Quick answer
A John Beal Roofing replacement is a full tear-off to bare decking — never a layover over old shingles. We inspect and replace deteriorated decking, install new underlayment and code-required ice and water shield, and fasten shingles with six nails each for wind resistance. Most St. Louis homes finish in one to three days and end with a magnetic nail sweep of the property. We are an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor, financing is available for approved credit, and qualifying work carries a lifetime workmanship warranty.
When A Repair Stops Being Worth It
Nobody should sell you a roof you do not need. These are the conditions where patching becomes throwing money at a roof that has already failed.
- Granules filling the gutters. The shingle's UV armor is gone; the mat underneath degrades fast from here.
- Shingles curling, cupping, or crumbling when handled. Brittle shingles will not seal to a new patch.
- Damage across multiple slopes. When three planes need work, sectional repair costs more than a replacement and warranties worse.
- Twenty years or more on an asphalt roof. A repair on a roof this age buys months, not years.
- Repeat leaks in the same area. Usually a sign the underlying assembly, not the surface, is the problem.
- Soft or spongy decking underfoot. The structure beneath the shingles has absorbed water and needs to be opened up.
How We Build A Roof
| Tear-off | Complete removal to bare decking — never a layover |
|---|---|
| Decking | Inspected sheet by sheet; deteriorated sheathing cut out and replaced |
| Underlayment | New underlayment plus code-required ice and water shield at vulnerable details |
| Fastening | Six nails per shingle for wind resistance beyond the minimum pattern |
| Shingle options | Owens Corning architectural laminate, 3-tab, plus metal, tile, slate, and cedar |
| Timeline | One to three days for most homes |
| Cleanup | Daily site cleanup and a magnetic nail sweep of the yard and drive at completion |
| Warranty | Lifetime workmanship warranty plus Owens Corning Platinum Preferred manufacturer coverage |
What Homeowners Ask Us
How long does a roof replacement take?
Most St. Louis homes are torn off and re-roofed in one to three days. Simple ranch rooflines finish fastest; steep pitches, multiple dormers, cut-up valleys, and homes needing significant decking replacement take the longer end. We will not promise a one-day install on a complex roof to win the job.
What is the difference between 3-tab and architectural shingles?
3-tab shingles are a single flat layer with a typical service life around fifteen to twenty years. Architectural, or laminated, shingles bond multiple layers, giving them more thickness, better wind performance, a dimensional shadow line, and roughly a thirty-year service life. For most homeowners the upgrade to architectural pays for itself in longevity and resale appearance.
Can you go over my existing shingles instead of tearing off?
We tear off. A layover hides everything that matters - you cannot inspect the decking, you cannot replace deteriorated flashing properly, and you trap heat that shortens the life of the new shingles. Full tear-off to bare decking is how a roof gets warrantied for life.
Do you offer financing?
Yes, flexible financing is available for approved credit, which is what makes a premium roof workable on a monthly budget instead of a lump sum. Ask your estimator to walk you through the options alongside your written price.
What is included in the price?
A free in-home estimate, complete tear-off, decking inspection and repair as needed, new underlayment, code-required ice and water shield, new flashing details, shingle installation with six nails per shingle, daily site cleanup, a magnetic nail sweep of the property, and the lifetime workmanship warranty.
Why Owens Corning?
John Beal Roofing is an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor, a designation held by a small percentage of roofing contractors, which unlocks the strongest available manufacturer warranty coverage on top of our own workmanship warranty. We also install metal, tile, slate, and cedar when that is the right roof for the house.
Get A Free Replacement Estimate
We will inspect the roof, tell you honestly whether it needs replacing, and put a written number in your hand.
Not Sure If You Need A New Roof?
That is what a free inspection is for. If a repair will get you five more good years, we will tell you that.