Why choosing a roofer in St. Louis takes more homework than you think
There are hundreds of companies calling themselves roofing contractors across St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County, and after every hail season more show up. Some are excellent. Some are a pickup truck, a magnetic sign and a phone number that will be disconnected by Christmas. From the street they look the same, and a roof is one of the few home projects where you cannot easily see the quality of the work after it is finished, because the parts that matter most — the underlayment, the flashing, the nailing pattern and the ventilation — are covered by shingles.
Missouri does not issue a statewide roofing license. Licensing and permits are handled by individual municipalities and by St. Louis County, and the rules change as you cross city lines from Kirkwood to Webster Groves to Florissant. That means the burden of vetting a roofing company falls on the homeowner. The good news is that a few direct questions will separate a professional St. Louis roofing company from a fly-by-night crew in about ten minutes.
The 9-point checklist for St. Louis roofing companies
- Proof of general liability and workers’ compensation insurance. Ask for the certificate to be sent to you directly from the insurance agent, not a photo of an old one. If a worker is hurt on your roof and the contractor has no workers’ comp, the claim can land on your homeowner’s policy.
- A permanent local address. A real office you can drive to, not a P.O. box or a hotel. Our headquarters is at 12181 Prichard Farm Road in Maryland Heights.
- Permits pulled in the contractor’s name. Many St. Louis-area cities require a permit for a re-roof. A contractor who asks you to pull the permit yourself is shifting the responsibility to you.
- Manufacturer credentials. Shingle makers certify only a small share of contractors. John Beal Roofing is an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor and a CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster, which lets qualifying roofs be registered for a manufacturer system warranty.
- Their own crews. Ask who will actually be on your roof. Many companies sell the job and hand it to the lowest-bid subcontractor.
- A written, itemized estimate. Tear-off, decking replacement price per sheet, underlayment, ice and water shield, drip edge, flashing, ventilation, and the exact shingle line and color. Vague one-line bids hide shortcuts.
- A workmanship warranty in writing. The manufacturer covers the shingle; the contractor covers the installation. We carry a limited lifetime workmanship warranty on every roof we install.
- Local references and recent jobs. Ask for addresses in your part of town. You can see our recent completed roofing projects across the Midwest on our projects page.
- Someone answers the phone. Call the number on the estimate at 9 PM. A company that answers after hours will answer when you have a leak.
Red flags that should end the conversation
- A door-knocker who shows up the morning after a storm and pressures you to sign that day.
- An offer to “cover” or “waive” your insurance deductible. That is illegal in Missouri and Illinois — we explain why in this Roof Report article.
- A demand for a large cash deposit before materials are delivered.
- No physical address, out-of-state license plates and a phone number with an area code from another state.
- A price far below every other bid. Roofs are priced on materials and labor that cost every contractor about the same; a dramatically low number usually means skipped underlayment, reused flashing or an overlay instead of a tear-off.
- A contract that lists “shingles” without the brand, line and color.
How to compare roofing estimates line by line
Get two or three estimates and lay them side by side. The total is the least useful number on the page. Compare whether each bid includes a full tear-off to the deck, how many sheets of replacement decking are included and what extra sheets cost, whether ice and water shield goes in the valleys and along the eaves, whether new pipe boots and step flashing are included, and how attic ventilation will be handled. A bid that looks cheaper often becomes the most expensive once the “extras” are added on the day of the job.
Ask each contractor how they will protect your landscaping, siding and driveway, how nails will be cleaned up, and who your point of contact is from start to finish. These answers tell you as much about the company as the price does. We back our pricing with a Best Value Guarantee: best value or we pay you $200.
Local roofing company or national storm chaser?
National storm-chasing outfits follow hail across the map. They can be fast and they can be polite, but they are gone before the first warranty call, and many subcontract every job to whoever is available that week. A local St. Louis roofing company has to live with its work. If a flashing detail lets go in year three, you want a company with an office twenty minutes away and a reputation in your neighborhood on the line.
John Beal Roofing has been family-run since 1947 and is now three generations deep. We have served more than 50,000 customers, we are a BBB Torch Award winner, we run our own crews, and our phone at 1-800-564-6232 is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That is not a sales pitch so much as a description of what you should expect from any roofer you hire.
What to ask on the first phone call
Before anyone climbs a ladder, a few questions on the phone save everyone time. Ask how long the company has worked in St. Louis, whether the inspection is free and written, whether they will photograph what they find, and how soon they can come out. Ask whether they handle both repair and replacement — a company that only sells full roofs has a reason to tell you that you need one. A good roofer will tell you when a repair is the right answer, and will put that in writing too.
Frequently asked questions
Does Missouri require roofers to be licensed?
Missouri has no statewide roofing contractor license. Licensing and permits are handled by individual cities and by St. Louis County, so requirements differ across the metro. Ask any contractor which permit your city requires and who will pull it.
How many roofing estimates should I get in St. Louis?
Two or three written, itemized estimates is enough to compare scope and price. Compare line items such as tear-off, decking, underlayment, ice and water shield, flashing and ventilation, not just the total.
What certifications should a St. Louis roofing company have?
Look for manufacturer credentials, proof of liability and workers’ compensation insurance, and a written workmanship warranty. John Beal Roofing is an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor and a CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster.
Is it legal for a roofer to pay my insurance deductible?
No. Offering to waive, cover or rebate a homeowner’s insurance deductible is against the law in Missouri and Illinois. A contractor who offers it is telling you how they do business.
How do I check a roofing company’s reputation?
Ask for local addresses of recent jobs, read reviews across several sites, check the Better Business Bureau, and confirm a permanent local office. Call the company after hours to see whether a person answers.