When a roof starts to fail, it rarely does so politely. It leaks on a holiday weekend, it sheds shingles during a wind burst that sounded like a train, it reveals soft decking just as a home sale is about to close. I have walked more St. Louis roofs than I can tally, from tidy bungalows in Affton to slate-clad beauties in the Central West End, and the pattern is consistent. The homeowners who fare best are the ones who call a skilled local roofer early, get a clear plan, and make decisions with the long view in mind. Conner Roofing, LLC is the kind of outfit that meets that moment. They know the city’s architectural mix, the weather’s temperament, and the difference between a patch that buys time and a fix that lasts.
This guide lays out how to think about roofing in our region, what to expect from a quality contractor, and where Conner Roofing typically brings value. If you need roofers St Louis MO can trust, the right first step is a thorough inspection and a free estimate, not guesswork and hope.
What St. Louis Weather Does to Roofs
St. Louis keeps roofers honest. We see humid summers that bake shingles, wet springs that probe every weak seal, ice and snow that test underlayment, and the kind of shoulder-season wind that flips a three-tab like a playing card. Temperature swings are brutal. A shingle expands under August sun, then contracts on a chilly night, and that movement stresses nails and sealant lines. A quality install accounts for movement with adequate fasteners, proper nail placement, and underlayments that manage vapor and water.
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Hail is the wildcard. Not every event is catastrophic, but pea to quarter-size hail can bruise asphalt granules. You often do not spot that damage from a driveway glance. Granule loss accelerates UV degradation, which shortens a roof’s lifespan. Conner Roofing’s teams carry chalk and camera gear for this reason. They document bruising in clear daylight photos, mark impact areas, and help homeowners decide whether to file an insurance claim or monitor wear over the next seasons. The point is discipline, not drama.
Asphalt, Metal, Slate, or Tile: Choosing the Right System
Most homes in St. Louis wear asphalt shingles, and for good reason. They are cost-effective, perform well when properly installed, and are widely warrantied. Architectural shingles, the laminated, dimensional type, are the current norm. Their wind ratings often hit 110 to 130 mph when installed to spec, which fits our storm profile. I generally advise homeowners to price at least two tiers. A base architectural shingle may carry a 25 to 30-year limited warranty, while an upgraded line can extend coverage and add algae resistance. On shaded streets near Tower Grove or Kirkwood, that algae guard matters. Black streaks are more than cosmetic; they indicate biological growth that retains moisture.
Metal roofing is no longer just for barns and modernist new builds. Standing seam panels, when fabricated and installed correctly, give 40 to 60 years of service with minimal upkeep. They shed snow, resist wind uplift, and reflect heat. The trade-off is upfront cost and the need for a proven metal crew. It is a different craft. Penetrations around chimneys, vents, and skylights demand crisp flashing work. I have seen Conner Roofing’s metal crews fabricate on site for odd pitches and dormer tie-ins, which keeps seams where they belong and reduces reliance on caulk.
Slate and clay tile appear across older St. Louis neighborhoods. They are beautiful, durable, and unforgiving to amateurs. Many slate roofs fail not because the stone wore out, but because copper flashings aged or a handyman cracked slates during a gutter job. If you own one of these homes, you want a roofer who can source salvage slate, swap individual pieces, and rebuild flashings in copper or stainless. Full replacement is sometimes necessary, but often a focused restoration buys decades.
Anatomy of a Sound Roof System
A roof is not just shingles. It is a layered system that manages water, vapor, heat, and airflow.
Decking is the base. Older homes may have spaced plank decking. That can be fine if it is sound, but wide gaps sometimes require overlay with plywood to support modern shingles. Any sag or rot, especially around eaves and valleys, needs replacement. A good estimator will probe these zones and note potential sheathing quantities on your proposal, usually as a per-sheet allowance.
Underlayment keeps the deck dry if shingles lift or water backs up. Synthetic underlayment has largely replaced felt. It is lighter, grips better underfoot, and resists wrinkling. In ice-prone areas, ice-and-water shield is key. Building code typically calls for it at eaves, but I like to see it in valleys, along rake edges, and around penetrations. That is where water looks for shortcuts.
Flashing is the quiet hero. Step flashing at sidewalls, counterflashing at chimneys, valley metal, and boots at pipe penetrations do most of the leak prevention. Reusing old flashing rarely saves money. Once you lift shingles, that metal and its sealant lines are compromised. Conner Roofing’s project managers often include full flashing replacement in writing so there is no debate on install day.
Ventilation extends roof life. The goal is balanced intake at the eaves and exhaust at the ridge or via mechanical vents. Inadequate airflow cooks shingles from beneath and invites condensation. A professional will measure net free area, check soffit vents for blockage, and match ridge vent length to intake capacity. I have watched an aging roof stop baking once the soffits were cleared and baffles added.
What a Free Estimate Should Actually Include
A free estimate is only useful if it is specific. When I review proposals, I look for several items that indicate you are dealing with true professionals.
Scope of work spelled out in plain language. Tear-off or layover, number of layers to remove, deck repairs by allowance, specific underlayment brands, ice-and-water locations, shingle line and color, hip and ridge cap type, and flashing materials. It should also state whether drip edge is included. In our market, it should be.
Ventilation plan. If the home currently has gable vents and no ridge vent, your roofer should explain how the new system will balance air movement. Mixing exhaust systems can short-circuit airflow. You want a coherent plan, not guesswork.
Details about penetrations and accessories. Skylights, attic fans, solar mounts, satellite removal, and reinstallation should be addressed. Personally, I recommend replacing older skylights during reroofing. Flashing kits are designed to work with new units, and you avoid cutting shingles later.
Warranty terms. Manufacturer warranty is one layer, workmanship is another. Ask what the contractor’s workmanship warranty covers, for how long, and whether it is transferable. A straight answer signals that you are dealing with someone who stands behind their crew.
Schedule and lead times. Busy seasons in St. Louis run March through early June and again September through November. If you need a replacement in peak season, expect a queue. A candid timeline helps you plan around weather and your own calendar.
How Conner Roofing, LLC Approaches the Job
The difference between average and excellent often sits in the small habits. Conner Roofing has built a local reputation by treating those small habits as non-negotiable. They start with a thorough inspection, not a ladder-less glance. It is common for their estimators to photograph suspect decking at the eaves, nail pops along ridges, shingle blistering, and flashing pinch points. Those photos launch a grounded conversation. You know what they see, and you can ask focused questions.
Crew discipline matters. On tear-off day, a crew that sets tarps correctly protects landscaping and keeps nails out of driveways. I have seen Conner foremen pull an extra magnet sweep at the end of a job because kids play in that yard. They also stage materials smartly. Shingle bundles placed along the ridge evenly will not bow the deck, and the crew can move faster without fatigue.
Weather calls separate pros from gamblers. Any St. Louis roofer has learned humility from pop-up storms. Conner Roofing halts when radar shows trouble and seals as they go. Valleys and penetrations are dried in before lunch, not as an afterthought. You do not want to gamble on a monsoon because someone wanted to finish a slope before break.
Follow-up is another tell. Two to three weeks after a replacement, thermal cycles can expose loose caps or reveal a misfired nail that worked itself up. I like to see contractors return for a quick punch list inspection. It is not always necessary, but it is a mark of pride.
Repairs, Replacements, and the Gray Area Between
Not every roof needs a full replacement. A few focused repairs can keep a system going for years if the shingles still have life. Leaks at dormer sidewalls often come down to missing kickout flashing. Chimneys need counterflashing in a rigid metal, not a smear of mastic. Pipe boots harden and crack after a decade. Swapping those boots and adding ice-and-water around them is a straightforward half-day job.
That said, repairs on a roof at the end of its lifespan are false economy. If your shingles are cupping, granules fill the gutter after every rain, and the roof is more than 20 years old, pouring money into a patch is like changing tires on a car with a blown engine. A reputable roofer will tell you when the runway has ended. Conner Roofing is candid about these calls. I have seen them repair a valley on a 12-year-old roof and advise monitoring for three seasons. I have also seen them decline repairs on a brittle 25-year-old three-tab because any work would likely cause collateral damage. That kind of honesty saves headaches.
Insurance Work Without the Headaches
Storm claims are a part of life here. The wrong approach turns a manageable process into months of frustration. The right approach starts with evidence. A roofer should document hail impact, wind uplift, and collateral hits to gutters, downspouts, and soft metals. They should mark slopes by direction and pitch. An adjuster will appreciate clarity, and your chances of a fair assessment improve.
Conner Roofing has experience meeting adjusters on site. They do not posture or inflate. They point to marks, explain why certain slopes qualify and others do not, and they discuss code-required items, like drip edge and synthetic underlayment. If your policy includes ordinance and law coverage, code upgrades are typically covered. If it does not, you will want to know the costs so there are no surprises. A good contractor helps you navigate that without promising the moon.
What Project Day Looks Like
A typical replacement on a standard two-story St. Louis home runs one to two days with a full crew. Tear-off starts early. The dumpster arrives and positions to avoid blocking neighbors. Tarps cover beds and walkways. The crew strips shingles, nails down new decking where needed, and gets ice-and-water and synthetic underlayment in place before reshingle. Valleys are flashed in metal, step flashing goes in with each course along sidewalls, and chimneys receive counterflashing that is cut into the mortar joints, not glued on the surface.
Ridge vents are cut and installed once the field shingles are down. Caps come last. An experienced foreman checks nail lines. Underdriven nails are a leak risk, overdriven nails cut shingles. A magnet sweep and cleanup wrap the day. Homeowners should expect a walkthrough. You want to see the roof from the street at a minimum, but good companies share install photos so you can inspect details that are not visible from the ground.
Pricing Reality and Value Judgments
Costs vary with material choice, home complexity, and season. Asphalt architectural shingles on a simple ranch roof can be surprisingly affordable. Add dormers, steep pitch, multiple valleys, and you introduce labor hours. Metal will run higher, but the lifecycle cost can pencil out if you plan to stay long term. One rule of thumb: do not chase the cheapest number if it trims the system. If a bid is lower because it reuses flashing and skips ice-and-water shield in valleys, you are comparing different scopes. Ask for an apples-to-apples comparison.
Financing is common, especially when insurance does not apply. Conner Roofing can walk you through payment options. Many homeowners pair roof work with gutter upgrades, leaf protection, or skylight replacements to minimize future disruptions. The key is to prioritize components that protect the system. Flashing and ventilation are not the place to save a few dollars.
Keeping Your Roof Healthy After Install
A roof is not a set-and-forget element. Light maintenance goes a long way, and it is safer and smarter to let your roofer handle the higher-risk tasks. Seasonal debris removal from valleys and behind chimneys prevents water from damming. Trimming branches that rub shingles stops granule loss in those lanes. A quick drone or binocular check after big wind events helps catch lifted shingles or missing caps.
Sealing is not maintenance, it is a last resort. If someone is smearing mastic on a flashing detail twice a year, the flashing is wrong. Proper metal and overlap should do the work. Conner Roofing’s service calls tend to focus on real fixes, not band-aids. If you had a roof installed by them, ask about a periodic inspection schedule. A 10-minute look from a pro can save thousands.
Why Local Matters
There is a reason local roofers in St. Louis carry more weight than pop-up storm chasers with out-of-state plates. The locals know our codes, our inspectors, our seasons, and our styles. They care about repeat business and reputation. Conner Roofing is headquartered on Watson Road, and you can walk in, shake a hand, and know where to find them if you need anything. That accountability is worth more than a coupon mailed from three states away.
I have also watched how local crews handle the subtle details that fit our Conner Roofing, LLC roof repair near me housing stock. They know that a masonry chimney in a 1920s brick home might need reglet cuts at a different height because of mortar condition. They understand that ridge vents on a hip roof need careful layout to avoid short circuits. These are small things that prevent callbacks.
When to Call
If you see water stains on a ceiling after a wind-driven rain, do not wait for a bluebird day. That is the time to call roofers near me who can respond quickly and assess. If shingles have disappeared from a slope, your decking may be exposed. A tarp is a short-term fix, but it should be installed by someone who understands where to anchor without causing more harm. If you are planning a renovation that involves moving vent stacks or adding skylights, loop in a roofer early. Coordinating penetrations prevents rework.
Even if nothing is visibly wrong, a roof crossing the 15-year mark deserves a professional look every couple of seasons. The goal is to plan your replacement, not be forced into it by a leak during a storm.
A Brief Homeowner Checklist for Vetting a Roofer
- Ask for a detailed scope showing materials, flashing, and ventilation plan. Verify proof of insurance and local references from similar homes. Request install photos from recent jobs, especially valleys and chimneys. Clarify workmanship warranty terms and any exclusions. Confirm who handles permits, inspections, and cleanup, including magnets.
What Homeowners Say, and What I Look For in Their Stories
Feedback from clients tells you what a website cannot. When I hear homeowners talk about Conner Roofing, a few themes repeat. Schedules are honored or updated quickly if weather changes. Crews show up early, work clean, and communicate. Change orders are rare because the initial proposal accounted for common surprises. Those stories matter more than glossy brochures.
When you talk to past customers, listen for specifics, not adjectives. Did the crew reflash the chimney into mortar joints or just run caulk along the brick? How did they handle an afternoon thunderstorm that rolled in during tear-off? If a homeowner can recall clear actions, you are likely hearing about a disciplined crew, not a marketing script.
The Bottom Line
Roofs are not mysterious. They are systems built from layers that must be installed with care and forethought, especially in a city with weather like ours. The right contractor explains those layers, documents what they see, and shows up with crews who work clean and think ahead. For roofers in St Louis, Conner Roofing, LLC fits that profile. They combine local knowledge with solid trade habits, and they make it easy to get started with a thorough inspection and a free estimate.
If your roof is aging, if a recent storm has you worried, or if you simply want a professional opinion before problems appear, reach out. You will learn more in one site visit than you will in a week of online research, and you can plan with confidence.
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 search for roofers near me after a sudden leak or you are planning a proactive replacement to protect your investment, call Conner Roofing, LLC. A clean, well-explained estimate is the best starting point, and it does not cost you a dime. St Louis roofers who work at this level keep homes dry, energy efficient, and ready for the next season.