# Video Library > Tricks of the trade, how-to walkthroughs, what to look for on a roof, and the questions to ask a contractor, straight from Donovan's foremen. Free roofing knowledge for St. Louis homeowners. Canonical: https://donovanrc.com/video-library/ Video Library # The trade, on the record. Tricks of the trade, how-to walkthroughs, what to look for before you climb a ladder, and the questions worth asking any contractor, filmed on real Donovan jobs. We are not worried about teaching the competition. We are proud of how we work, and we would rather a homeowner know what good looks like. Latest uploads, straight from our YouTube channel. New YouTube videos appear here automatically. [Visit the channel on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj6sGodSEIECiysbxr1KBnA) - Project films ### The colonial on Clark A variegated slate colonial on Clark, on film. - Project films ### The brick apartments on Clara A historic brick apartment building on Clara under its new white membrane. - Project films ### The lodge on Trotting Trail A timber lodge home on Trotting Trail, re-roofed in dimensional shake. - Project films ### Slate and copper on Westminster Place The slate and copper work on a Westminster Place home in the Central West End. - Project films ### The Tudor on Claremont Lane A Tudor on Claremont Lane under its new designer shingle roof. - Project films ### The Jesuit House The Jesuit House and its new dimensional shingle roof, on film. - Project films ### The White House Retreat: the timeline The award-winning White House Retreat re-slating, start to finish. - Project films ### The White House Retreat: the full film The full film from the White House Retreat slate and copper restoration. - Project films ### The White House Retreat: high speed The high-speed cut from the White House Retreat restoration. - Project films ### The Junior Achievement building The curved membrane roof on the Junior Achievement building. - Project films ### 96 homes at Hyland Green Ninety-six homes. One neighborhood. One name on every roof. The Hyland Green subdivision from the air. - Tips ### Tip 1: The first call after a storm Why your first call after a storm should be a reputable roofing contractor, not your insurance company. - Tips ### Tip 2: Know what your policy really pays Replacement cost value versus actual cash value, and why one line in your policy can mean thousands of dollars. - Tips ### Tip 3: The most important part of your roof Underlayment, ice and water shield, flashing, and ventilation: the parts of the system you never see from the street. - Tips ### Tip 4: Shingles are not all the same Wind ratings, impact ratings, lifespan, and warranty protection, and why the cheapest roof up front often costs more later. - Tips ### Tip 5: Where most roof leaks start Most leaks start at chimneys, skylights, valleys, and pipe boots. The issue is often flashing, not shingles. - How-to ### Residential roofing, the Donovan way: Richmond Heights, MO A walk through a residential replacement: what a homeowner should expect from the crew, the cleanup, and the finished roof. [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCA-SDq8wZI) - What to look for ### Commercial roof repair in St. Louis How commercial work differs from residential: flat-roof systems, access, and the repairs that keep a building dry. [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7Jd-liANsU) - Tricks of the trade ### Slate roofing: repair and installation Why slate is a hundred-year roof when it is installed correctly, and what separates a real slate craftsman from a patch job. [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC_nMyiFzBA) - Tricks of the trade ### Slate and tile roof repair, St. Louis Matching old slate and tile, sourcing salvage, and repairing a heritage roof without compromising the rest of the field. [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti4UsTj_vvg) - What to look for ### Slate roof repair, St. Louis A close look at a slate repair: what failed, why, and the fix that holds instead of the one that buys a year. [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nvFE0MRWOU) - Behind the work ### Donovan Roofing & Construction: who we are The shop, the crews, and the standard we hold. The short version of the Donovan way. [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FFoma72gvM) - Behind the work ### Heavy Smoke BBQ: customer testimonial A St. Louis business owner on what it was like to have Donovan on the roof. [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFCmYd2Oziw) Subscribe ## New videos as the season rolls. We add walkthroughs as we shoot them on the roof. Subscribe on YouTube to catch them, or have a question you want answered on camera? Tell us and we may film it. [Visit the channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj6sGodSEIECiysbxr1KBnA)[Ask us a question](/contact) What homeowners are saying - > “Justin did a great job of communicating and was on the job site a lot.” Gerald K. · Google - > “Nick Mirth did an excellent job throughout the process our insurance claim!” Tim C. · Google - > “Great experience, very knowledgeable and customer friendly. I would highly Recommend.” Kathy O. · Google [See all reviews](/reviews)