Most roofs in the Columbia area last somewhere between fifteen and twenty-five years, depending on the shingle, the ventilation, and how much sun the roof takes. Toward the end of that range, repairs stop holding and start piling up. These are the signs we look for on an estimate visit.
Curling, cupping, or cracked shingles. Midlands summers bake asphalt shingles, and once they start to curl at the edges, wind-driven rain gets underneath. A few curled shingles can be replaced; a whole slope of them means the roof is done.
Granules in the gutters. Shingles shed their protective granules as they age. If your gutters or downspout splash areas are full of dark grit, the shingles are losing the layer that shields them from UV.
Soft spots underfoot. When we walk a roof and feel give between the rafters, the decking underneath is usually rotting from a slow leak. You can't fix rotted decking from the top; the shingles have to come off.
Repeated leaks in different places. One leak at a pipe boot is a repair. Leaks showing up in new spots every storm season mean the whole system is failing.
Daylight or stains in the attic. Look up in the attic on a sunny day. Light coming through, or dark water stains on the underside of the decking, are clear signs of trouble. If you're seeing any of these, call (803) 445-5354 for a free inspection. We'll tell you honestly whether a repair will hold.