How Do Roofers Work?

A roofer, roofing technician, or roof repair contractor is a skilled tradesman who specializes in roof building. Roofers repair, replace, and install the roof of private homes, buildings, utilizing a wide range of specialized materials, such as shingles, asphalt, and slate. They also perform maintenance work on commercial buildings, repairing and replacing roof tiles, guttering, vents, claddings, skylights, and doors, windows, etc. Roofers may be required to undertake other duties such as installing valleys roofing, repair of wood framing and shakes, cleaning roof decks, repairing roof trusses, stucco finishes, etc.

The roofers work under the supervision of roofers registered with a roofing company. Roofing companies supply the materials that are used for roofing jobs. In addition to the materials, roofers are supervised by trained technicians who identify and repair problems associated with roof installation. They also make necessary arrangements for the removal of damaged materials during the roofing job.

The roofers perform additional tasks as part of the job, such as selecting and placing the skylights, chimneys, vents, etc., as well as selecting the roof design and type. For commercial buildings, roofers install roof structures made of metal, slate, gypsum board, aluminum or clay tile. They use high-quality materials and employ techniques such as nail down installation, strip roofing, stapling, pre-tensioned flashing, applied nails, and flashing.

In addition to performing these roofing jobs, the roofers also undertake routine maintenance activities such as cleaning of the roof, inspecting the roof for damage, replacing any damaged materials, repainting, and inspection of roofing systems around the building for signs of leaks. Furthermore, the roofers are responsible for making sure that the buildings are safe. The main duty of a roofer is to inspect the roof and keep it free from damage and in good condition. If there is a problem or concern about the roof, the roofer should report it immediately.

The roofers work in teams to perform the roofing work. The head of the team or the supervisor is called the roofer. Other team members have their responsibilities too. One person is assigned to be on the watch for the materials used for roofing and inspects the work to ensure quality. There are different types of roofers and they work differently. There are hot movers, torsion ladders, downward pointing V-bracing, and skylights.

For people seeking a roofing job, there is an option to hire roofers to work under the supervision of a general contractor. For people not skilled with contracting, an on-the-job apprenticeship might be the best option. Working as an apprentice for a general contractor would require someone to work under the general contractor for a specified period of time and then get hired as an independent contractor later. During the apprenticeship, a roofers work knowledge is cemented and he gets the required hands on experience as a roofers.