Pictures of Roofs That Need to Be Replaced: Myrtle Beach Visual Guide (2026)

What it looks like: Shingle edges turn upward (curling) or the middle of the shingle pushes up to create a visible wave or bump (buckling). From the ground, curling shingles create an uneven, rough texture across the roof surface instead of the smooth, flat appearance of healthy shingles. Buckling appears as ridges or ripples running vertically up the roof slope.

Why It Happens in Myrtle Beach

In coastal South Carolina, curling is accelerated by three factors working together. First, UV radiation breaks down the asphalt binder that keeps shingle layers bonded flat — and Myrtle Beach receives among the highest UV exposure on the East Coast. Second, the constant cycle between high daytime humidity (often 80 to 90 percent) and rapid drying when offshore winds blow creates repeated expansion and contraction that loosens the shingle structure. Third, once curling starts, salt-laden onshore winds catch the lifted edges and accelerate the separation.

Buckling is usually caused by deck movement, inadequate ventilation, or moisture trapped between shingle layers. In our humid coastal climate, poor attic ventilation creates a heat and moisture trap that warps both the decking and the shingles above it.

Repair or Replace?

• Minor curling on a few shingles (less than 5 percent of roof area): Individual shingle replacement may be possible. Cost-effective if the rest of the roof is in good condition.
• Widespread curling across one or more slopes: Full replacement. Once curling is visible on more than 15 to 20 percent of the roof, the entire shingle layer has reached the end of its useful life.
• Buckling along multiple ridges: Full replacement is usually needed, and the underlying ventilation or decking issue must be addressed during installation.

Insurance Claim Potential

Curling and buckling caused by normal aging are not covered by homeowners insurance. However, if curling began or worsened after a named storm event, it may qualify as wind damage under your all-perils or named storm coverage. Documentation timing matters — if you have pre-storm inspection photos showing flat shingles and post-storm photos showing curling, that strengthens a claim. Read our SC deductible guide for details on named storm coverage.

What it looks like: Dark rectangular patches where shingles have blown off completely, exposing the underlayment (black felt paper or synthetic material) or bare roof decking (plywood). After storms, you may see shingle debris in the yard, gutters, or stuck in landscaping.

Why It Happens in Myrtle Beach

Missing shingles in coastal SC are almost always storm-related. During hurricanes and tropical storms, wind gets under shingle edges and breaks the sealant strip that bonds each shingle to the one below it. Once one shingle lifts, it exposes the edge of the next shingle, creating a chain reaction where entire sections can strip off in minutes.

There is a critical detail that most national guides miss: shingle sealant strips weaken faster in coastal environments because salt and humidity degrade the adhesive over time. A 12-year-old roof in Myrtle Beach may have sealant strips that are functionally equivalent to a 20-year-old roof in the Upstate. This means our older roofs lose shingles in storms that would not affect the same-age roof in Columbia or Greenville.

Repair or Replace?

• 1 to 5 missing shingles in a localized area: Spot repair is usually sufficient. Matching replacement shingles can be installed if the surrounding shingles are still in good condition.
• Missing shingles in multiple areas or across multiple slopes: This indicates systemic sealant failure. The shingles that remain are likely to blow off in the next storm. Full replacement is the smarter investment.
• Missing shingles with visible decking damage underneath: Full replacement with decking repair. Water has almost certainly entered the roof structure, and the damage below the surface is worse than what you can see.

Insurance Claim Potential

High probability of coverage. Missing shingles from wind events are one of the most commonly covered roof damage types in South Carolina. File your claim promptly — SC law requires reporting wind damage within a reasonable time after discovery. Photograph every area of missing shingles from the ground and save any shingle debris you find. Read our full roof insurance claim guide for step-by-step filing instructions.

What it looks like: Shingles appear darker, shinier, or smoother than they should. The tiny ceramic-coated mineral granules that cover healthy shingles have worn away, exposing the black asphalt base underneath. You will often notice excessive granules collecting in gutters, at the bottom of downspouts, or washing across driveways and sidewalks after rain.

Why It Happens in Myrtle Beach

Granules serve two purposes: they reflect UV radiation and they protect the asphalt layer from weather and physical damage. In coastal SC, granule loss is the most common early indicator of shingle failure because salt air attacks the bond between the granule and the asphalt surface. Salt crystals are hygroscopic — they pull moisture from the humid air and hold it against the granule adhesion layer, slowly dissolving the bond. Once granules start releasing, UV radiation hits the now-exposed asphalt directly, and degradation accelerates rapidly.

Hail also strips granules. Even small hail — the kind that does not dent metal — can knock granules loose, especially on roofs where salt has already weakened the granule bond. This is why Myrtle Beach roofs show granule loss earlier than identical shingles installed in non-coastal areas.

Repair or Replace?

• Mild granule loss limited to a few shingles: Monitor closely with annual inspections. Not yet urgent.
• Moderate loss across one roof slope (usually south or west-facing): Plan for replacement within 1 to 2 years. The exposed asphalt will crack and split with continued UV exposure.
• Severe loss with black bald spots visible from the ground: Replace soon. The shingles are no longer providing meaningful protection from water, UV, or wind.
• Gutters consistently full of granules after every rain: This is a clear sign that the entire roof is shedding its protective layer. Replacement should be a priority before the next storm season.

Insurance Claim Potential

Granule loss from normal aging is not covered. However, granule loss from hail impact is covered under most SC homeowners policies. The key difference is the pattern: hail damage creates random, scattered impact marks where granules are knocked free, while age-related loss appears as gradual, even thinning across the surface. A professional inspection can distinguish between the two patterns. If your area received a confirmed hail event, schedule an inspection promptly — you have a limited window to file.

What it looks like: The roof surface dips, bows, or creates a visible valley between the rafters or trusses instead of running straight and flat. In severe cases, the entire ridgeline may droop or the roof surface may appear to sag toward the center of the house. From inside the attic, you may see bowed decking, cracked rafters, or daylight showing through gaps.

Why It Happens in Myrtle Beach

Sagging is the most serious damage type on this list. In coastal South Carolina, the primary cause is prolonged moisture exposure to the roof decking (plywood or OSB). Our persistent humidity — averaging above 75 percent year-round — means that even minor water intrusion from a failed shingle, degraded flashing, or inadequate ventilation can saturate the decking without drying out. OSB (oriented strand board) is especially vulnerable because it absorbs water and swells, permanently losing structural strength even after drying.

Hurricane damage can also cause structural sagging when wind loads stress the truss system beyond its design limits, even if the roof did not visually fail during the storm. Trusses or rafters that were cracked or shifted during a hurricane event may show progressive sagging over months or years afterward.

Repair or Replace?

• Localized sagging in one small area: May be repairable by replacing the damaged decking section and the shingles above it. However, the source of moisture must be identified and fixed first.
• Sagging across large areas or along the ridgeline: Full replacement is necessary, and structural repairs to the truss system or rafters may be required before new decking and shingles can be installed.
• Any sagging: Get a professional inspection immediately. Sagging indicates structural compromise that can lead to partial or full roof collapse under the weight of heavy rain or storm winds.

Insurance Claim Potential

Structural sagging caused by a specific storm event is typically covered. Sagging caused by long-term neglect, deferred maintenance, or age-related deterioration is not covered. If your roof began sagging after a named storm, document the timeline with photos and a professional inspection report to support your claim.

What it looks like: Shingles that are still attached but visibly lifted, creased, or folded back. You may see shingles that are bent upward at the tab, creating a visible shadow line underneath. In more severe cases, entire shingle sections may be peeled back like pages in a book, with the sealant strip fully broken but the nail still holding the shingle to the deck.

Why It Happens in Myrtle Beach

Wind damage is the most common storm-related roof issue in the Myrtle Beach area. Even tropical storms that do not make direct landfall can produce sustained winds of 40 to 60 mph with gusts over 75 mph along the Grand Strand. Those wind speeds are enough to break aged sealant strips and create uplift on any shingle roof that has weakened adhesion from salt and humidity exposure.

The critical issue with wind damage is that it often goes unnoticed. A homeowner may see no missing shingles and assume the roof survived the storm. But lifted shingles with broken sealant strips are a ticking clock — they will blow off in the next significant wind event, and they allow wind-driven rain to enter the roof structure in the meantime.

Repair or Replace?

• A few lifted shingles along an edge or near a ridge: Individual repair is often possible. The shingles can sometimes be re-adhered with roofing cement if the material is still flexible and intact.
• Lifted shingles across large sections of the roof: Full replacement. Widespread sealant failure means the remaining adhesion across the entire roof is compromised.
• Shingles that are creased or folded: Those shingles must be replaced, not re-adhered. A crease in an asphalt shingle creates a permanent weak point that will crack and leak.

Insurance Claim Potential

Covered in most cases. Wind damage from named storms falls under your windstorm or named storm coverage in South Carolina. Be aware that SC policies use percentage-based hurricane deductibles (typically 2 to 5 percent of your insured value), which can mean a deductible of $5,000 to $15,000 or more. Get a professional inspection and damage report before filing to understand whether the damage exceeds your deductible. See our hurricane damage guide for the full claims process.

What it looks like: Dark black or green streaks running vertically down the roof surface. These streaks are most prominent on north-facing slopes and shaded areas. In advanced cases, thick green moss growth creates raised, fuzzy patches that trap moisture and can lift shingle edges.

Why It Happens in Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach is one of the worst areas in the country for roof algae growth. The combination of persistent humidity (above 75 percent year-round), warm temperatures, and frequent rain creates an ideal environment for Gloeocapsa magma — the cyanobacteria responsible for those black streaks. The organisms feed on the limestone filler used in asphalt shingles, meaning they are literally eating your roof surface.

Moss is a different problem. While algae is a surface-level issue for most of its life cycle, moss sends root-like structures (rhizoids) into the shingle surface, lifting granules and creating channels for water to penetrate underneath the shingle tabs. Moss grows fastest in shaded areas where tree canopy prevents the roof from drying between rain events.

Repair or Replace?

• Algae streaking alone on an otherwise sound roof: Cleaning, not replacement. A soft-wash treatment with appropriate cleaning solution can remove algae without damaging shingles. Zinc or copper strips installed at the ridge can prevent regrowth.
• Heavy moss growth with visible shingle displacement: Clean first, then inspect for underlying damage. If moss has lifted or cracked shingles, those areas need repair or replacement.
• Algae plus granule loss plus age: When algae is present alongside other damage indicators, it is typically a sign that the entire roof system is at end of life. Cleaning would be treating a symptom while the underlying problem continues.

Insurance Claim Potential

Not covered. Algae and moss growth are considered maintenance issues, not sudden damage events. No homeowners insurance policy in South Carolina covers biological growth on roofing materials. The best defense is prevention: choose shingles with algae-resistant granules (look for the AR designation) when replacing your roof, and maintain tree canopy clearance to promote drying.

What it looks like: Metal strips around chimneys, skylights, vents, walls, and roof valleys that are rusted, bent, separated from the surface, or missing entirely. You may see gaps between the flashing and the structure it should be sealed against. Rust stains running down from flashing areas are a telltale sign of advanced corrosion.

Why It Happens in Myrtle Beach

Flashing failure is the number-one cause of roof leaks in our area, and it is directly linked to salt air corrosion. Standard galvanized steel flashing — which is perfectly adequate in non-coastal areas — can develop corrosion pitting within 8 to 12 years in Myrtle Beach. Within 2 miles of the ocean, that timeline can shorten to 5 to 8 years. The salt eats through the zinc galvanizing layer, then attacks the steel underneath, creating holes that allow water to enter the roof structure at every penetration point.

The second failure point is the sealant (caulk or roofing cement) used to seal flashing edges against chimneys, walls, and vent pipes. UV and humidity break down sealants in 5 to 10 years in our climate, creating gaps where wind-driven rain enters.

Repair or Replace?

• Minor sealant failure around one area: Re-sealing is often sufficient as a temporary fix. Use marine-grade sealant rated for coastal conditions.
• Rusted or corroded flashing: Replace the flashing. Coating rusted flashing is a temporary patch that buys months, not years.
• Multiple flashing failures across the roof: If flashing is failing at chimneys, vents, and walls simultaneously, the shingles are likely the same age and approaching end of life. Consider full roof replacement with upgraded flashing materials — aluminum or stainless steel instead of galvanized in coastal zones.

Insurance Claim Potential

Flashing failure from corrosion is generally considered a maintenance issue and is not covered. However, flashing that was damaged or displaced by a wind event is covered. The distinction matters: corroded flashing that gradually fails is maintenance, but flashing that was ripped or bent by storm winds is sudden damage. A professional inspection can document the cause.

What it looks like: Brown, yellow, or tan rings or patches on interior ceilings, especially in upper-floor rooms and near exterior walls. Stains may be dry and discolored, or actively wet with dripping water. In attics, you may see water marks on rafters, dark patches on decking, or visible mold growth on insulation and framing.

Why It Happens in Myrtle Beach

Interior water stains mean your roof has already failed at some point. Water is entering through a breach in the shingle layer, flashing, vent boot, or skylight seal and traveling along rafters or decking until it finds a gap to drip through the ceiling. In our humid environment, even small leaks create significant interior damage because the moisture never fully dries out between rain events — it just accumulates.

A critical point for Myrtle Beach homeowners: water can travel 10 to 20 feet along a rafter or truss before dripping to the ceiling below. The stain on your bedroom ceiling may not be directly below the roof breach. This is why professional inspections are essential — the entry point is rarely where the water appears inside.

Repair or Replace?

• Single leak source from a specific failure (vent boot, pipe collar, flashing gap): Targeted repair is usually possible if caught early.
• Multiple leak points or recurring leaks after repair attempts: The roof system has reached the point where patching creates new failure points. Full replacement is the cost-effective solution.
• Water stains plus mold in attic: Full replacement with mold remediation and potentially new insulation. SC humidity means that once mold establishes in an attic, it will not resolve without removing the moisture source.

Insurance Claim Potential

The roof leak itself may or may not be covered depending on the cause. However, the interior water damage (ceiling replacement, drywall, painting, mold remediation) is typically covered under your dwelling coverage if the leak resulted from a sudden, covered event. Key: your policy does not cover gradual leaks from deferred maintenance. Report leaks to your insurer promptly, even if you are not sure whether the cause is covered — a late report can void coverage.

What it looks like: Visible cracks or splits running through the body of individual shingles. Cracks may run horizontally (across the shingle width), vertically (along the shingle length), or in random patterns. Severe cases show shingles that have broken into pieces with gaps between the fragments.

Why It Happens in Myrtle Beach

Shingle cracking in coastal SC is driven by the extreme thermal cycling our roofs experience. A south-facing roof surface in summer can reach 170 degrees Fahrenheit during peak sun exposure, then cool to 75 degrees overnight — a 95-degree swing every 24 hours. Over thousands of cycles, the asphalt loses flexibility and develops stress fractures. Once granules have thinned from salt and UV exposure, the cracks form faster because the asphalt is directly exposed to thermal stress.

Hail impact cracking is a separate pattern. Hail strikes create circular fractures — often invisible from the ground — that radiate outward from the impact point. These fractures compromise the shingle's waterproofing ability immediately but may not show visible symptoms for months.

Repair or Replace?

• Isolated cracking on a few shingles: Individual replacement is possible if matching shingles are available.
• Widespread cracking across one or more slopes: Full replacement. Thermal cracking indicates the shingles have lost the asphalt flexibility needed to withstand continued exposure.
• Cracking combined with granule loss: Full replacement is urgent. The combination means the shingles are failing at every level of their protective design.

Insurance Claim Potential

Thermal cracking from aging is not covered. Cracking from hail impact is covered if it occurred during a documented hail event. Professional inspectors can distinguish hail impact cracks (circular, random pattern) from thermal stress cracks (linear, following stress lines). If your area received hail, get an inspection before the damage becomes indistinguishable from normal wear.

What it looks like: Small raised bumps where nail heads have pushed up through the shingle surface (nail pops), or visible rusted nail heads along shingle edges or in exposed areas. You may see orange-brown rust streaks running down from nail locations.

Why It Happens in Myrtle Beach

Nail pops are a coastal-specific problem that most national guides underestimate. In Myrtle Beach, the salt-laden air corrodes standard steel roofing nails. As the nail shaft corrodes, it expands slightly, which pushes the nail head upward through the shingle. At the same time, the decking around the nail hole softens from humidity exposure, reducing its holding power. The result is nails that gradually back out of the deck, leaving each one as a direct water entry point.

Thermal cycling contributes too. The daily expansion and contraction of both the decking and the nails creates a ratcheting effect where nails work their way out by tiny increments over years.

Repair or Replace?

• A few scattered nail pops: A roofer can resecure or replace individual nails and seal the penetration. This is a relatively simple repair.
• Dozens of nail pops across the roof: This indicates systemic fastener failure. The nails throughout the roof are likely corroded and losing holding power. Full replacement with corrosion-resistant ring-shank nails is the appropriate solution.
• Nail pops combined with other damage signs: When nail pops coincide with granule loss, curling, or cracking, the roof has reached end of life.

Insurance Claim Potential

Not covered. Nail corrosion and pops are considered a maintenance and material degradation issue. SC insurers do not cover gradual deterioration of fasteners. The fix is prevention: when replacing your roof, insist on hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel ring-shank nails. The added cost is minimal compared to the risk of standard nails corroding in salt air.

What it looks like: The rubber or neoprene boot that seals around plumbing vent pipes on your roof has cracked, split, or pulled away from the pipe. You may see a visible gap between the boot and the pipe, or the rubber may appear dry, brittle, and crumbling. The metal base may show rust.

Why It Happens in Myrtle Beach

Standard rubber vent boots have a lifespan of 8 to 12 years in our climate — far shorter than the shingles around them. UV radiation, ozone, and salt air degrade the rubber compound, causing it to harden, crack, and eventually separate from the pipe. This is one of the most common causes of attic leaks in the Myrtle Beach area, and it is almost always discovered only after ceiling stains appear inside the home.

Repair or Replace?

• Failed vent boot on an otherwise sound roof: Replace the vent boot. This is a straightforward repair that most roofers can complete in under an hour. Request a silicone or EPDM boot rated for UV and coastal exposure.
• Multiple failed vent boots plus aging shingles: Plan for full roof replacement and have all vent boots upgraded to high-durability materials at the same time.

Insurance Claim Potential

The boot itself is not covered (maintenance item). However, if the failed boot caused interior water damage, the interior damage may be covered under your dwelling policy as a sudden and accidental discharge of water. The key is reporting it promptly when discovered.

No other guide shows you what a roof looks like decade by decade in a coastal environment. Here is what we typically see during inspections across Horry County, based on the most common roofing material in our area — architectural asphalt shingles.

Important: These timelines assume no major storm events. If your roof has weathered one or more hurricanes or tropical storms, subtract 2 to 5 years from each range. Multiple storm exposures have a cumulative effect that accelerates every damage type listed above. For detailed replacement timelines by shingle type, see our shingle replacement timeline guide.

Not every damaged roof needs to be replaced. Repairs can extend a roof's functional life when the damage is localized and the rest of the system is sound. But there are clear thresholds where repair becomes more expensive and less effective than replacement.

Choose Repair When:

• Damage is limited to less than 15 percent of the total roof area
• The roof is less than 10 years old and the damage was caused by a specific event (storm, fallen tree, impact)
• The issue is isolated to one component (single vent boot, one section of flashing, a few missing shingles)
• The remaining shingles show good granule retention, flat profile, and intact sealant strips
• The repair cost is less than 30 percent of full replacement cost

Choose Replacement When:

• Damage covers more than 25 percent of the roof area
• The roof is older than 15 years in coastal SC (regardless of visible condition)
• Multiple damage types are present simultaneously (granule loss plus curling plus nail pops)
• You have had two or more repair calls in the past 3 years
• Your insurance carrier has noted the roof condition or age as a concern
• Decking damage or structural sagging is present
• You plan to sell the home within 5 years (a new roof adds 60 to 70 percent of its cost to resale value)

The Coastal Repair Trap

We see a pattern repeatedly in Myrtle Beach: homeowners spend $1,500 to $3,000 on repairs for a roof that is 14 to 16 years old, then need another $1,000 to $2,000 in repairs 8 to 12 months later, and then face full replacement within 2 years anyway. Those repair costs — $2,500 to $5,000 or more — would have been better applied toward the replacement that was inevitable.

In a coastal environment, once multiple damage indicators appear simultaneously, the roof is in its final phase. Repairing one symptom does not address the underlying degradation affecting every component. The honest assessment — which some contractors avoid giving because repairs generate ongoing revenue — is that replacement is the smarter financial decision.

You do not need to climb on your roof to identify potential problems. Most of the damage types described in this guide are visible from ground level with binoculars or a smartphone camera with zoom. Here is how to conduct a basic visual inspection.

What to Look For (Quarterly)

1. Walk the perimeter of your home and look up at each roof slope from multiple angles. Note any areas that look different — darker patches, lighter patches, waviness, or irregularity in the shingle lines.
2. Check gutters and downspouts for granule accumulation. Some granule loss is normal on new roofs (excess from manufacturing). Significant granule buildup on an older roof is a warning sign.
3. Look at the ridgeline (the peak of the roof). It should be straight. Any sagging or waviness in the ridgeline indicates structural concerns.
4. Examine all flashing areas — around chimneys, vents, walls, and skylights. Look for rust stains, gaps, or separated sealant.
5. Check for missing shingles or debris. After storms, look for shingle pieces in the yard, driveway, or landscaping.
6. Look at the south and west-facing slopes more carefully — these receive the most UV and heat and show damage first.
7. From inside the attic (if accessible), look for daylight through the roof, water stains on rafters or decking, and any musty or moldy smell.

When to Call a Professional

If you notice any of the damage types shown in this guide — or if your roof is older than 10 years in coastal SC and you have not had a professional inspection — schedule one. A trained inspector will identify problems that are invisible from the ground, including early sealant strip failure, sub-surface moisture damage, and nail corrosion that has not yet produced visible pops.