Roofs in St. Louis work for a living. They take the brunt of four distinct seasons, quick temperature swings, spring windstorms, and the kind of summer sun that cooks shingles until midafternoon thunderstorms cool everything down again. Add oak pollen, freeze-thaw cycles, and the occasional hailstorm, and you get a city where roofing is a craft measured in details, not slogans. If you are comparing contractors, or you are just trying to decide whether your roof needs repair or replacement, you need practical information tied to local conditions and codes, not vague promises.
This guide walks you through what matters for homeowners and property managers in the St. Louis area, and where Conner roofing services fit into the picture. From material options to insurance claims, ventilation to flashing details, the goal is simple: help you make decisions that hold up over time, not just through the next rain.
What sets a strong St. Louis roofing contractor apart
Most roofs fail at the edges and transitions, not in the middle of the field. That means valleys, pipe penetrations, chimneys, skylight curbs, sidewall and headwall flashing, and the ridge are where experience shows. A contractor who treats those areas as a checklist item instead of a craft will leave you with leaks you find months later in ceiling stains and musty closets. Conner roofing services in St. Louis are built around that detail work. The crews live on ladders, and you can tell by how they prep: clean sheathing, straight lines, clean nail patterns, ice and water shield where it belongs, and flashing that looks shaped rather than hammered into submission.
There is also a pace to good roofing. St. Louis weather can turn twice in a day, and that unpredictability punishes sloppy staging. A crew that tears off too much in the morning risks being caught by a 2 p.m. pop-up storm. The better teams work in sections, dry-in fast, and keep a roll of membrane ready in the truck. It sounds small, but it is how you avoid the kind of water intrusion that ruins insulation and drywall before the new shingles even go on.
Roof lifespans here are earned, not promised
Manufacturers print 30, 40, even “lifetime” on shingle bundles. Take those numbers as best-case scenarios in mild climates with perfect ventilation. St. Louis is not mild. A well-installed architectural asphalt shingle roof here, with proper attic ventilation and regular maintenance, typically runs 18 to 25 years. Hail can shorten that, neglect will almost certainly shorten it, and tree coverage can add moisture that invites algae and moss. On the other end, metal standing seam roofs often exceed 40 years, and premium synthetic slate or shake can reach 40 to 50 with proper installation.
If a salesperson tells you your shingles will last 50 years without naming the brand, model line, and system warranty requirements, that is marketing, not guidance. A seasoned estimator from Conner Roofing, LLC will qualify the lifespan by ventilation, slope, tree canopy, and orientation. South and southwest-facing slopes age faster, a detail that matters when you see uneven granule loss and wonder why one side looks tired five years early.
Asphalt shingles still dominate, and for good reasons
Architectural asphalt shingles offer the best balance of cost, appearance, and performance for most St. Louis homes. They hide small deck imperfections better than three-tab shingles, resist wind uplift more effectively when properly nailed, and they come in colors that blend with brick, limestone, and painted siding common in older neighborhoods.
The cost drivers are straightforward: square footage, slope and complexity, tear-off and disposal, plywood replacement, underlayment type, and flashing work. A simple gable roof might use one valley and a few pipe boots. A 1920s home with dormers, a stone chimney, and intersecting rooflines will demand more time and metal. Good crews do not rush those details. Expect to hear about ice and water shield in valleys and around penetrations, synthetic underlayment rather than old felt, and ridge vents matched with adequate soffit intake.
Metal, tile, and synthetic options in a city of mixed architecture
Metal makes sense when you want longevity, lower maintenance, and a crisp profile. In St. Louis, standing seam is the go-to for full roofs and accent sections like porch hips or low-slope returns. Gauge and paint system matter. A 24- or 26-gauge panel with a Kynar finish resists chalking and fading. Fastener-driven metal panels cost less up front but carry more maintenance over time, as exposed screws and washers age.
Clay and concrete tile appear in pockets of the metro, particularly on Mediterranean or Spanish Revival homes. They are heavier, so the structure must prove it can handle the load, often with an engineer’s review. Tile outlasts most other materials, but repairs demand a contractor comfortable walking tile and fitting replacement pieces. Synthetic slate and shake bring the traditional look of slate or cedar without the weight or fire risk. On certain historic blocks, this strikes the right balance between neighborhood character and practical maintenance.
Conner roofing services in St. Louis MO include these alternatives, but the better firms will talk you out of the wrong choice. A steep, simple roof may be a perfect candidate for shingles. A low-slope section under a second-story window might need a membrane instead, even if you love the idea of shingles everywhere. A tailored system beats a uniform look that fails at the first ice dam.
The real work happens under the shingles
Roofs succeed from the deck up. On tear-off, good crews check the sheathing for rot, delamination, and soft spots. Plywood edges near valleys and eaves take the most punishment. Replace bad sheets, do not “bridge” with shingles over soft decking. Eave edges get drip edge metal to kick water into the gutters and protect the deck. Valleys deserve ice and water shield, properly centered, with shingles woven or metal valley flashing installed cleanly. The ridge should be cut for ventilation if the attic design calls for it, then capped with a matched ridge vent and shingle cap.
Nailing patterns are not trivial. Four nails per shingle may meet minimums, but six in wind zones or on steep pitches keeps the roof on your house when spring fronts roll through. Nails belong in the nailing strip, flush to the surface, not overdriven or underdriven. A compressor set too hot or a crew hurrying can create a future problem you will not see until the first big blow.
Ventilation and insulation, the quiet partners
Attic ventilation in St. Louis is not just about heat management. In winter, insufficient airflow allows warm, moist indoor air to condense on the underside of the deck, which feeds mold and shortens the life of the wood and shingles. Balance intake and exhaust. Continuous soffit vents paired with a continuous ridge vent create a pressure-driven system that works without fans. Gable vents and ridge vents can fight each other, so it helps to evaluate the whole attic, not just add more outlets and hope.
Insulation keeps heat in during winter and blocks radiated attic heat in summer from roasting the second floor. You need both. If you can see the tops of joists in your attic, you likely need more. A roofing contractor cannot solve every insulation problem, but they can flag issues while the deck is open or during the estimate. In older homes with knee walls and short attic spaces, ventilation strategies need to adjust. Baffles that maintain an air channel from soffit to ridge make a real difference.
Storm damage in the Midwest, and how to navigate claims
Hail does not always leave obvious craters. Granule loss, bruised shingles that feel soft under gentle pressure, and cracked mats show up most clearly to trained eyes. Wind damage shows in lifted and creased tabs, missing shingles, and loose ridge caps. After a storm, you will hear from door knockers promising free roofs. Some are honest, some are not. Take your time. Call a local company with a track record. Document with photos. If you file a claim, your insurer will send an adjuster; a seasoned contractor can meet them and walk the roof together so that the discussion stays specific and fair.
Not every storm requires replacement. Sometimes you replace a few slopes, sometimes a handful of shingles around a vent. The judgment call should hinge on slope-by-slope impact, age of the roof, and how repairs will perform and look. Conner roofing services St. Louis often include claim support, from inspection reports to scope review. The reliable shops do not inflate damage or pressure you to sign contingency agreements without explanation. You should understand what you are authorizing and how cancellations work if your claim is denied.
Maintenance that pays back
A roof is not a set-and-forget system. Gutters collect seed pods, leaves, and shingle grit. Downspouts clog at the first elbow. Those clogs set water to back up under the first row of shingles, then into the fascia. A yearly gutter clean in late fall, plus a quick check in spring, can prevent fascia rot and icy eaves. Caulk around pipe boots and flashing ages faster than shingles. If you catch cracking early, a small bead of high-quality sealant or a new boot avoids a stained ceiling.
Tree limbs should clear the roof by a few feet. Branches scrape granules off shingles and drop debris that holds moisture. After a wind event, a quick lap around the house with a pair of binoculars lets you spot displaced shingles or bent ridge metal before water Conner roofing services reviews St Louis MO has a chance to find the hole. If you are uncomfortable climbing, ask for a maintenance plan. A modest fee once a year beats a saturated attic any day.
How to read an estimate that tells the truth
A thoughtful estimate lists materials by brand and line, not just generic descriptions. “Owens Corning Duration” or “CertainTeed Landmark” is useful, “architectural shingle” is not. Look for ridge and hip cap details that match the shingle system, underlayment type specified as synthetic or felt, ice and water areas defined, and flashing described for valleys, chimneys, step walls, and roof-to-wall transitions. Pipe boots should be listed. Drip edge should be lined out with a color option that matches your guttering.
Timelines matter. In peak season, lead times can stretch. An honest schedule acknowledges weather risk and describes how the crew will protect your home if a storm shows up. Ask about dumpster location, landscaping protection, magnet sweeps for nails, and daily cleanup. Good crews protect air conditioning condensers with plywood, move patio furniture before the first shingle is pulled, and sweep the driveway before they leave. Those habits correlate with clean workmanship above the gutters too.
When replacement is smarter than repair
Repairs make sense for isolated issues on younger roofs. A single lifted ridge cap, a cracked pipe boot, or a small section where wind peeled back shingles can be addressed. But once a roof crosses the 15-year mark and shows widespread granule loss, curled tabs, or soft decking in multiple places, you will throw good money after bad with repeated patches. Likewise, mismatched shingle batches can leave your roof looking piebald. On highly visible front slopes, that cosmetic drawback can bother homeowners more than expected. A seasoned Conner roofing service estimator will walk you through whether the dollars and the look support repair or replacement, and will not push a replacement where a clean repair solves the issue.
What installation day actually looks like
The morning starts early. Materials arrive the day before or first thing, with bundles staged on the roof if the structure allows, or stacked carefully on the ground. Tarps protect foundation plantings and walkways. The tear-off crew works in sections, feeding debris into the dumpster instead of letting it bury your yard. A project lead checks the deck and calls out any sheets that need replacing. You will see the underlayment go down rapidly, followed by ice and water shield at all the right places. Flashing is measured and bent to fit. Valleys go in clean and straight. Shingles work up from the eaves. Nail guns click in a consistent rhythm when a crew is dialed in. The ridge vent and caps finish the day if weather cooperates.
At the end, a magnet sweep pulls nails from the grass and driveway. The lead will walk you around to look at terminations, gutters, and any satellite resets. It should feel orderly, not chaotic. On complex homes, the job may run two days. If weather threatens, the roof remains dried-in overnight, not left open to chance.
The St. Louis context, block by block
Clay-rich soils move more than you think, which affects foundations and sometimes leaves hairline cracks around chimney shoulders and headwalls. A good roofer does not assume masonry is perfect. They counterflash so the system can tolerate small movement without opening a leak path. In older city neighborhoods, stacked limestone and handmade brick behave differently from modern veneer. Lead counterflashing and stepped copper solve problems that caulk would only hide for a season. In the suburbs, modern framing and sheathing make for faster installs, but venting often gets overlooked in spray-foamed attics. That requires a custom conversation, not a default ridge vent.
Locals also know our snow comes wet and heavy. Ice dams appear when attic heat melts snow that refreezes at the eaves. Ice and water membrane at the eaves up past the warm wall line buys insurance. Pair that with the ventilation and insulation strategies already discussed. It is all connected.
Pricing expectations without the gimmicks
Numbers vary with home size and complexity, but a realistic bracket helps. Architectural asphalt roofs on typical St. Louis homes often fall into the mid to high four figures per 10 squares, with full tear-off, synthetic underlayment, code-compliant flashing, and ridge vent included. Two-story steep pitches, multiple valleys, and heavy flashing work push the price up. Metal projects carry a premium due to material cost and the skill required to fabricate and install panels cleanly. Repairs can range from a few hundred dollars for a pipe boot swap to a few thousand for valley rebuilds or chimney reflashing.
Discounts for cash or “today only” pricing are usually a tell. The good contractors will explain their price, not run it like a car lot negotiation. Ask about financing if you need it, but make sure you understand the rate and term. If your roof is a claim, your policy dictates deductible and coverage. A contractor offering to “eat” your deductible risks insurance fraud. Avoid that trap.
Warranties that actually mean something
There are two warranties on every roof: the manufacturer’s warranty on the materials and the workmanship warranty from the contractor. Manufacturer coverage depends on following their system requirements, which may include specific underlayment, starter strips, hip and ridge, and sometimes a specific number of nails. Upgraded system warranties can extend non-prorated coverage and include labor allowances if a defect appears. Workmanship warranties cover installation errors. A solid local company will stand behind their work for a defined period and show up when called.
Keep paperwork in a safe spot: contract, material invoices, warranty registrations, and photos if you have them. If you sell your home, buyers and their inspectors will appreciate the documentation, and some warranties transfer when handled within a stated timeframe.
Why local presence matters more than glossy brochures
After a storm, out-of-town crews flood the city. Some are fine. Many disappear as soon as the last check clears. The next spring, when you spot a stain in the guest room, you will discover the phone number has gone dark. A contractor rooted in St. Louis, with an office you can visit and trucks you see around town, invests in reputation. Conner roofing services St. Louis MO are structured that way. The crews are trained to local code, familiar with our architecture, and they are likely to bump into you at the grocery store. That quiet accountability keeps standards high.
Choosing the right partner, not just a product
Do not hire a brochure. Hire a team you trust. Ask to see a recent job, not just glamour shots. Talk to your neighbors. Walk the site with the estimator and ask to see photos of your roof from their inspection. If they cannot explain why they recommend a certain underlayment or flashing at a tricky dormer, keep looking. If they take time to answer questions, bring up ventilation unprompted, and point to the small things that make a roof last here, you are on the right track.
Below is a short checklist to help you compare bids without getting lost in jargon.
- Materials listed by brand and line, with underlayment, ice and water, drip edge, and ventilation clearly called out Flashing plan described for valleys, chimneys, and walls, with metal type specified Scope of tear-off, deck repair policy, and cleanup process defined, including magnet sweep Workmanship warranty length and what it covers explained in writing Schedule expectations, weather plan, and daily protection measures spelled out
Use those five points and you will weed out most of the noise.
How Conner Roofing, LLC approaches the work
The best measure is how a company handles trade-offs. For example, on a low-slope section that butts into a second-story wall, you can shingle it and hope, or you can install a self-adhered membrane or modified bitumen that ties into step flashing at the wall. It is slower and more precise, but it saves headaches. On chimneys, you can smear sealant and walk, or you can grind a reglet and install counterflashing that sheds water for the next decade. One approach serves the day, the other serves the house. Conner roofing services lean into the latter. That is not marketing copy, it is jobsite habit.
Scheduling is another place you see the difference. Good companies do not stack too many jobs and bounce crews mid-project. They set realistic timelines and stick to them unless weather calls for a strategic delay. Communication fills the gaps: you know when the dumpster shows up, when materials arrive, when the crew starts, and who to call by name. On change orders, you see photos and prices before any work happens outside the original scope.
A note for property managers and multi-unit buildings
Flat and low-slope roofs on duplexes and small apartment buildings introduce another layer of complexity. Ponding water, HVAC curb penetrations, parapet caps, and scuppers require membrane systems and metalwork that few shingle-only contractors handle well. In St. Louis, modified bitumen, TPO, and PVC all have their place. The right choice depends on foot traffic, existing substrate, insulation, and budget. Seams, terminations, and edge metals are the critical points. Annual inspections catch punctures and seam failures early, which keeps tenant calls down and protect interiors. Conner roofing service St. Louis includes these systems, and more importantly, the maintenance routines that keep them performing.
When to call, and what to have ready
You do not need to diagnose your own roof. Bring a few details to the first call: age of the roof if known, any leaks and where you see them inside, photos if you have safe access, and your schedule constraints. If you suspect storm damage, note the date and time of the event as best you can. A good office team will get you on the calendar, and the estimator will arrive with a plan to inspect safely. Expect a written estimate with photos within a day or two for standard projects, longer if the scope is complex.
Contact and next steps
If you are ready to get eyes on your roof, here is the direct line to a local team with a practical approach.
Contact Us
Conner Roofing, LLC
Address: 7950 Watson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63119, United States
Phone: (314) 375-7475
Website: https://connerroofing.com/
Whether you are comparing bids for a full replacement, need a clean repair after last night’s blow, or want a frank opinion on whether your roof can wait a year, you will get straight talk and workmanship you do not have to think about after the truck pulls away. That is the real test of a roof in St. Louis: you forget it is there, through rain, sun, and January ice, because it just works.