Roofers
Recruiter.com helps professionals in roofer careers find better opportunities across all specialties and locations. Sign up in our career community today!
Also known as:
Composition Roofer, Hot Tar Roofer, Industrial Roofer, Metal Roofing Mechanic, Residential Roofer, Roofer, Sheet Metal Roofer, Shingles Roofer, Slate Roofer, Terra Cotta Roofer
Roofers work with diverse materials on many types of buildings - residential, commercial, and industrial. In addition to new building, roofers do repair work on existing roofing, so their jobs are less affected by economic downturns than other construction jobs.
Roofers need a good sense of balance and must not be afraid of heights. They work outdoors in all types of weather. The job can be very strenuous, from erecting scaffolds to hauling heavy bags of shingles up ladders.
Most flat roofs are covered with asphalt and tar. Residential buildings tend to have pitched or sloping roofs covered with shingles. Materials can differ, and some roofers choose to work with more specializes materials, like wood, slate, tile, and terra cotta.
An ability to plan is essential, especially where roof lines of different slopes intersect. Here, a roofer must learn how to measure, and install flashing to prevent water from seeing between the surfaces. Roofers may also become qualified to waterproof other parts of buildings, such as masonry foundations in walls.
Most roofers acquire their skills while working for established roofing contractors. Classroom trained is also valuable, and apprenticeships are sometimes offered through union management committees.
As a roofer gains experience, he or she may advance to the position of supervisor or estimator. Some roofers eventually go into business for themselves.
| Leadership |
HIGH
|
| Critical decision making |
HIGH
|
| Level of responsibilities |
HIGH
|
| Job challenge and pressure to meet deadlines |
HIGH
|
| Dealing and handling conflict |
LOW
|
| Competition for this position |
HIGH
|
| Communication with others |
LOW
|
| Work closely with team members, clients etc. |
HIGH
|
| Comfort of the work setting |
LOW
|
| Exposure to extreme environmental conditions |
HIGH
|
| Exposure to job hazards |
LOW
|
| Physical demands |
MED
|
Install skylights on roofs to increase natural light inside structures or to reduce energy costs.
Mop or pour hot asphalt or tar onto roof bases.
Install attic ventilation systems, such as turbine vents, gable or ridge vents, or conventional or solar-powered exhaust fans.
Apply alternate layers of hot asphalt or tar and roofing paper to roofs.
Waterproof or damp-proof walls, floors, roofs, foundations, or basements by painting or spraying surfaces with waterproof coatings or by attaching waterproofing membranes to surfaces.
Apply gravel or pebbles over top layers of roofs, using rakes or stiff-bristled brooms.
Apply plastic coatings, membranes, fiberglass, or felt over sloped roofs before applying shingles.
Install vapor barriers or layers of insulation on flat roofs.
Cement or nail flashing strips of metal or shingle over joints to make them watertight.
Attach roofing paper to roofs in overlapping strips to form bases for other materials.
Cut felt, shingles, or strips of flashing to fit angles formed by walls, vents, or intersecting roof surfaces.
| Performing General Physical Activities | Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials. |
|---|---|
| Handling and Moving Objects | Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. |
| Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material | Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. |
| Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings | Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
|---|
| Getting Information | Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
|---|
| Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events | Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
|---|
| Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates | Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
|---|
| Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information | Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity. |
|---|
| Building and Construction | Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads. |
|---|---|
| Customer and Personal Service | Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. |
| English Language | Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. |
| Public Safety and Security | Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions. |
|---|
| Education and Training | Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. |
|---|
| Mathematics | Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. |
|---|
| Design | Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models. |
|---|
| Mechanical | Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance. |
|---|
| Coordination | Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
| Critical Thinking | Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. |
| Operation Monitoring | Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly. |
|---|
| Monitoring | Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. |
|---|
| Time Management | Managing one's own time and the time of others. |
|---|
| Speaking | Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
|---|
| Operation and Control | Controlling operations of equipment or systems. |
|---|