Roofing Covers: Temporary vs Permanent Protection (And When You Really Need One)

What People Really Mean by “Roofing Covers”

When customers ask me about “roofing covers”, they usually mean one of three things:

A temporary cover to protect the house when the roof leaks or work is delayed
A permanent protective layer on top of an existing roof
Some kind of extra shelter – over a doorway, balcony, terrace or bay window

On the internet, the phrase “roofing covers” gets used for everything from tarpaulins to metal sheets. If you ask me, I’ll tell you straight: some of these ideas are sensible short-term protection, and some are a fast way to create condensation, hidden rot and insurance problems.

In my 18 years on the roof, I’ve seen quick fixes cost people thousands later because the house was “covered” but not actually protected. This page is my honest guide to when a roofing cover makes sense, when it absolutely doesn’t, and what I actually do on site when you need protection fast.

Temporary Roofing Covers: When They’re Smart (And When They’re Dangerous)

Let’s start with the most common situation: your roof is leaking, you’re worried about damage inside, and you just want it covered.

When a Temporary Cover Is the Right Move

Short-term covers are useful in a few specific situations:

Active leak during bad weather – rain is driving in, and it’s not safe or sensible to strip and repair properly in that weather.
Severely damaged roof – storm damage, missing tiles, ripped felt, or a flat roof that’s clearly failed and needs full replacement, but you need a bit of time to plan it.
Work in progress – the roof is stripped and I’m part-way through the job, but the weather turns or materials are delayed.

In those cases, a correctly fitted temporary cover buys us breathing space and protects your ceilings, electrics and furniture from further damage.

Types of Temporary Roofing Covers I Actually Trust

I use a few different methods depending on your roof and the weather:

Properly fixed tarpaulins – not the thin DIY sheets that flap themselves to pieces, but heavy-duty covers, fixed into sound timber or battens, with the wind direction and water run-off in mind.
Temporary felt patches – on flat roofs, I sometimes torch or bond a temporary layer of felt to stop the worst of the ingress until I can come back for a full system.
Lifted tiles re-bedded and temporarily sealed – on pitched roofs, if I can make a safe partial repair the same day, that’s usually better than just throwing a sheet over everything.

If you’re in Sussex and your roof is actively leaking, your best move is to get me in to stabilise it safely and quickly. You can use my emergency roof leak booking service and I’ll prioritise you based on severity and access.

The Big Problem With DIY Roofing Covers

Here’s the bit nobody likes to hear. Badly fitted covers cause their own damage:

Water driven under the sheet and trapped against the roof, quietly rotting timber and ceilings.
Wind uplift – tarps ripped off in a storm, taking tiles, gutters, or even chimney pointing with them.
Condensation and mould – warm, moist air from your house hits a cold cover, condenses, and saturates the structure beneath.
Insurance headaches – obvious DIY bodges can make insurers argue about who is responsible for the damage.

If you’ve already put a sheet up yourself, don’t panic – but don’t leave it there for months. Get it checked, and get a proper plan in place.

Permanent “Roofing Covers”: Overlaying vs Replacing

The next type of “roofing cover” I get asked about is a new layer simply laid on top of an old roof. People ask me: “Can’t you just cover the existing flat roof instead of ripping it up?” or “Can you just felt over the old felt?”

Here’s my honest view: sometimes an overlay is acceptable, but most of the time it’s a false economy.

When Covering an Existing Roof Is a Bad Idea

On older flat roofs and tired pitched roofs, these are red flags for “do not just cover it”:

Soft or spongy areas – that means the deck or timbers are suspect. Putting a new layer on top just hides the problem.
Obvious long-term leaks – water has been getting in for a while; you need to see the structure, not bury it.
Poor ventilation and no vapour control – adding another airtight layer can trap moisture and cause condensation between the layers.
Irregular surfaces and bad falls – if the roof is ponding now, covering it won’t magically change the levels.

In those cases, I always recommend a proper strip, inspection and new system, especially on garages, dormers, porches and extensions.

When an Overlay Can Be Considered

Very occasionally I’ll consider a “cover” system over the top of an existing one if:

The deck is solid and dry.
The existing roof is relatively modern and not saturated.
The design allows correct new falls, perimeter details and upstands.
We can meet the current standards for insulation and vapour control.

But I always start with a detailed inspection from above and below. If you want me to assess whether your roof is a good candidate for an overlay or needs a full replacement, you can book a free roof inspection and I’ll walk you through the options on site.

Roofing Covers for Specific Areas: Porches, Garages, Dormers, Bays & Balconies

Another side to “roofing covers” is the small but important areas that protect doors, windows and outdoor spaces. These are often treated as afterthoughts, but in my experience they cause a lot of the annoying, recurring damp problems in Sussex homes.

Porch Roof Covers

A porch roof is essentially a small roofing cover over your front door – but it still has to deal with wind-driven rain and repeated wetting and drying.

I look for:

Whether the porch is flat or pitched.
How it ties into the main house wall and any existing flashings.
Whether water is being directed away from the doorway or straight onto steps and thresholds.

When I replace or upgrade a porch roof, I treat it with the same care as a main roof – proper falls, correct materials, and neat detailing against the brickwork so you’re not forever dealing with drips over the front door.

Garage Roof Covers

Garages are usually the first place people try “quick cover” solutions – bitumen paint, extra felt glued on top, or old sheets thrown over.

In my 18 years, garages are also where I see a lot of hidden structural damage because of this. The covering looks “fine” from above, but the deck is crumbling underneath.

If you suspect your garage roof needs more than just another layer, I’ve written a full guide and cost breakdown for garage flat roof replacement in Brighton, Hove and Worthing, including how I inspect and rebuild properly.

Dormer and Bay Window Roofs

Dormers and bay windows are classic “small covers” that cause big headaches if they fail. They’re often right above living rooms, bedrooms or staircases, so even a small leak shows up quickly.

Things I focus on with these types of roofing covers:

Making sure the falls are correct so water doesn’t sit against the wall.
Proper upstands and flashings into the main roof or brickwork.
Seamless junctions where different materials meet (for example, felt to tile or felt to brick).

If you have an old dormer or bay that’s been “patched” over and over, it’s usually cheaper in the long run to strip and do it properly. You can see how I handle these smaller flat roof areas – including materials and typical pricing – on my flat dormer roof service page.

Balconies and Roof Terraces as Usable Covers

Some roofing covers are meant to be walked on – balconies, roof terraces and similar spaces. These are more than just a waterproofing layer; they’re a full system with drainage, edge details and often decking or tiles on top.

If these are done on the cheap, you usually get:

Water trapped under decking or tiles.
Rotting joists or decks hidden until it’s too late.
Leaks into the room below that are very hard to trace.

When I build or refurbish a balcony or terrace, I focus on the waterproofing first and the finish second. If you’re thinking about turning a flat roof into a usable outdoor space, have a look at how I approach balcony and roof terrace waterproofing so you understand what actually goes into a safe, long-lasting system.

How I Protect Your Home During Roofing Work

Customers often worry about how their house will be protected while I’m working, especially if the old roof has to be stripped off.

Here’s how I handle “covers” during a full job:

Planning against the forecast – I’ll be honest with you: if the weather looks terrible and the job is risky to open up, I’ll suggest a different start date rather than gamble with your ceiling.
Stripping in stages – I rarely expose the whole roof in one go. I’ll work in sections I know I can make weather-tight again the same day.
Robust temporary protection – if there’s any chance of overnight rain on an exposed area, I’ll cover it properly, not with a token plastic sheet.
Client portal photo logs – through my online client portal, you can see daily photos of what’s open, what’s been covered, and how your roof is progressing.

My goal is simple: protect the structure, protect your belongings, and avoid you ever having to call your insurer because of work-in-progress.

My Honest Advice: When to Cover, When to Replace

If you’re trying to decide whether to just “cover” your roof or commit to proper work, here’s the rule of thumb I use with my own clients in Sussex:

Use temporary roofing covers to buy a few days or weeks of protection while you plan a proper repair or replacement.
Don’t rely on temporary covers as a long-term solution – the longer they stay up, the more risk of hidden damage.
Be suspicious of cheap overlay jobs that promise a “new roof” without removing the old one, especially if the roof has leaked before.
For garages, porches, dormers, bays and balconies, treat them like mini roofs, not afterthoughts. They need proper detailing, not just extra layers.

If you’re unsure what your roof really needs, the best step is a straightforward inspection and conversation on site. I’ll tell you exactly what I see, take photos, and explain whether a temporary cover, a targeted repair, or a full replacement makes the most sense for your situation and your budget.

You can book a free roof inspection in Brighton and Sussex, and I’ll walk you through your options without any pressure. If we do go ahead with work, you’ll get a fixed-price quote, access to my online client portal, and clear photos of every stage – so you always know exactly what’s happening above your head.