How to become a Roofer

Duties & Tasks of a Roofer

Roofers:

• Examine drawings, specifications and worksites to determine materials required
• Assess risks
• Erect ladders and tile elevators
• Erect and dismantle restricted-height scaffolding
• Place roofing underlays over eaves and secure them by nailing or stapling these to roofs
• Correctly space and nail wooden strips (battens) across the roof rafters on which the tiles or other roofing material will be placed
• Measure and cut roofing material to fit around vents, chimney edges and the hips and valleys of the roof
• Fix roof flashings (weatherproof covering)
• Fix the ridge caps and gable ends with cement mortar or tech screws
• Apply protective paint coating systems
• Clear the roof of debris after job completion.

Tasks

• Studying drawings, specifications and work sites to determine materials required
• Fixing edge and ridge tiles in cement mortar
• Sizing and cutting roofing material to fit around vents, chimney edges, corners and ridges
• Aligning starter rows of roofing material with edges of roofs, securing with wire, staples and nails, and overlapping successive layers of tiles
• Caulking and flashing exposed nail heads to prevent leaks
• Slipping roofing material under pre-fabricated flashing and nailing it down
• Placing and securing waterproof sheets over eaves
• Erecting ladders and scaffolds
• Nailing and stapling roofing underlay to roofs

Working conditions for a Roofer

Roofers' work involves a lot of bending, climbing and lifting. They work outdoors, at heights and in all weather conditions.

Employment Opportunities for a Roofer

Many roofers are self-employed or work for small companies that supply and fix roofs. They are usually subcontracted to roofing manufacturers on a semi-permanent basis. Roofers are also directly employed by manufacturing companies and by state, territory or local government bodies concerned with public works.

Specializations

par - Roofers may specialise in tiling or installing new roofs, repairing existing roofs or removing old roofs and replacing them. Roofing may be divided into the following categories:

• Roof Tiler - works with clay tiles, stone slates or wooden shingles and overlaps the tiles in successive layers to form waterproof roofs.
• Metal Roof Plumber - works with metal, polycarbonate, fibreglass, glass malthoid sheets and waterproof membranes. Metal roof plumbers also install roof mesh, insulation, gutters and downpipes, rainwater tanks, equipment pumps and roof plumping systems.

Roofer

Roofers cover houses and other structures with roof tiles, slates, shingles or steel sheeting to form waterproof and durable surfaces.

• 

  Average age

  30

• 

  Future Growth

  Positive

• 

  Gender Share

  1% female

• 

  Average full-time

  42 hours

• 

  Weekly Pay

  N/A

• 

  Skill level rating

  Medium skill

• 

  Unemployment

  Lower unemployment

• 

  Full-Time Share

  89%

• 

  Employment Size

  10,400

• 

  Employment by state

  ACT: 1.5%
  NSW: 36.2%
  NT: 1.3%
  QLD: 22.7%
  SA: 5.6%
  TAS: 1.3%
  VIC: 23.4%
  WA: 8.0%
  
• 

  Age brackets

  15-19: 8.5%
  20-24: 18.3%
  25-34: 29.8%
  35-44: 18.9%
  45-54: 13.8%
  55-59: 5.3%
  60-64: 3.7%
  65 and Over: 1.7%
  
• 

  Education level

  Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 1.5%
  Bachelor degree: 0.9%
  Below Year 10: 0%
  Certificate III/IV: 57.9%
  Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 0.1%
  Year 10 and below: 21%
  Year 11: 5.8%
  Year 12: 12.7%
  Years 11 & 10: 29.9%