A roof is not just shingles and flashing. It is the first line of defense against hail that rattles the gutters in May, the humid August heat that bakes the attic, and those surprise February freeze-thaw cycles that pry at every seam. In St. Louis, where weather works like a pressure washer on the average roof, quality workmanship matters more than a brochure or a warranty card. That is why experienced homeowners talk as much about the crew on the ladder as the brand of shingle on the pallet. The right contractor brings judgment, not just tools.
Conner roofers in St. Louis have built a word-of-mouth reputation in neighborhoods from Affton to Webster Groves for showing up, telling the truth about what a roof needs, and doing clean, exacting work. If you have ever watched an experienced foreman re-shingle a tricky valley or re-seat a leaky vent boot, you understand the difference. It is measured in dry drywall, quiet nights during storms, and home sale inspections that breeze by.
What St. Louis Weather Teaches Every Roofer
I have inspected roofs after wind events where shingles lifted like playing cards because the adhesive strips never activated properly. I have also seen roofs fail early in the city because installers underestimated ventilation needs on older brick homes, leading to overheated attics and curled shingles long before their time. Conner roofers in St Louis operate with those lessons baked into their process.
Rain here often arrives with crosswinds that test ridge lines and hips. Hail at pea to quarter size shows up several times a year on average, leaving bruised asphalt mats and fractured granules. Winter adds ice in shaded eaves, especially on low-slope sections that tie into dormers. Any contractor worth your money accounts for this in material choices and detailing. That means upgraded underlayments at eaves and valleys, better ice and water shield coverage than minimum code, and attention to penetrations like flues and skylights that are common leak points. Good crews also build ventilation and intake into the plan even when soffits are short or boxed.
A solid roofing job in St. Louis is not about gimmicks. It is about a dozen small, thoughtful decisions and the discipline to execute them when a storm is pushing in from the west and everyone wants to work fast.
The Value of a Thorough Inspection
A quick walkthrough of an estimate tells you how a roofer thinks. When Conner roofers company teams come out, they do not just circle the chimney and count squares. They check decking by walking the plane, not just eyeballing from the ground. Soft spots near vent stacks and along valleys are common, especially on older homes with plank decking rather than modern OSB. They look at the gutter apron for rust lines, which hints at past water backup. They pull a few shingle tabs near suspect areas to assess fastener corrosion and confirm how many layers are present. Two layers change tear-off time, disposal needs, and load calculations.
Inside, a professional will peek in the attic for daylight at ridges or around pipe boots, test insulation moisture with a meter if there is a history of leaks, and verify that bathroom fans vent outside, not into the attic. I have lost count of how many “roof leaks” turned out to be condensation from a fan dumping steam under the decking. A good roofer solves problems, not just replaces shingles.
Materials That Hold Up and Why They Do
Homeowners often ask whether they should upgrade shingles or stick with standard architectural. The answer depends on exposure, slope, and budget. On south-facing planes with little tree cover, I like algae-resistant architectural shingles at a minimum. Timberline and Landmark are common, proven lines. In windy pockets near open ground or long ridgelines, an impact rated or higher wind-rated shingle pays off. Thicker shingles add weight and may reduce uplift, but fastener count and pattern matter just as much.
Underlayment choices are often overlooked. Felt still has its place, but synthetic underlayments resist tearing during install and stay stable in our humidity. Ice and water shield is not optional at eaves here, and I often recommend adding it up valleys and around all penetrations. Drip edge color should align with fascia, but more importantly, it should be sized correctly and installed under the starter course with sealed seams. For low-slope tie-ins, the conversation may shift to modified bitumen or TPO, which requires a different skill set. Conner roofers in St. Louis handle those transitions cleanly, and that is where leaks usually try to start.
Flashing separates the meticulous from the mediocre. Step flashing at sidewalls should be individual pieces, not a long continuous “L” metal that invites capillary action. Chimney counterflashing needs to be cut and tucked into mortar joints, not surface glued. Pipe boots should be upgraded from builder-basic rubber to silicone or lead in areas with high Conner roofers in St Louis UV exposure. Small costs, big returns.
What a Clean Jobsite Says About a Crew
After two or three tear-offs in a week, you can spot a disciplined crew by their staging. Dumpsters are placed to avoid rutting yards, tarps protect landscaping, and magnet sweeps happen every day, not just at the end. Hidden nails in driveways are a rite of roofing for amateurs, not professionals. Conner roofers near me have a habit of narrating the day’s plan with the homeowner before the first bundle goes up the ladder, then debriefing at day’s end with photos. That is not fluff. It prevents misunderstandings and keeps surprises to a minimum.
Neighbors watch a roofing job. They see whether felt sits exposed overnight or whether the crew hustles to dry-in fully before weather hits. They notice how long tear-off debris sits, whether smokers are flicking butts into the landscaping, and how carefully gutters are reset. A company’s next ten projects often come from the five houses within view of the one they are doing today.
Repair or Replace: Making the Call with Sound Judgment
The question lands the same way every time: Can we buy a few more years with a repair, or is it time for a full replacement? The answer deserves more than a shrug. If more than 25 to 30 percent of the field shows granule loss with exposed asphalt, small repairs turn into whack-a-mole. On the other hand, localized wind damage, especially in a single plane, can be repaired neatly if the shingle model is still available and the surrounding area is healthy.
Age matters, but so does maintenance history. A 12-year-old roof that has never seen a tune-up can leak from a handful of small failures. I have fixed six-figure interior damages that started with a ten-dollar split boot. Conner roofers St Louis MO usually outline tiers of options: a repair plus maintenance now with a plan to re-roof in two to three years, or a larger scope replacement with material upgrades. A good estimate explains what you gain and what risks remain.
Insurance, Hail, and Doing It the Right Way
Storms spark door knockers and quick pitches. Some are honest. Many are not. Insurance work has a rhythm and a rulebook, and cutting corners creates headaches later. If a hail event damages shingles, insurance typically covers replacement of affected slopes with like kind and quality. The process starts with a thorough inspection and photo documentation, followed by an adjuster meeting. The estimate is written in line items that reflect each component, from tear-off to ridge caps.
Conner roofers in St. Louis have a steady hand with adjusters, which makes a difference. They avoid inflating claims with questionable items that will get stripped in review, yet they document the reality on the roof so the final scope reflects needed work, including code-required upgrades like drip edge or ventilation improvements. Supplements are common when hidden decking damage appears. A reputable contractor communicates those changes with the homeowner and carrier openly, which keeps the process smooth.
Ventilation, the Silent Roof Killer
Most roof failures blamed on “bad shingles” track back to heat and moisture. Proper ventilation is a package: intake at the eaves, exhaust at or near the ridge, and an unobstructed path between them. Many mid-century homes in St. Louis have soffits that were painted and sealed decades ago, choking off intake. Adding continuous vented soffit or carefully spaced circular vents can solve the problem, but the attic often needs baffles to maintain airflow past insulation. For exhaust, ridge vents are clean and effective when installed with the right opening width and consistent shingle overcaps. On hip roofs with short ridges, low-profile box vents or powered options may be appropriate. What you do not want is exhaust without intake, which pulls conditioned air from the house and still fails to cool the roof deck.
Insulation pairs with ventilation. A properly vented attic with thin insulation will still struggle with heat, and your HVAC will pay for it. When Conner roofers company teams scope a roof, they often flag insulation shortfalls as part of a whole-home view, because keeping the house dry and efficient is the real target.
The Human Side of a Roofing Project
Roofs are built over daily life. Dogs need a plan. Nap times need scheduling. Outdoor furniture needs moving, and elderly neighbors may need reassurance about the noise. A project manager who thinks about people as much as shingles reduces stress for everyone. I have watched Conner roofers keep one lane of a driveway clear for a caregiver’s predictable visits, and I have seen them set up a quick ramp of plywood so a mower could be wheeled into a shed while the tear-off was happening. These are small accommodations with big impact.
Communication beats assumptions. Before work begins, crews should confirm power access, bathroom arrangements if needed, and parking. During multi-day projects, a brief morning stand-up and a photo recap in the evening keep surprises away. If weather shifts, homeowners should hear the new plan before they hear the thunder.
What a Fair, Transparent Estimate Looks Like
A useful estimate shows more than a lump sum. It names the shingle line and color, underlayment type, ice and water coverage, flashing details, ridge ventilation plan, fastener type and count, and disposal. It should note whether decking replacement is included by the sheet or allowed as a contingency with a price per sheet. It should clarify permit handling, site protection steps, and cleanup commitments. Warranty language should separate manufacturer material warranties from the company’s workmanship guarantee, with timeframes for each.
Price is a function of scope and quality. Three bids that look far apart often hide different assumptions. One might skip chimney counterflashing. Another may not include replacing skylights that have aged out. Ask why, and you will quickly see who is thinking ahead and who is playing the low-number game.
When Timing Matters
Roofing season in St. Louis stretches spring through fall, with windows of mild weather that make for clean installs. Heat waves in July and August can cause scuffing if crews are not careful, and cold snaps below manufacturer temperature minimums in late fall require extra care with sealing. Good contractors build schedules around these realities. If a storm hits and tarps go up, a trustworthy roofer prioritizes dry-in and follows with a measured replacement schedule rather than overpromising and underdelivering.
Lead times for special-order shingles or custom metals can run one to three weeks. Permits in various municipalities add a few days to a week. If you are planning around other projects like solar, coordinate early. Flashing details and layout can be adjusted to make the later installation cleaner and less intrusive.
Maintenance That Pays for Itself
A roof that never sees a ladder will surprise you at the worst time. A once-a-year roof tune-up saves money. After leaf drop, gutters need attention, especially on steep pitches and heavily treed lots. Valleys collect granules and leaf litter, which hold moisture. Pipe boots age faster than shingles and benefit from inspection and occasional sealant refresh. Flashing can back out with seasonal movement, and nail pops can telegraph through shingles, breaking the surface. Catching these early is the difference between a caulk gun and a ceiling repair.
Homeowners often ask what they can do themselves. Stay off steep roofs and high edges. Use binoculars from the ground to scan for lifted tabs, damaged ridge caps, or dark streaks that indicate algae. Check the attic after heavy rains and during temperature swings for any signs of drips or damp insulation. Call a pro for anything beyond simple gutter cleaning and ground-level checks.
Why Local Experience Beats Generic Promises
Every market has its quirks. St. Louis clay chimneys, for example, demand careful flashing and mortar work. Slate and tile remnants in older neighborhoods call for a different skill set when tying into new additions. Metal valleys handle debris better than woven shingles in leaf-rich areas, but they need clean hemmed edges. Conner roofers St Louis MO crews live in these details. That local pattern recognition means faster diagnosis and fewer callbacks.
The same goes for codes. Municipalities around the metro have their own requirements for drip edge, ventilation, and deck nailing. A company that works these neighborhoods daily will line up inspections properly and avoid time-wasting do-overs. That kind of competence rarely shows up on a yard sign, but you feel it in how smoothly the project moves.
Budgeting Smartly Without Sacrificing Quality
Not every project calls for the most expensive shingle on the shelf. I tell homeowners to prioritize the stack from the deck up: solid decking with proper fastening, robust underlayment strategy including ice and water shield in the right places, precise flashing, then shingles that match the exposure. Upgrading ventilation is often the highest ROI move in the package. If the budget is tight, keep the warranty honest by using a matched system from one manufacturer so components work together and warranties remain valid. Save a line item for contingencies like hidden rot at eaves or around chimneys. You will probably use it, and if you do not, great.
Financing is common. Many reputable companies offer payment options. Use financing to bridge timing, not to rationalize an overreach. A roof should be a once-in-two-decades expense if done well, not a recurring line item.
Signals That You Chose the Right Roofer
Homeowners often ask how to tell, early, that they hired the right team. You know it when questions are welcomed and answered plainly. You see it when the first bundle is cut square and the starter course is straight. You hear it when the crew calls for a pause to rework a detail rather than push through. Photo documentation appears without being asked. The job wraps with a walkthrough, a magnet sweep that actually finds things, and a simple packet that includes the warranty, receipts, and a few before-and-after shots. Weeks later, when you call about a small concern, someone returns the call and sets a time to visit without you needing to chase them.
A Short Homeowner Checklist Before You Sign
- Ask to see photos from recent projects on homes similar to yours, including details like valleys and chimneys. Confirm materials by brand and line, and ask why those were chosen for your home. Verify workmanship warranty length and what it covers, separate from the manufacturer warranty. Clarify decking replacement pricing and how hidden damage will be handled. Request a daily cleanup plan and point of contact for questions during the project.
Neighborhood Stories That Stick
One homeowner in Shrewsbury called after a storm because water had started dripping through a light fixture. The roof was only eight years old. A quick inspection roofing services in St Louis showed the shingle field was fine, but the bathroom fan duct had slipped and was venting steam into the attic. Warm air condensed under the deck, then dripped along a wire run. Conner roofers resecured the duct, added a proper exterior vent hood, and suggested a modest attic ventilation improvement. The cost was modest. The fix prevented a ceiling replacement and mold remediation that would have landed later.
Another project in South County involved a low-slope addition tied into a higher-pitch main roof. Three previous “repairs” had layered caulk and fabric at the transition. It still leaked. The right solution meant removing a few courses of shingles, installing a wide, soldered metal apron with ice and water shield beneath, then tying back in with new shingles and properly stepped sidewall flashing. It took a day and a half, not an hour, and it has stayed dry through two springs of heavy rain. Doing it once, the right way, is cheaper than repeating a shortcut.
Your Home, Their Craft
Roofing rewards patience, planning, and the humility to fix what is found rather than what was expected. When you hire a team like Conner roofers in St. Louis, you are buying the quiet that comes with a tight envelope and the confidence to ignore the forecast. It is a practical purchase with emotional value. The house feels solid again. That is what good roofing does.
Contact Us
Conner Roofing, LLC
Address: 7950 Watson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63119, United States
Phone: (314) 375-7475
Website: https://connerroofing.com/