Valley leaks
Where two roof slopes meet
Underlayment is the layer between decking and covering, and it is the roof's second line of defence — the thing that keeps water out when wind drives rain under a shingle course. Felt becomes brittle and tears; synthetic lasts longer but still degrades where it has been exposed. It is only accessible when the covering is off, so it is replaced during a re-cover or a large repair rather than on its own, and skipping it to save money removes the backup entirely.
Reynolds sits in Georgia's hail belt, where the spring storm line coming across the state tends to organise. Hail is the dominant roof killer here and it works slowly: the stone bruises the asphalt mat under the granule surface without breaking through, so the roof keeps water out for another season or two and then starts leaking from spots that were damaged years earlier. Add the summer heat load — Taylor County roofs run extremely hot, which ages the shingle and dries out the sealant around every penetration — and the failures cluster around pipe boots, flashing and anything with a rubber component.
Reynolds has a population of about 926, and the housing stock here sets the pattern for what fails first on a roof.
It is the only thing between wind-driven rain and your decking once water gets under a shingle course — which happens on every roof in a hard storm. Omitting it is why some roofs leak despite looking perfect from outside.
Synthetic is lighter, tears less, and tolerates exposure far better if the job runs over several days. Felt is cheaper and perfectly adequate when covered promptly. On a steep or exposed roof, synthetic is worth the difference.
Where two roof slopes meet
The boards behind the gutter
Missing, cracked or lifted shingles
Rubber flat roofing
Bruising and granule loss
Algae streaking and moss growth
You will get a straight answer on whether Reynolds needs someone out today or whether it can wait — before anyone quotes you for anything.
Call (229) 592-0097