Soulard roofing, at a glance
On most Soulard houses the part of the roof you see from the street is only a small piece of it. Behind the front slope there is usually a low-slope section that drains toward the alley, edged by brick parapets, and that is where nearly every leak we chase here starts. Call (314) 429-6000 at any hour.
Roofs behind the parapet
Low-slope sections need different materials and different flashing than a shingled roof.
Shingles need a certain pitch to shed water. The rear roofs on Soulard rowhouses are too flat for them, so they are covered with modified bitumen, rolled roofing or a single-ply membrane. When those materials age they split at the seams and pull away from the parapet walls. Water then runs down inside the brick and shows up on a second-floor wall far from where it entered.
We look at the cap on top of each parapet, the base flashing where the roof meets the wall, the scuppers that carry water out to the downspouts, and any old box gutters built into the cornice. A roof can be brand new and still leak if one scupper is clogged or a coping joint is open, so we check the whole path the water takes.
Soulard roofing services
Repairs and replacements by John Beal Roofing crews, no subcontractors.
Low-slope rear roofs
Torn-off and rebuilt with a membrane suited to the slope, with new base flashing at each wall.
Leak repair
Leaks traced through the brick to the actual opening, then fixed at the source.
Parapet and coping flashing
Open joints sealed and loose coping reset so water stops getting into the wall.
Front slopes and mansards
Shingle or specialty work on the visible roof, done to suit the block.
Emergency service
A crew member on the phone at 2 a.m. and temporary protection until a proper fix.
Downspouts and scuppers
Scupper boxes and downspouts sized so the back roof drains instead of ponding.
How we approach a Soulard roof
Call us
The phone is answered 24 hours a day. Tell us where the water shows up inside.
Inspection from the roof
We check the low-slope section, parapets, scuppers and the front slope, and take photos.
Historic district check
Soulard is a local historic district, so we confirm what the city's Cultural Resources Office needs for visible work before ordering material.
Repair or replace
You get a written estimate, then the crew does the work and cleans the alley when they finish.
Soulard at a glance
| Neighborhood | Soulard, City of St. Louis |
|---|---|
| ZIP code | 63104 |
| Landmarks | Soulard Farmers Market, Russell Boulevard, Lafayette Avenue |
| Typical housing | 1800s brick rowhouses, flats and corner storefronts |
| Roof types | Low-slope rear roofs, parapet walls, mansard and gable fronts |
| Common roof issues | Split membrane seams, failed base flashing, clogged scuppers |
| Roofer | John Beal Roofing, family-run since 1947 |
Why owners and landlords call us
A lot of Soulard buildings are two-family flats or have a rental unit, and a leak means a tenant calling the owner at night. We answer our phones live around the clock, which helps when you have to tell a tenant someone is coming.
John Beal Roofing is a third-generation family business founded in 1947. We hold Owens Corning Platinum Preferred status, a BBB A+ rating and a spot on Roofing Contractor Magazine's Top 100 list. Our installation work carries a lifetime workmanship warranty, and our inspections and estimates are always free.
- Low-slope and shingle work handled by one company
- City permits and historic district questions handled for you
- Photos of every problem area before any work
- Lifetime workmanship warranty on installations
Soulard roofing questions
Can you put shingles on my flat rear roof?
Water is coming through my brick wall, not the ceiling. Is that the roof?
Do I need approval because Soulard is a historic district?
Do you work on two-family flats and small mixed-use buildings?
Is the inspection free?
Free Soulard roof inspection
Fill this out and we'll call you back. If water is coming in right now, phone us instead so we can move faster.
Related pages and nearby areas
Leak In Your Soulard Building?
Call and tell us where the water is showing up. We will find where it is getting in.