A new roof is one of those projects you feel in your gut. It is significant, not just in cost but in how it protects your family and your home’s value. In St. Louis, roofs take a beating, year after year. Freeze-thaw cycles open seams, spring storms test shingles, UV breaks down asphalt binders, and summer humidity feeds mold on north-facing slopes. After two decades helping homeowners navigate roof replacement in St. Louis MO, I’ve learned that what makes the process simple is not luck. It’s clarity, preparation, and a contractor who treats your home as a system, not just a surface.
Below, I’ll break down how to recognize when you truly need a new roof, what materials make sense in our region, how to compare quotes without guesswork, and what a well-run project looks like from first call to final cleanup. Along the way, I’ll share practical tips we use at Conner Roofing, LLC to keep surprises to a minimum and quality high.
What St. Louis weather does to a roof
Local climate drives roof life expectancy more than any brochure claim. On paper, architectural asphalt shingles list 30 to 50 years. In practice, most St. Louis roof replacement projects happen between 18 and 28 years, depending on attic ventilation, shingle quality, and exposure.
Ice is a quiet destroyer. Warm air from the house melts snow, water runs to the eaves, then refreezes. Those ice dams can push water up under shingles and into the fascia. I’ve opened eaves with blackened sheathing after a single bad winter. Summer sun takes its turn, especially on south and west faces. Asphalt dries and loses granules, sealant strips fatigue, and tabs begin to lift just enough for wind to get a finger under them.
Storms are the wild card. Hail between 1 and 1.5 inches will bruise shingles enough to fracture the mat. That damage is hard to see from the ground. Wind can pull ridge caps clean off or break the bond line along a rafter bay. Because of this, timing matters. After major hail events, adjusters and roofers get flooded with calls. If your roof is already in its last third of life, don’t wait for the next big system to force your hand.
How to tell if you need roof replacement or repairs
Most homeowners call when they see a stain on a bedroom ceiling. By then, it’s no longer a shingle problem. Water has found a path, often along a nail line or a flashing seam, and gravity is delivering the evidence inside. That doesn’t automatically mean a full St. Louis roof replacement. Age and pattern of issues decide that.
Repairs make sense when the roof is young, the damage is isolated, and the underlayment is intact. Think pipe boot cracking around a vent, a lifted shingle section from a bad wind gust, or a flashing nail that backed out at a dormer. We fix those all the time, and they hold.
Replacement makes more sense when multiple planes show granule loss and curling, ridge caps are brittle, shingles are blistering in patches, or leaks repeat in different areas despite spot repairs. If the roof is over 20 years old and you see consistent shingle fatigue, your money buys more value in a full replacement than in repeated patches.
One quick field test I use during inspections: if I can lift shingle tabs without crackling, the asphalt is still pliable. If the edges fracture with light pressure, the mat is oxidized and you’re near end of life. I also check the attic on sunny days. Pinholes of light along the ridge or valleys hint at nail pops or seam failure. High attic humidity or rusty nail points tells me ventilation needs attention, not just shingles.
Choosing materials that stand up in St. Louis
The right material depends on budget, aesthetics, and how long you plan to keep the home. There’s no one best roof replacement material for every property, but there are smarter choices for our climate.
Architectural asphalt shingles are the workhorse. They balance cost and durability, and manufacturers offer impact-resistant versions rated Class 4. In many St. Louis neighborhoods, that IR shingle yields insurance discounts. We’ve seen real-world performance where Class 4 shingles resisted small hail that shredded older three-tab roofs next door. Pay attention to the nailing zone design and SBS-modified options that stay flexible in cold snaps.
Metal roofs are gaining popularity on bungalows and modern additions. Standing seam panels shed snow, handle wind, and can last 40 to 70 years if detailed correctly. They cost more upfront, and you need tradespeople who understand clip spacing, expansion, and trim around chimneys and skylights. On houses with complex hips and valleys, the labor delta widens versus asphalt. On long, simple runs, metal becomes more competitive.
Synthetic and composite shake or slate look great on Tudor and Colonial homes in St. Louis, and they dodge the weight and maintenance of real slate. They’re more expensive than asphalt and require manufacturer-trained installation to keep warranties intact. If the neighborhood has historical guidelines, these can pass design review where asphalt might not.
Flat or low-slope sections over porches or dormers need their own strategy. Never let a contractor run standard shingles down to a near-flat pitch. You want a dedicated low-slope system there, like a self-adhered modified bitumen or a TPO membrane with properly flashed edges. I’ve traced many “mystery” leaks to improper shingle use on a 2:12 porch roof.
Ventilation and the quiet killers of roof life
A roof system is more than shingles. Ventilation and insulation protect the underside from heat and moisture. Without balanced intake and exhaust, attic temperatures soar in July and ice dams grow in January. Both shorten shingle life and rot the deck.
I look for continuous soffit vents feeding air across the underside of the deck and out a ridge vent. If bath fans vent into the attic, fix that before the new roof. The warm, moist air destroys sheathing over time and breeds mold. Baffles at the eaves keep insulation from blocking airflow. Aim for roughly 1 square foot of net free ventilation area for every 300 square feet of attic floor if you have a balanced system, adjusting for vent product specifics.
On older homes without soffits, we improvise with smart intake vents in the lower deck and low-profile exhaust near the ridge. It’s not perfect, but it’s far better than trapping heat. Investing a few hundred dollars in ventilation during roof replacement can add years to shingle life and often pays back in lower cooling bills.
The anatomy of a correct installation
A clean, durable roof replacement St Louis homeowners can count on follows a sequence and respects details. Tear-off comes first. I don’t recommend overlaying new shingles on old, even if code allows it for a single additional layer. Overlays sag between old tabs, hide deck damage, and shorten the life of the new layer.
Once stripped, we inspect the deck. OSB with soft spots near eaves and valleys, delamination around chimneys, or old plank decking with wide gaps are red flags. Replace compromised sections now. Skimping here leads to a wavy finished surface and premature failure.
Underlayment selection matters. Ice and water shield should run at least two rows from the eave on heated spaces and wrap into the gutters, especially on north sides and under valleys. We use it around penetrations and up the sides of chimneys. Synthetic underlayment covers the rest for wrinkle resistance and traction. Drip edge goes under the underlayment at the eaves and over it on the rakes, a small detail that has big consequences for water control.
Valleys deserve special care. In neighborhoods with heavy leaf fall, I favor open, metal-lined valleys for long-term cleanout. In areas with lighter debris, a closed-cut valley is fine if the shingle manufacturer allows it and the cut stays straight without overexposing the lower course.
Fastening is the next test. I see many nails driven high, above the reinforced nailing strip. Those roofs look fine on day one but peel in storms. Nails need to hit the strip, sit flush without cutting through, and be stainless or hot-dipped galvanized on coastal or high-moisture exposures. The quantity and pattern follow manufacturer specs. Skipping a nail row voids warranties and reduces wind rating.
Flashings are where roofs leak first. Replace, don’t reuse, unless you have a historical detail you can’t disturb. Step flash every course against sidewalls, kick out at the bottom, and counterflash chimneys into mortar joints with a reglet cut rather than relying on surface mastic. Pipe boots should be sized precisely to the vent, with a bead of compatible sealant under the flange. Skylights need preformed kits, not field-bent patches.
Finally, finish clean-up is more than a quick magnet pass. We walk the property, rake landscaping where nails hide, and check downspouts for granule wash that might block drains. A tidy close is a sign of attention to detail that often mirrors the unseen details under the shingles.
Insurance, hail, and when a claim makes sense
St. Louis sees periodic hail storms that trigger widespread claims. A legitimate claim is about functional damage, not cosmetic change. Adjusters look for bruising that ruptures the shingle mat, displaced granules with black substrate exposed, and crease lines where wind bent tabs back. On metal roofs, minor dings can be cosmetic unless the panels are dented at laps or seams.
If your roof is approaching the end of its life and a hail event occurs, an inspection from a credible contractor helps you decide whether to file. We document with close-up photos, chalk test squares, and a map of slopes and slopes’ conditions. Filing without damage can raise your loss history without benefit. Filing with thorough documentation helps the adjuster make a fair call. If you move forward, insurance typically covers a like-for-like replacement and code-required upgrades, less your deductible.
Be cautious after storms. The area floods with out-of-town crews. Some are excellent, others disappear before the first snow. Check for a local office, references from St. Louis customers, and manufacturer certifications. A legitimate roof replacement services provider will be transparent about insurance scope, supplement handling for overlooked code items, and the timeline.
How to read a roofing quote without guesswork
Quotes that look similar often hide important differences. Compare in a way that cuts through the marketing. The scope should list tear-off of all layers, deck inspection and replacement policy with per-sheet pricing, underlayment type and ice barrier coverage, shingle brand and model, ridge vent and intake plan, flashing replacement approach, and accessories like pipe boots and attic baffles. If a quote glosses over these, you’re buying hope rather than a spec.
Warranties include two layers. The manufacturer covers defects in materials and, with upgrade packages, sometimes workmanship for an initial period if an authorized installer performs the work. The contractor’s workmanship warranty covers how the system was put together. Ask how service calls work, whether the company registers extended warranties, and what voids coverage, such as adding a solar array without coordinating flashing.
Numbers should be clear. If one quote is much lower, it’s usually missing deck work allowances, proper ice and water coverage, or it plans an overlay. If one is much higher, it might include upgrades like Class 4 impact shingles, enhanced starter and ridge systems, or more plywood. Decide whether those add value for your home and neighborhood, not just for a brochure.
Budgeting and the real cost drivers
Most asphalt roof replacements in our area sit in a broad range influenced by size, access, pitch, and detail complexity. Two houses of the same footprint can vary thousands of dollars if one has multiple dormers, hips, and valleys while the other is a simple gable. Steep pitches slow production and increase safety measures. Access matters too. If we need to hand-carry materials because trucks can’t get close, labor goes up.
Upgrades that pay off often include impact-resistant shingles for hail-prone blocks, full-perimeter ice barrier if your eaves overhang heated space, and ridge vent with proper intake. High-end copper flashing looks beautiful on older brick homes but carries a premium. On modern homes, prefinished metal flashings provide excellent durability at lower cost.
Homeowners often ask about timing. Spring and fall are comfortable for crews and materials, but summer and winter installs are fine if handled carefully. In January, we watch shingle flexibility and use warm storage to keep sealant strips bonding. In August, we protect landscaping and schedule delivery to avoid softening asphalt driveways under pallet weight.
What a smooth project looks like, day by day
Clarity upfront keeps the day-of calm. Before we schedule, we walk the site with you, flag fragile landscaping, identify outlets for equipment, plan material staging, and set expectations about noise and start times. We request vehicles move from the driveway the night before, cover attic valuables if decking is plank style, and arrange a portable restroom if the project is multi-day.
On day one, protection goes up first. best St Louis roof replacement Plywood shields over windows and doors, tarps angled to catch debris, magnetic sweeps at lunch and day’s end. Tear-off proceeds methodically to expose only what we can dry-in the same day. The crew lead checks the deck as it opens, marks bad boards, and communicates counts before replacement. By mid-day, the front may look chaotic to a passerby, but there’s a rhythm crews follow that keeps water out even if a pop-up storm hits.
Installation starts at eaves with drip edge, ice barrier, and starter courses. Valleys get prepped before field shingles. Flashing work is slower because it’s precise. If we’re tying into masonry, we plan for mortar cure time and weather windows. The final roof cap and ridge vent go late in the process, followed by detail checks around skylights and penetrations. Clean-up is not an afterthought. We rake beds gently where nails hide, run rolling magnets across lawn grids, and check gutters for shingle granules that could clog downspouts.
Communication throughout matters. We send day summaries if you’re at work, with photos of any hidden issues that changed the plan. Most surprises relate to deck condition, improper flashings hidden under old shingles, or blocked soffits. Contingency allowances prepared in the contract keep these from becoming conflicts.
A few real-world examples
A Brentwood bungalow with a 22-year-old roof looked fine from the street. The owners called after a second leak appeared, opposite the original repair. We lifted shingles and found brittle mats and a ridge with heat cracking. The attic revealed no baffles, insulation stuffed into eaves, and rusted nail tips. We replaced the roof with an architectural shingle, opened soffits, added baffles, and cut a continuous ridge vent. Three winters later, no ice damming and lower cooling costs in summer.
In Webster Groves, a Victorian had a gorgeous slate main roof and a failing low-slope porch. Prior crews had shingled the 2:12 pitch. It leaked every spring. We recommended a self-adhered modified bitumen for the porch, color-matched the cap sheet, and redid the transition flashing under the slate course. The porch stayed dry, and the slate roof gained years because water stopped intruding at the junction.
A newer build in Wildwood had Class 4 shingles in the spec, but the ventilation was off. Two power fans fought a short ridge vent with no soffit intake. In summer, the attic still cooked. During replacement after hail, we closed the power fans, opened soffits with hidden venting, and extended ridge ventilation. The homeowner secured an insurance discount for the impact-rated shingles, and the HVAC load in July dropped noticeably.
Working with Conner Roofing, LLC
When you search roof replacement St Louis, you’ll find a crowd. What sets a reliable partner apart is process and follow-through. We start with a thorough evaluation, not a five-minute walk-around. We take photos, check the attic, measure slopes properly, and discuss your priorities, whether that is a clean architectural look, impact resistance, or keeping a historical profile.
Our proposals spell out materials by name, not just category. We prefer full system approaches where components are designed to work together, from starter to ridge. If you want to consider alternatives, we lay out the differences candidly. We’re also straightforward about schedule and crew size. A 30-square roof on a clean layout is often a one-day install with the right team. Complex roofs may take two to three days. You’ll know which and why.
We respect budgets and never push upgrades that don’t add real value. If your roof sits under heavy tree cover, algae-resistant shingles make sense. If you plan to add solar in two years, we coordinate layout now and flash in future pathways to avoid cutting the new roof later. If you intend to sell soon, we’ll help you pick a proven, attractive shingle at a smart price point that helps inspection and appraisal without overbuilding.
Simple steps to make your project easier
- Gather your records: age of the roof, past repairs, any warranty paperwork, and photos if you’ve noticed leaks after specific storms. Walk your attic before estimates: note any moisture, moldy smells, or daylight at seams so you can share specifics. Decide on priorities: longevity, hail resistance, color, and budget. Ranking these helps narrow options fast. Ask each roofer the same questions: underlayment type, ice barrier coverage, ventilation plan, flashing details, deck repair policy. Plan logistics: move cars, cover attic valuables, and alert neighbors to the schedule to ease street parking and access.
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
The most expensive problems usually start as small omissions. Reusing old step flashing may save an hour today and cost a ceiling repair next year. Skipping ice and water on a shallow north eave might look fine until the first heavy thaw. Overventing with mixed systems feels proactive but can short-circuit airflow and pull conditioned air from the house. And perhaps the most common mistake is hiring strictly on price, only to learn later that key components were downgraded.
Avoid these by insisting on documentation and photos throughout the process. A good contractor is proud to show the underlayment coverage, valley prep, new flashing, and clean decking before shingles go down. Ask for a final package that records what was installed. If you ever need to sell or make an insurance claim, that record helps.
The value of a local partner
St. Louis roofs are not theoretical problems. They face real weather, unique building stock, and varied neighborhood standards. A local company that has worked through our winters, hail seasons, and the quirks of 100-year-old framing knows what holds up. Conner Roofing, LLC is based in the heart of the metro, and we put our name on every project because many of our jobs come from neighbors telling neighbors.
Whether you need a quick repair, a second opinion after a storm, or a full roof replacement St Louis MO homeowners can trust for decades, the path is straightforward. Get a clear assessment, choose materials that make sense for your home and our climate, demand precision on the details you can’t see once the shingles are down, and keep communication open from start to finish. That is how you make roof replacement simple, and that is the standard we work to every day.
Contact Us
Conner Roofing, LLC
Address: 7950 Watson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63119, United States
Phone: (314) 375-7475
Website: https://connerroofing.com/