How old is your roof?
A standard asphalt shingle roof in the St. Louis climate lasts roughly 18 to 22 years, and the clock starts on the day it was installed — not the day you bought the house. If you do not know the age, the first step is finding out. A roof near the end of its rated life can look fine from the ground and still be one hail event away from a replacement.
What the shingles are telling you
Curling, clawing, or buckling shingles mean the asphalt is drying out and losing its flexibility. Cracking across the surface, bald spots where the granules have worn off, and shingles that lift in a light wind are all signs the material is past its service life. None of these mean you need a replacement today — but together they mean you need an inspection, not a wait-and-see.
Granules in the gutters
The ceramic granules on a shingle are what protect the asphalt underneath from the sun. When you start finding heavy granule buildup in the gutters or at the downspout exits, the roof is shedding its UV protection. After a hailstorm, a sudden burst of granules is one of the clearest indicators of impact damage — and a reason to get the roof documented before you call your carrier.
Daylight, sagging, and repeated leaks
Go into the attic on a bright day. If you can see daylight coming through the roof deck, water can follow the same path. A deck that sags between rafters, dark water stains that keep returning to the same ceiling, and leaks that show up in more than one place are not repair problems stacking up — they are a roof telling you it is done.
Active leak right now? Call (636) 667-2887 — emergency tarping is usually same-day.