.
* Buford weather is unpredictable. Pop-up storms roll off Lake Lanier with sideways rain that
finds the tiniest gap. Our tool list sticks, seals, and shrugs off gusts even when applied in less-than-ideal
conditions.
* Tested by local crews. We’re a hometown roofing outfit that still believes in hand-nailing and
triple-checking cleanup. These products live in every truck we send out. If it’s not dead simple and
wallet-friendly, we didn’t include it.
Stash everything in a five-gallon bucket by the attic stairs. When clouds turn black, you’ll be glad you did.
All-weather roof-tarp kit - five-minute leak stopper
Peel-and-stick flashing that bonds in the rain
Grace Vycor® Butyl Flashing Tape - 9" × 50' Roll Clean the shingle dust with a rag, press this butyl-backed tape over the rip, and it grabs tighter as the temperature rises. No heat gun, no primer - just a firm hand.
Roof cement that sticks to wet shingles
Henry Wet-Patch Roof Cement - 10 oz Cartridge Works right through drizzle. Cut the tube, squeeze a quarter-inch bead under the lifted shingle, press down, and drive a nail 1" above the tar line. A glove, a caulk gun, done.
Self-drilling screws with oversize washers
TORX Head Metal-Roof Screws - ¼" × 1½" (250 ct) Rubber-bonded washers seal on impact; perfect for strapping tarps or patch boards without splitting plywood. Toss a T-25 driver bit in your cordless drill and you’re ready.
Plastic roof vent cover - plug holes the critters left
Oatey Mushroom Vent Cap Repair - 4" Squirrels gnawed the vent cap? Pop this over the pipe, twist the clamp, and forget about buckets in the attic.
Aluminum step-flashing sheets for shingle patching
Amerimax 8" × 8" Step Flashing - 25-pk Slide one under a torn shingle, nail it high, and smear the head with roof cement. Instant shingle substitute that holds until your roofer swings by.
Before the storm: create a grab-and-go kit
Ten-minute prep saves thousands.
You don’t need a fancy truck or trailer to stay prepared - just a five-gallon bucket and a few basic tools from the local hardware store. Before storm season kicks in, take a few minutes to put together a “roof emergency kit” that lives in your attic or garage.
- Start with the essentials: a blue tarp, tape measure, utility knife, flashing tape, roof cement, nails, screws, hammer, cordless drill (or a screwdriver if that’s what you’ve got), gloves, and a cheap headlamp.
- Use a black Sharpie to label the bucket “ROOF EMERGENCY” in big letters so nobody accidentally uses it for something else.
- On a sunny Saturday, take 10 minutes to practice bringing the bucket up a ladder. It’s not about being fast - it’s about not fumbling when things are wet and windy.
Bonus tip: if you notice a leak during the storm, take a photo (safely!) of the area before touching anything. It gives you proof for the insurance company and can help your roofer later figure out what went wrong.
During the storm: tarp first, ask questions later
Speed beats perfection when water is pouring in.
When rain’s coming through the ceiling, don’t waste time Googling - grab your kit and move. Every minute counts, and a decent tarp job is better than a perfect plan you never start.
• Head to the attic and look for the source of the drip. If it’s pooling above a ceiling, poke a small hole with your screwdriver to let water drain into a bucket - this prevents a full ceiling collapse.
• Outside, two people can tarp much faster than one. One of you climbs up and anchors the top edge of the tarp above the ridge line using a 1x2 board and screws. The other person stays on the ladder or roof, slowly unrolling the tarp downslope.
• Stretch it flat, then tuck and nail the lower edge under the bottom row of full shingles. Don’t cut or remove any shingles - roofers can lift tabs to make permanent repairs later without extra demo.
Don’t overthink it. Tarp first, stay dry, and fix the fine details after the skies clear.
48-hour window: lock down edges and vents
Once the rain stops, you’ve got about two days to secure your quick-fix so it doesn’t peel up with the next gust.
• Start by sealing the edges of the tarp with flashing tape - Vycor® works well, but any good butyl-backed tape will stick to damp shingles. Press it down hard, all around the perimeter.
• Check every pipe vent boot. If the rubber’s cracked or pulled away from the pipe, wrap the whole thing twice with flashing tape. Use a basic hose clamp or zip tie to cinch it snug. This stops sneaky drips from running straight into your attic.
• Cover every exposed nail head with a fingertip dab of roofing cement (like Wet-Patch or Black Jack). It doesn’t need to look pretty - it just needs to hold for a week or two.
A little effort here saves you from watching your tarp flap off in the middle of the night.
One-week plan: swap patches for proper repairs
Tarps are only meant to hold up for a few days - not a few months.
As soon as the weather clears, call a licensed roofing contractor (that’s us!) to schedule a proper repair. Emergency patches can keep you dry temporarily, but the longer you wait, the more damage can grow under the surface.
A professional repair crew will:
- Replace any torn or missing shingles and inspect the underlayment beneath them.
- Pull up and re-seat metal flashing with fresh sealant.
- Check the plywood decking under the tarp to make sure it’s still solid - not soft, moldy, or rotten.
And don’t throw away the extra supplies. Store them in a plastic tote and keep them sealed. Most of it stays usable for a year or two and can make a future emergency much easier to handle.
We keep things simple, but we get the job done right - and we’re just a call away when you’re ready for the real fix.
Be the hero of your own roof rescue
From Ridge Road cottages to townhomes off Buford Drive, storms don’t discriminate - but prepared homeowners sleep better. Stock these tools now, and the next leak will feel like a bump in the road, not a budget breaker.
Shop Emergency Roof Kits- Phone: (470) 888 0030
- Address: Buford, GA