Roof projects in St. Louis tend to start with urgency. A windstorm tears off shingles in Glendale. An inspector flags hail bruising on a South City bungalow. An aging Clayton slate finally sheds a tile after a freeze-thaw cycle. Whether you are reacting to damage or planning a long overdue replacement, the decision you make about your roofer will echo for decades. Conner Roofing, LLC operates in that reality every day, and homeowners call them because they want a firm that can navigate Missouri weather, local permitting, and the variety of roof systems found across St. Louis neighborhoods.
This checklist is not a generic how-to. It’s a practical field guide shaped by projects on steep 1920s roofs and modern low-slope additions, with details that matter when hiring Conner Roofing, LLC. It will help you verify credentials, compare bids, inspect materials, understand warranties, and manage the job from estimate to final walkthrough. If you want to avoid headaches later, the time you spend with this list now will pay off.
Start with scope before price
Every successful roofing hire begins with an agreed scope. Too many homeowners jump to price, then discover the bid was based on assumptions that do not match the roof on their house. Conner Roofing services in St. Louis cover asphalt shingles, architectural shingles, certain low-slope membranes, flashing and ventilation upgrades, and storm repair. They also coordinate gutters and downspouts when those are tied to the roof project. Before you ask for numbers, set the boundaries. Are you asking for a tear off down to the deck, or an overlay? Do you want attic ventilation brought up to code? Are there skylights to replace? Is the project strictly shingles, or will they touch fascia and soffit?
A clear scope levels the playing field between bids, and it helps Conner Roofing service St Louis MO tailor the estimate to reality. If you are unsure about scope, ask them to walk the roof with you and take photos. A good estimator will show soft decking under a valley, a rusted step flashing behind a dormer, or a blistered patch on a low slope section that demands a different membrane. When you both see the same problems, your contract will cover the right fix.
Confirm licensing, insurance, and local standing
Roofing licenses and insurance are not paperwork formalities. They are the safety net that protects you if something goes wrong. You want to see a current general liability policy and workers’ compensation certificates issued to Conner Roofing, LLC. Call the carrier to verify active status. Reputable firms expect that call. They will also carry any required city or county licenses. Requirements vary across municipalities in St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis, so ask which jurisdiction your home falls under and what permits Conner roofing services will pull on your behalf.
Local standing matters in roofing, maybe more than in any other trade. Storm chasers show up after hail and disappear before the first callback. A St. Louis firm like Conner Roofing, LLC has a fixed address, recurring customers, and a reputation they protect job after job. You can check recent Google reviews, look for BBB accreditation, and, more importantly, ask for three addresses from projects completed within the last 6 to 12 months. Drive by. Look at lines, valleys, chimneys, and ridge vent terminations. The consistency of those details tells you how a crew is supervised.
Materials, matched to St. Louis weather
St. Louis sees wind-driven rain, hail ranging from pea to golf-ball size, temperature swings from single digits to triple-digit heat, and that stubborn freeze-thaw that tests every valley and flashing. Conner roofing services St Louis should spec materials accordingly, not just what is on special at the distributor.
Asphalt shingles dominate the market, but the difference between a 3-tab and a heavier architectural shingle is more than appearance. Architectural shingles handle wind better and often carry a longer limited warranty. If hail is your primary concern, ask whether an impact-resistant shingle makes sense for your roof, and what that does to both cost and insurance premiums. In some cases, the premium discount offsets part of the upgrade.
Valleys in this region can be trouble spots when installers rely on woven techniques with lighter shingles. An open metal valley, properly centered and hemmed, sheds heavy rain faster and resists ice. Step flashing behind sidewalls and dormers must be replaced, not re-used. You want new step flashing integrated with the underlayment and siding or counterflashing. Chimneys need new counterflashing cut into mortar joints, not face-sealed. Ask Conner Roofing service St Louis MO to describe how they handle each of these details and to note them on the proposal.
Underlayment is another line item that deserves attention. Synthetic underlayment outperforms standard felt in tear resistance and prolonged exposure, which matters if weather delays the shingle install. Ice and water shield should cover eaves to the code-required distance past the warm wall, and it belongs in valleys and around penetrations. Ventilation needs a plan, particularly on older homes where a patchwork of gable vents, box vents, and minimal soffit intake can create hot attics and ice dams. A ridge vent paired with balanced soffit intake usually works well here, but only if the attic pathways are open and baffles are installed where insulation might block airflow. Conner roofing services St Louis MO should inspect the attic, not just the roof surface, before finalizing the ventilation plan.
Tear off versus overlay, with math that makes sense
Overlaying a second layer of shingles might save money today, but it often costs more later. A second layer hides soft decking, makes future tear off more expensive, and adds weight to rafters that were never designed for it. Insurance claims also complicate when there is more than one layer. There are rare cases where an overlay on a small, simple roof can be justified if the deck is sound throughout and budget is tight. Even then, St. Louis humidity and heat tend to shorten the life of overlays because shingles run hotter. Put real numbers to the decision. If a tear off adds 15 to 20 percent to the initial bill but gives you a full life cycle and a clean deck inspection, it is usually the smarter move.
Attic inspection, moisture control, and mold risk
What happens below the roof skin decides how long the system will last. St. Louis summers trap moisture in poorly ventilated attics, and winter condensation can frost the underside of decking. If you have bath fans terminating in the attic, that moisture ends up in your roof system. Ask Conner Roofing, LLC to include an attic inspection in the evaluation. They should look for darkened decking from past leaks, active mold, compressed or misaligned insulation, and blocked soffit vents. Sometimes the fix is as simple as adding baffles and extending bath fan ducts to the exterior. Other times, you might need to enlarge soffit intake or choose a different exhaust strategy. A roofing contractor who does not want to look in the attic is not thinking about the roof as a system.
What a thorough estimate from Conner Roofing, LLC should include
A clean, complete estimate sets the tone for the entire project. When you review Conner roofing service proposals, look for line items that prove they plan to do more than swap shingles.
- Written scope of work with tear off depth, deck inspection and repairs, underlayment type, ice and water shield locations, flashing replacement, ventilation approach, and ridge cap type. Detailed material specifications including shingle brand and model, underlayment brand, metal thickness for valleys and flashing, and any membrane for low-slope sections. Disposal and cleanup plan, including how many dumpsters, where they will be placed, and property protection steps like plywood over delicate surfaces. Permit handling and inspection schedule, including any municipal or manufacturer inspections required for warranty eligibility. Payment schedule tied to milestones, not calendar dates, with a small deposit, a mid-point draw after material delivery or tear off, and a final payment after walkthrough and punch list completion.
That list might look exacting, but it saves time and friction for both sides. Contractors appreciate clients who understand what a well-documented job looks like. It usually means fewer surprises.
Comparing bids on more than price
If you request bids from multiple firms, insist on matching scope and similar material classes. A cheap number with recycled flashing, minimal ice and water in valleys, and a token ridge vent is not comparable to a bid that replaces critical components and balances airflow. When you compare Conner roofing services St Louis MO with others, normalize the details line by line. Then weigh the soft factors. How quickly did they deliver the estimate? Did they answer technical questions without hand waving? Do they provide a superintendent or crew lead you can reach during the job? How do they handle punch list items?
From experience, the middle bid from a contractor that communicates well and documents their process tends to deliver the best value. The low bid often leaves things out, and the high bid might include premium upgrades you do not need. Conner Roofing, LLC should be able to justify their number with photos, product cut sheets, and clear explanations of their installation method.
Insurance claims, hail damage, and timing
Storm work can overwhelm local contractors. Responsive scheduling and honest assessment become the differentiators. If you suspect hail damage, collect date-stamped photos from multiple elevations, not just the most obvious slope. Hail bruises might not show from the ground, and they are often worse on slopes that face the storm’s path. Conner roofing service teams can perform a test square on each elevation to quantify hits per 100 square feet. That data matters for claim approval.
Timing is critical. File the claim promptly and coordinate the adjuster meeting with your roofer so they can speak to the technical findings. You want agreement on scope before checks are issued, not a dispute after materials are ordered. Be wary of anyone who wants to start work before your carrier approves the claim and releases the first payment. Also be cautious of contingency agreements that lock you into a contractor before you see pricing. Conner Roofing, LLC should be comfortable walking you through the claim mechanics, supplementing when the adjuster misses code-required items, and keeping documentation tidy.
Low-slope sections and transitions
Many St. Louis homes mix steep-slope shingles with a low-slope porch, addition, or rear bump-out. Those transitions cause leaks when installers try to run shingles too low or skip specialty membranes. Make sure the proposal addresses low-slope areas with an appropriate product like modified bitumen or a single-ply membrane approved by the shingle manufacturer for adjacent tie-ins. Pay attention to how they seal the transition, including metal edge details, termination bars, and counterflashing. The crew that handles these mixed-slope junctions with care is the crew you want on your roof.
Safety and site protection
Safety is not only about the crew. It’s about your property and your neighbors. Ask how Conner Roofing, LLC protects landscaping, AC units, and windows. The better teams set up tarps, lay plywood over sensitive surfaces, and use magnetic sweepers daily, not just at the end. They will verify power line clearance and coordinate with the utility if necessary for service drops close to the roof edge. If you have pets or young children, discuss noise, access points, and the plan for keeping gates closed. These details rarely show on estimates, yet they define your experience while the job is underway.
Project management and communication
Good roofs are built by crews who know their craft, but they are delivered by managers who keep the moving parts in sync. Clarify who your day-to-day contact will be. On many residential jobs, it is a field supervisor who starts the day with the crew and checks on progress mid-job. Get their phone number. Agree on daily updates, even if short. If weather delays hit, you want to know by 7 a.m., not after taking a day off work for nothing. Share constraints on your side as well. If there is a newborn at home or a remote worker who needs quiet at certain hours, a schedule can be adjusted to accommodate.
Warranties you can count on
Roof warranties come in two layers. The manufacturer covers defects in the product itself, usually with a limited lifetime or time-bound coverage for shingles, and specific terms for wind and algae. The contractor covers workmanship, the way those products were installed. The strongest protection pairs a manufacturer’s enhanced warranty with a contractor workmanship warranty that is long enough to outlast the early failure window.
Ask Conner Roofing services St Louis for the model of the manufacturer warranty being offered, what steps are required for eligibility, and whether the job will be registered. Some enhanced warranties require specific underlayments, starter courses, ridge vent systems, and certified installers. If you are paying for the enhanced package, make sure the proposal includes those components, not just the shingle brand name. For workmanship, you want clarity on term length, what causes are excluded, how to submit a claim, and typical response times.
Payment terms and change orders
Fair payment schedules protect both parties. A reasonable deposit holds your place in the schedule and covers initial admin and material commitments. The bulk of the payment should follow material delivery or mid-project progress, with the final payment due after you have walked the roof, confirmed completion, and resolved the punch list. Avoid front-loading payments.
Change orders are a reality with old roofs, particularly when decking is discovered to be soft after tear off. Conner Roofing, LLC should give you per-sheet pricing for decking replacement and photos to justify any replacements. Agree professional Conner roofing services St Louis on thresholds. For example, approve up to two sheets without a call to avoid delays, but require a call and photos for anything beyond that. Keep all changes in writing, signed or confirmed by email, with updated totals.
Day-of expectations and homeowner prep
Jobs go smoother when the homeowner prepares the property. Move cars out of the driveway to create space for the dumpster and delivery. Clear patio furniture and grills that sit near roof edges. Take down fragile items on interior walls, especially on older plaster where hammering can rattle frames. If you have alarm sensors or satellite dishes mounted at roof level, tell the crew before work begins. They can coordinate with your service provider if a dish needs relocation.
Expect noise, thumps, and a parade of bundles going up the ladder. Good crews keep a steady cadence, stage material safely, and maintain clean pathways. By mid-afternoon on a typical single-layer tear off and re-shingle of a 2,000 to 2,500 square foot roof, you will see the new field established, with valleys and ridges finishing toward the end. Larger or more complex roofs might take two to three days. Weather can stretch timelines. A conscientious supervisor will close up the roof watertight each evening, with tarps secure and no exposed decking.
Red flags during the estimate and build
Every contractor has their style, but certain behaviors signal risk. Be cautious if you hear “we can reuse your flashing” without seeing its condition, or “you don’t need ice and water shield here” when your eaves are shallow and winters are cold. If a bid omits ventilation discussion entirely, press for a plan. During the job, watch for rushed valley installs, caulk used as a primary seal where metal should be, or haphazard nail patterns. A few minutes of observation can prevent years of drip spots on ceilings.
After the last nail: walkthrough and maintenance
Insist on a final walkthrough with photos of critical details you cannot see from the ground. That includes chimney counterflashing, skylight kits, valley metal, and ridge terminations. Confirm that all debris is removed, nails magnet-swept, and gutters cleaned of shingle granules. If gutters were replaced, run water to verify pitch and downspout flow. Keep the warranty documents and the material invoices in a single folder, digital or physical. Mark your calendar to glance at the roof after the first major storm and again after the first freeze. Early issues, like a lifted shingle on a windward corner, are easy to correct quickly.
Roofs do not need much maintenance, but they appreciate attention. Trim branches back at least six to ten feet to reduce abrasion. Clean gutters spring and fall to keep water flowing off the roof, not under it. If you notice ventilation blocked by new insulation or a bath fan disconnected, fix it before it becomes a moisture problem. Conner roofing services can perform periodic inspections if you prefer a professional eye.
A practical shortlist for homeowners
Sometimes you want a compact set of steps you can print and keep on the counter as you vet contractors and move through the project. Use this to anchor your process with Conner Roofing, LLC.
- Define scope with photos: tear off to deck, ventilation plan, flashing replacement, and any low-slope sections. Verify insurance and permits: request certificates, confirm with the carrier, and ask who pulls permits in your jurisdiction. Demand detail in the estimate: materials by brand and model, underlayment and ice shield, ventilation method, and disposal plan. Align payment and changes: milestone-based payments, per-sheet decking pricing, and written change orders with photos. Close strong: final walkthrough with photos, warranty registration, and a simple maintenance plan for gutters, branches, and attic airflow.
Why Conner Roofing, LLC fits St. Louis roofs
Contractors earn trust by solving local problems well. In our region, that means installing open valleys that shed sudden downpours, integrating ice and water shield where code and experience say it belongs, balancing attic ventilation in houses built before modern codes, and managing storm claims without turning them into a second job for the homeowner. Conner Roofing service St Louis has built its business around those realities. When you ask the right questions and hold them to documented standards, you get a partner who stands behind the work long after the last bundle is lifted to the roof.
If you are ready to talk scope, schedule, or materials and want an estimate that reads like a plan instead of a guess, the contact details below will get you started.
Contact Us
Conner Roofing, LLC
Address: 7950 Watson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63119, United States
Phone: (314) 375-7475
Website: https://connerroofing.com/