Roofs in St. Louis take a beating. Freeze-thaw cycles can pry open the smallest weak spot. Spring storms bring wind-driven rain that hunts for misnailed shingles and tired flashing. By mid-summer, southern exposures bake at temperatures that curl edges and dry out sealants. I have seen a twenty-year shingle fail after twelve seasons on a south-facing hip roof in Shrewsbury, while the same product on a shaded north slope looked nearly new. That is the reality on the ground in this region. If you want a roof that performs, you need a contractor that knows the local patterns and builds to them, not to a brochure.
Conner Roofing, LLC operates squarely in this environment. Their crews move through St. Louis City and County neighborhoods daily, and their work shows an understanding of two things that matter most here: details around penetrations and ventilation tailored to the house. When homeowners search for Conner roofers in St Louis or type Conner roofers near me after a leak shows up on a Saturday morning, they are often trying to separate noise from signal. The purpose of this guide is to give you the signal, distilled from hands-on experience: how to think about roofing in St. Louis, what good installation looks like, when repair makes sense, and how maintenance prevents bigger bills. Along the way, I will point to the patterns I see from Conner roofers and similar high-caliber teams, and why those patterns matter.
What makes St. Louis roofs different
Every market has its quirks. Here, moisture movement and temperature swings drive most failures. One January thaw after a deep freeze can push water under the best-intentioned shingle course if the starter strip is shy or the eaves lack an adequate ice barrier. On older homes in Webster Groves and South City, steep gables meet low-slope returns that shed water slowly. Those transitions need a different approach than a pure asphalt field.
Wind Conner roofers in St Louis is an underrated factor. While we do not see coastal gusts, the straight-line winds that accompany spring systems can peel marginal shingles that were installed without a firm bed of sealant or with nails riding high. I have inspected roofs where the only difference between an intact slope and a torn one was the nail placement — an inch can be the difference between holding power and a sail. Conner roofers St Louis MO crews, in my observation, consistently hit the nailing lines, and they do not chase production at the cost of placement. That is not a small thing.
Ventilation and insulation add to the puzzle. Many houses across Richmond Heights, Maplewood, and the Southampton neighborhood have partial cathedral sections with little intake, or knee walls that trap heat behind sloped ceilings. Without a ventilation strategy that fits the structure, shingles cook from beneath. A skilled crew will propose either additional intake, a ridge vent with a continuous path, or, on complex roofs, a combination of ridge and smartly placed dome vents, while closing off redundant gables that short-circuit airflow. This is the kind of judgment that separates a roof that lasts fifteen years from one that comfortably reaches its expected service life.
Installation done right: where the long life begins
Most roofing warranties sound similar, and most sales pitches repeat the same phrases about layers and protection. The true difference sits in places you cannot see once the shingles are down.
Starter and edge treatment set the tone. Along eaves, I look for at least a 3-foot ice and water shield in Missouri, with 6 feet on vulnerable north eaves or valleys that collect drift. That membrane should lap cleanly over a properly sized drip edge, with the metal bedded so wind cannot lift it. Rakes need their own drip edge, nailed to structural wood, not soft fascia. These choices aren’t glamorous, but they shut down the common paths water takes when wind pushes rain sideways.
Valleys deserve special attention. Open metal valleys, when correctly hemmed and woven with shingles held off the centerline, shed water better than closed valleys in many St. Louis homes, especially under tree cover where debris can build. When crews choose closed-cut valleys, I make sure the cut edge faces downhill and the underlayment in the valley is doubled, preferably with ice and water shield. I have torn roofers by Conner out valley sections where a single missed step led to years of intermittent leaks that stained plaster ceilings every March.
Flashing is where money is saved or lost. Chimneys in older brick homes often lack counterflashing that is cut into the mortar joints. Surface-applied metal with tube sealant looks fine on day one, then cracks by year three. A proper step and counterflash, with reglet cuts in the mortar and sealed with a flexible masonry-grade sealant, holds up to the thermal movement of both brick and roof deck. The same logic applies to sidewall and headwall transitions. Conner roofers in St Louis, when they re-roof, tend to replace flashing rather than reusing existing metal, and they will recommend masonry repair on failing chimneys before closing things back up. That slows the project a day or two, but it eliminates callbacks that no one wants.
Fastening patterns separate clean installations from problem jobs. On typical laminated architectural shingles, four nails meet the manufacturer’s standard, but six nails along eaves and rakes add insurance against St. Louis wind gusts. Nail heads should sit snug and flush, not sunk deep. Overdriven nails cut the mat and shorten life.
Underlayment choices vary by roof pitch. On steeper slopes, a high-quality synthetic underlayment lays flat and resists tearing. On low-slope sections that still qualify for shingles, I want added protection at transitions, pipe boots, and skylights. If a section falls below the manufacturer’s minimum pitch, a seasoned contractor will switch to a membrane roof rather than force shingles where they do not belong. That call preserves warranty coverage and actually suits the physics of the roof.
Finally, ventilation and intake complete the system. Continuous soffit intake paired with a full-length ridge vent creates a reliable draw. On hip roofs with short ridge lines, additional low-profile vents can help even the flow. The goal is simple: match the exhaust to the intake and provide a clear air path so summer attic temperatures do not exceed outside air by more than 10 to 20 degrees. I have measured attics at 140 degrees on August afternoons before retrofits, and at 115 after opening soffits and adding a ridge vent. That difference shows up in shingle life, HVAC load, and comfort under the roof.
Repairs with judgment: fixing the leak without creating another
Not every roof needs a full replacement. A shingle blown off in a June storm can be addressed the same day with a proper match, careful removal of surrounding tabs, and new fasteners placed correctly. The risk with piecemeal repairs is collateral damage. I have seen techs pry at cold, brittle shingles in November and turn a two-shingle repair into a ten-tab replacement that never sits flat again.
Experienced Conner roofers approach repairs with two questions in mind. First, what caused the failure? If a lifted shingle points to thermal movement from poor ventilation, they will note it. Replacing a pipe boot on a roof with soft decking around the penetration calls for a small patch of new sheathing, not just a new boot. Second, what is the remaining life of the roof? On a fifteen-year-old roof with granular loss and curling, fixing a leak near the chimney might buy a season, but not much more. Good contractors share that context so homeowners can decide whether to invest in repair or shift budget toward replacement.
Common repair scenarios include chimney step flashing that has separated from the mortar, skylight seals that have failed, and nail pops under the field that telegraph as pinhole leaks after heavy rain. Each looks simple from the street. Up close, the fixes demand patience: lift courses without tearing the mat, re-bed nails that have popped through old wood, replace brittle sealant with a butyl-based product that tolerates movement, and never rely on caulk where metal should do the work.
Maintenance habits that add years
A roof is not a set-it-and-forget-it component, especially under Missouri trees. Twice-yearly checkups in spring and late fall make a measurable difference. Homeowners can do a basic scan with binoculars, but a professional eye catches the subtler changes.
Debris removal should be gentle. In my practice, I avoid power washing shingles. Low-pressure rinsing and careful hand removal of leaves from valleys keeps granules where they belong. Granule loss accelerates UV damage. Once the mat is exposed on south and west slopes, deterioration speeds up fast.
Gutters act as overflow valves. Clogged gutters push water onto the fascia and behind the first shingle course. I have replaced fascia boards rotted through by two seasons of overflowing gutters under a maple that dropped helicopter seeds into every corner. Keep gutters cleared, confirm downspouts discharge away from the foundation, and make sure straps and hidden hangers are secure so gutters maintain pitch.
Sealant inspections around penetrations prevent sudden leaks. Pipe boots typically last 8 to 12 years. Sun exposure cracks neoprene collars, and the first sign is often a brown ring on a bathroom ceiling after a summer storm. Replacing boots before they fail is inexpensive, and a trained tech can swap them in under an hour on an uncomplicated roof.
Tree management extends roof life. Branches overhanging within a few feet shed leaves and rub granules in a breeze. Trim back proactively. After storms, look for small punctures from fallen twigs. A single torn shingle can wick water under multiple courses if left unattended.
Finally, keep ventilation paths open. Insulation contractors sometimes blow loose fill right over soffit vents. Baffles maintain air flow from soffit to ridge. Without that path, winter moisture can condense on the underside of the deck, leading to mold and delamination. I have pulled back insulation in Brentwood bungalows and found frost on the nails in January, a sure sign that warm, moist air is trapped. The fix is simple: baffles, cleared soffits, and a balanced exhaust.
Materials that make sense for St. Louis homes
Architectural asphalt shingles remain the backbone here for good reasons. They balance cost, appearance, and performance, and many manufacturers offer products rated for 130 mph wind with six nails and proper installation. Algae-resistant formulations help on shaded slopes, cutting down on the black streaks that show up after five to seven years under trees. If you opt for a higher-tier laminate, you often get thicker mats and better impact resistance, a nice advantage when hail rolls through.
Class 4 impact-resistant shingles are gaining traction. They cost more up front, sometimes 10 to 20 percent over standard laminates, but insurance carriers in Missouri may offer premium discounts. The product can shrug off smaller hail without bruising the mat, which slows the path to leaks. I recommend them on unshaded, hail-exposed neighborhoods west of the city where storms often build.
Metal roofing fits certain homes beautifully, particularly in neighborhoods with farmhouse or contemporary styles. Standing seam, installed over a proper underlayment with clip systems that allow for thermal movement, can run for fifty years with minimal maintenance. The key is detail work: high-temp ice and water shield under valleys and penetrations, carefully executed transitions at dormers, and an eye for oil canning control. Metal sheds snow quickly, so snow retention above entries makes sense.
Flat or low-slope sections benefit from single-ply membranes like TPO or EPDM. These outperform shingles below the minimum pitch, especially on back porch additions and shallow rear ells common in South City. A conscientious crew will flash under siding, secure edges with metal, and lay membrane with correct heat welds or adhesive bonds. The result looks clean and eliminates chronic drip lines that show up during slow rains.
Skylights deserve an upgrade when the roof changes. If a unit is ten years old or more, replacing it during re-roofing avoids tearing into a new field later. Modern skylights with integral flashing kits and low-E glass perform better than their predecessors and integrate smoothly with new shingles.
What to expect during a Conner Roofing project
A well-run roofing project follows a predictable rhythm, not because of a script, but because certain steps reduce risk. After an initial visit and proposal, expect a pre-job call to discuss start date, products, and any specifics like chimney masonry work or decking concerns. On day one, the crew should protect landscaping and set ground rules for debris control. Tear-off reveals the truth under the old roof. Soft decking, particularly at eaves and around penetrations, needs replacement, and a good foreman will show you photos before proceeding.
Underlayment follows, then drip edges and flashing. Valleys and penetrations get attention before the field goes down. The crew will typically start on the back side to get moving, then shift to the front. Ridge vent installation comes last, along with painting exposed metal to match as needed and sealing any small cut edges. Final cleanup matters. I have seen companies roll magnets three times and still return the next day to walk the lawn again, and I respect that habit. Nails hide in grass. Pets and bare feet find them later if crews are sloppy.
Professional outfits communicate. Weather delays happen. Instead of guessing, you should hear why a start was moved or why a half-day pause is necessary for safety. That transparency builds trust and leads to fewer surprises for both sides.
Insurance claims, storm work, and choosing wisely
Storm chasing is real in St. Louis. After a hail event, door knockers flood neighborhoods with offers and pressure. Not all of them are bad actors, but you can spot the difference. Local presence, verifiable references, clean workmanship on nearby homes, and a physical office go a long way. When you search for Conner roofers company and find Conner roofers in St Louis with a track record over many seasons, you are less likely to become a loose end after the checks clear.
Working with insurance requires a blend of documentation and patience. An experienced contractor will photograph damage, measure slopes, and write a scope that aligns with carrier standards. They will also explain depreciation, ACV versus RCV, and code upgrades that may be required, like drip edge on older homes. Beware of anyone who promises to eat your deductible or who pushes for full replacement when your roof shows only minor cosmetic scuffs. Ethics matter in this space, and insurers take note of which contractors play straight.
Pricing, value, and the long view
Roofing bids can vary widely. Labor practices, material quality, overhead, insurance coverage for crews, and pace all shape the number. The cheapest bid often strips out details that do not show up on a line item: reusing old flashing, skimping on ice and water shield, or rushing nailing to hit a quota. The most expensive bid may include premium materials you do not need or a margin that reflects a brand rather than workmanship. Somewhere in the middle lies a fair price for a roof installed by a well-compensated crew with the time to do it right.
I advise homeowners to judge by process and specificity. Ask how valleys will be treated on your roof, not just in general. Request the nailing pattern and the number of nails per shingle on eaves and rakes. Clarify whether chimney flashing will be cut into mortar or face sealed. A contractor who answers quickly and in plain language likely trains crews to the same clarity. I have sat through proposals where the salesperson waved at concepts, then watched the job struggle. I have also watched foremen walk homeowners through photos every afternoon and build confidence that lasts for years.
Red flags and green lights when evaluating a roofer
Here are concise cues that actually matter when you choose among Conner roofers or any local provider:
- Red flag: push for cash deals, vague scope, or refusal to replace flashing. Green light: written scope with specific materials, details for valleys and penetrations, and a plan for ventilation. Red flag: no proof of insurance or only a single page without coverage details. Green light: certificate sent directly from insurer listing your property as certificate holder. Red flag: reluctance to discuss decking replacement pricing. Green light: clear unit price for sheets replaced and a commitment to photo documentation. Red flag: promises to “waive the deductible.” Green light: clear explanation of your policy, supplements if needed, and a transparent billing process. Red flag: a crew that arrives without fall protection or site protection. Green light: harnesses on steep slopes, tarps over plantings, magnets for cleanup, and a tidy yard at day’s end.
A note on scheduling and seasonality
Missouri weather tests schedules. Spring fills quickly after winter backlogs. Summer heat pushes crews to start early. Fall brings a rush before holidays, and winter windows open during dry stretches. Good contractors monitor radar and make conservative calls about tear-off timing. I prefer a team that postpones rather than risks an open roof under a questionable forecast. When a crew tears off only what they can dry-in the same day, problems do not stack up.
If your roof is approaching the end of its life, plan ahead by at least a month or two during peak seasons. That lead time lets you choose colors with samples on the roof in different light and ensures materials arrive together. Special-order accessories like color-matched drip edge or painted vents can add a few days, but the result looks cohesive.
Local presence, practical service
St. Louis homeowners gravitate to companies within reach. When someone searches Conner roofers near me, they want fast response and a team that will still answer the phone five years later. A shop rooted here learns the patterns of the 63119 zip code as surely as it learns those of 63109 or 63110. That familiarity shows up in small ways: stocking the right pipe boot sizes common to older stack pipes, carrying masonry tools for quick tuck work at chimneys, and setting expectations for how long a south-facing slope on an unshaded ranch will realistically last.
Conner roofers in St Louis have built a reputation around this sort of practical service. The crews I have walked roofs with from their team carry chalk, meters, knives with fresh blades, and a disciplined approach to setup and teardown. Those details translate into fewer surprises for homeowners and a cleaner, tighter roof.
When to call and what to have ready
You can save time and get better advice by gathering a few basics before you reach out.
- Take a few photos from the ground of the areas of concern and note where interior stains appear, including room names and distance from walls. Locate your last roof replacement date if known, or estimate based on home purchase records. Identify attic access points and clear a path for inspection. Note any ventilation changes or insulation work done in recent years. If an active leak exists, place a container, mark the spot on the ceiling with painter’s tape, and snap a photo after the next rain to show spread.
These small steps give a project manager enough context to arrive prepared. If you have an active claim with your insurer, have the adjuster’s report handy. A reputable contractor will compare scope, flag gaps, and provide supplemental documentation where justified.
Contact information for Conner Roofing, LLC
Contact Us
Conner Roofing, LLC
Address: 7950 Watson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63119, United States
Phone: (314) 375-7475
Website: https://connerroofing.com/
If you prefer to search first, try queries like Conner roofers company or Conner roofers St Louis MO and look for recent projects near your neighborhood. Ask for addresses where they have worked. A drive-by tells you more than a brochure. Pay attention to lines along ridges, neatness at the eaves, and how flashing meets brick.
The bottom line
A roof in St. Louis succeeds or fails in the details. Solid underlayment at the edges, disciplined nailing, thoughtful valleys, and real flashing work create durability. Balanced ventilation makes the whole system last. Smart repairs buy time when a roof is otherwise healthy, and routine maintenance keeps small problems small. When you work with an experienced local contractor like Conner Roofing, you get crews that know these patterns and build to them. That is how you turn an unpredictable climate into a predictable outcome: dry ceilings, clean lines, and a roof that carries through the storm seasons year after year.