The roofing industry is experiencing a massive transformation. Private equity firms have acquired hundreds of roofing companies over the past few years, and many skilled tradespeople are finding that the company they joined no longer feels like the place they signed up to work.
If your employer was recently acquired or you’ve noticed changes in how your company operates, you’re not alone. Experienced roofing professionals across the country are reconsidering where they want to build their careers.
What Happens After Private Equity Acquires Your Employer
When investment firms purchase roofing companies, their primary goal is maximizing returns for investors. This often means rapid changes that directly affect your day-to-day work.
Common changes include new software systems rolled out with little training, revised compensation structures, centralized decision-making that removes local leadership, and pressure to increase production speed. Long-term employees often find themselves adapting to unfamiliar processes while the company culture they valued disappears.
Research shows that workers experience significant stress increases after their employer goes through a merger or acquisition. The uncertainty about job security, changing benefits, and shifting workplace dynamics takes a measurable toll on employee wellbeing.
Red Flags Your Roofing Company Has Changed
Watch for these warning signs that your employer may be prioritizing investor returns over employee and customer satisfaction:
Leadership turnover. When experienced managers and supervisors leave in waves, it often signals cultural problems beneath the surface.
Increased subcontractor use. Companies cutting costs frequently replace in-house crews with lower-paid subcontractors, reducing job stability for existing employees.
Communication breakdown. If decisions now come from a distant corporate office rather than local leadership who understand your market, responsiveness and accountability suffer.
Benefits and compensation changes. Pay structures, insurance options, and retirement contributions often change after acquisition, sometimes without clear explanation.
Quality pressure. When speed and volume become the primary metrics, skilled craftspeople feel undervalued for the expertise they bring to every job.
The Family-Owned Difference
Family-owned roofing companies operate on fundamentally different principles than investor-backed corporations. When owners work alongside their teams, they understand what it takes to do quality work and build lasting customer relationships.
At Conner Roofing, we’ve served St. Louis and the surrounding areas since 1993. We’re a family business that has never been interested in selling to private equity firms. Our owner Rob personally inspects completed work to ensure it meets his standards, not because investors demand it, but because his name is on the business.
We use in-house crews rather than rotating subcontractors. Our team members know each other, trust each other, and take pride in the work we deliver together. We’re certified installers through CertainTeed and Owens Corning, placing us among fewer than two percent of roofing companies nationwide with manufacturer certification.
We also believe in giving back to the community that supports us. We work with local charities including Gateway Pet Guardians, St. Martha’s Hall, and Stray Rescue. We’re members of the Hero Network and offer discounts to veterans and senior citizens.
Why Company Culture Matters for Your Career
Your workplace culture directly impacts your job satisfaction, skill development, and long-term career trajectory. When you work for a company that values craftsmanship over cutting corners, you develop expertise that serves you throughout your career.
Stable employment with consistent leadership allows you to build relationships with customers, suppliers, and colleagues. These connections matter in the roofing trade, where reputation and trust determine success.
Family-owned companies also tend to promote from within. When ownership knows your work firsthand, advancement opportunities come from demonstrated skill rather than corporate metrics designed in a boardroom.
When to Consider Making a Move
Consider exploring new opportunities if you’ve experienced multiple leadership changes in recent years, if your compensation or benefits have decreased without explanation, if you’re being asked to compromise on quality standards, or if you no longer feel valued for the expertise you bring to each project.
The skilled trades face a significant workforce shortage. Experienced roofing professionals have options, and companies that treat their employees well are competing for talent.
Bottom Line
Private equity consolidation is reshaping the roofing industry, but not every company has sold out to investors. Family-owned businesses like Conner Roofing offer stability, craftsmanship-focused culture, and genuine investment in employee success.
When choosing where to build your career, consider whether your employer’s priorities align with your own values. Ask about ownership structure, employee tenure, and how decisions get made. The answers will tell you whether a company views you as a skilled professional or simply a line item on a balance sheet.
Ready to Join a Team That Values Your Skills?
Conner Roofing is always looking for experienced roofing professionals who take pride in quality work. Contact us to learn about current opportunities and discover what it’s like to work for a family-owned company that’s been serving St. Louis for over thirty years.