Metal Roof Over Shingles (Retrofit) in St. Louis, MO · Metal Roofing Alliance Member

St. Louis sits where the Missouri River meets the Mississippi, and the housing stock tells that story block by block. Brick bungalows in South City, post-war ranches across North and South County, and 1990s two-story homes out in Chesterfield all carry the same problem: an aging asphalt shingle roof that is one hail storm away from a leak. A Metal Roof Over Shingles (Retrofit) in St. Louis lets you skip the tear-off, keep the existing layer as a base, and lock down a roof that handles our spring hail, summer humidity, and winter freeze-thaw without the shingle granule loss we see everywhere. We have been installing metal here since 2009, and we check deck condition before we ever quote a retrofit. If the sheathing is soft or the existing layers are already at the code limit, we tell you straight and recommend a full metal roof replacement instead.

Why a Metal Roof Over Shingles Makes Sense on St. Louis Brick Ranches and Bungalows

Most of the housing stock in St. Louis County was built between 1945 and 1985, and the majority of those roofs are on their second or third layer of asphalt shingles. That matters because the local building codes cap how many layers you can carry, and once you hit that cap, a tear-off is no longer optional. A retrofit buys you 40 to 50 years of service without the dumpster, the tear-off labor, and the deck repair bill that comes with a full removal. On a brick ranch in Affton or a Tudor in Webster Groves, that is real money kept in your pocket.

• We avoid the tear-off cost and the landfill waste that comes with ripping off two layers of shingles.
• We keep the existing shingles as a sound-deadening underlayment, which cuts rain noise on a metal roof.
• We add a layer of underlayment over the old shingles to create a clean, slip-resistant surface for the panels.
• We inspect the deck and rafters first, because soft sheathing under a retrofit will telegraph through the panels.

Retrofit is not right for every roof, but on a solid deck with one existing layer, it is the fastest and least disruptive path to a permanent roof.

Key info: St. Louis building departments generally limit re-roofs to two layers of asphalt shingles, and local inspectors verify that on the permit inspection. If your ranch in Kirkwood or your bungalow in University City already has two layers, the code requires a tear-off before any new roof goes on.

For the official rules, check the City of St. Louis Building Division permit page and confirm with your specific municipality, since St. Louis County and the outlying cities each run their own inspection process.

How We Install a Retrofit Metal Roof Over Shingles in St. Louis

We do not just screw panels onto old shingles and call it a roof. A retrofit done right starts with a deck inspection from the attic side and the roof side, because a 1920s brick bungalow in Soulard and a 1990s two-story in Chesterfield have very different framing and sheathing. Here is the sequence we follow on every job, from a simple ranch in Florissant to a steep Tudor in Webster Groves.

1. We walk the roof and inspect the deck, rafters, and existing flashing before we quote the retrofit.
2. We pull the roofing permit from the local building department and confirm the existing layer count.
3. We strip and replace any rotten sheathing and re-nail loose deck boards.
4. We roll out a high-temperature synthetic underlayment over the existing shingles to create a flat, protected surface.
5. We install new eave trim, rake trim, and a proper drip edge to shed water away from the fascia.
6. We set the panels or metal shingles with the correct fastener pattern for our wind zone and seal every penetration.
7. We re-flash the chimney, skylights, and vent stacks, then clean the gutters and walk the job with you.

The result is a roof that sheds our spring hail and summer downpours without the granule loss and curling you get from aging asphalt.

Key info: On a 1950s brick ranch in Crestwood with one layer of shingles and a solid deck, we typically finish a retrofit in two to three days. On a steep 1920s mansard in Lafayette Square, the same square footage can take a week because of the pitch, the trim work, and the historic district review.

If your existing roof has active leaks, we handle the repair first. See our metal roof leak repair page, because a retrofit over a wet deck traps the moisture and rots the framing.

Retrofit Approaches We Use on St. Louis Roofs

Not every St. Louis roof takes the same retrofit. The profile you choose depends on the pitch, the neighborhood, and whether you are in a historic district or an HOA with design review. Here is how the main options compare.

We match the approach to the roof, not to a sales script, and we tell you when the tear-off is the better call.

Metal Roof Over Shingles (Retrofit) Cost in St. Louis: What to Expect

Most homeowners want a number before they want a lecture, so here is the honest starting point: retrofit metal roofing in St. Louis starts at From $7/sq ft installed, and the final figure depends on the panel type, the roof pitch, the deck condition, and how much trim and flashing work the house needs. A simple gable ranch in Ballwin with one layer of shingles and good access lands near that starting rate, while a steep, cut-up roof on a brick mansion in the Central West End runs higher because of the labor and the custom trim.

Factors that move the price:

• The panel profile you choose, since standing seam costs more than exposed-fastener ribbed panels.
• The roof pitch and complexity, because steep roofs and multiple valleys slow the crew down.
• The deck condition, since soft sheathing has to be replaced before any panel goes on.
• Access and landscaping, because a tight lot in University City needs more careful staging than a wide-open lot in Fenton.
• Historic district or HOA design review, which can add time and limit your material choices.

Getting two or three written estimates is the smartest move you can make, because it lets you compare the deck inspection, the underlayment spec, and the flashing detail, not just the bottom line. Our full pricing overview breaks down the ranges by profile and roof type.

Finding a Metal Roofing Contractor Near Me in St. Louis: What to Check Before You Sign

Hiring a roofer in St. Louis is not the place to go with the first truck that knocks on your door after a hail storm. Ask for the state contractor registration, a certificate of insurance for both general liability and workers comp, and a written scope that lists the underlayment, the trim, and the flashing details. Call two past customers in your own municipality, because a crew that knows the Chesterfield inspectors may not know the historic district rules in Lafayette Square.

Also confirm who pulls the permit. In most St. Louis County municipalities, the roofer pulls the permit and meets the inspector, and you should see that in writing. If your house sits in a historic district or an HOA with design review, get the architectural approval before the panels are ordered, because a rejected color can stall the job for weeks.

We are a Metal Roofing Alliance member, in business since 2009, and we hand over our insurance certificate before you ask. Reach out through our contact page to schedule a free inspection and a written estimate.

Metal Roof Over Shingles (Retrofit) in St. Louis: Pricing Guide

Indicative pricing, the exact cost depends on square footage, finish, and site access. Free personalized estimate within 24h at (314) 689-1531.