Why St. Louis roofs open up in storms
St. Louis sits where spring warm fronts and cold fronts collide, and the city has the scars to prove it. The Good Friday tornado on April 22, 2011 tore through Bridgeton and the area around Lambert Airport, and the May 16, 2025 tornado ripped roofs and chimneys off homes from Forest Park to north city. Most nights it is not a tornado. It is a 60 mph gust that drops a pin oak limb through the decking of a 1920s bungalow.
Older brick homes in the city and inner-ring suburbs like University City, Webster Groves and Kirkwood carry heavy, mature trees close to the house. When a limb punctures the roof, rain runs along plaster and lath long before it shows on a ceiling. Getting a tarp on fast is what keeps a roof repair from turning into a plaster, insulation and electrical job.
Where our St. Louis tarp crews go
We tarp homes and buildings across St. Louis City and St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County and the Metro East. That includes Chesterfield, Ballwin, Florissant, Hazelwood, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Arnold, O'Fallon, St. Peters, Wentzville, Edwardsville and Belleville.
Before the crew arrives
- If a tree is on the house, stay out of the rooms under it. Branches can shift as they dry.
- Turn off breakers to any ceiling fixture that is wet. Plaster ceilings can hold a lot of water before they drop.
- Move furniture and set out buckets, then take wide photos of every wet room for your insurance file.
- Call (314) 429-6000 and tell us about power lines, pets, gates and where the water is coming in.
St. Louis emergency tarping questions
Do you tarp roofs at night in St. Louis?
Yes. Calls to (314) 429-6000 are answered 24/7. If it is not safe to climb in the dark or in lightning, we tell you that on the phone and schedule the crew for first light.
Can you tarp a roof with a tree still on it?
We tarp around the damage once the tree is off the roof or stable. If the tree needs to come down first, we tell you what we see and coordinate the order of work with you.
Do you tarp flat roofs in St. Louis?
Yes. Many city row houses and commercial buildings have flat or low-slope roofs. We temporarily cover those openings as well as pitched shingle roofs.
Will my insurance pay for an emergency tarp?
Most homeowner policies expect you to prevent further damage after a storm, and a tarp is usually part of that. Your policy decides coverage. We photograph the damage before and after tarping so your adjuster sees it.