Stuck between a $15 tarp and a $60 rubber membrane for my shed roof leak

I had a leak in my shed roof after that big storm last week in Portland. Couldn't decide between a cheap tarp held down with bricks or a proper rubber membrane kit from the hardware store. Went with the tarp first because I was short on time and cash. It lasted through one more rain then ripped at the corner, so I should have just bought the membrane from the start. Anyone else had this kind of temporary fix blow up on them?

3 comments

3 Comments

foster.charles22d ago

My tarp blew into the neighbor's yard, I feel your pain.

norathomas22d ago

I mean is a shed leak really that big of a deal though? @foster.charles I get that your tarp got carried off but unless you're storing heirlooms in there it's probably fine for a while. I patched my own shed roof with some scrap plywood and a broken umbrella last fall and it held up okay until I actually got around to fixing it. Sometimes the temporary fix teaches you something you'd miss by just throwing money at the problem right away.

patriciap528d ago

You mentioned the tarp blowing into the neighbor's yard @foster.charles and that's exactly what I was wondering about after @norathomas said the temporary fix can teach you something. Was your tarp weighted down with bricks or did you try tying it off? Because if it was just bricks, that's a pretty clear sign the cheap route wasn't really teaching anything besides how to waste $15 and annoy your neighbor. I get saving money, but at $60 the rubber membrane seems like a smarter bet if you want it to actually stay put.