Roofers or Shinglers install, repair or replace flat roofs and shingles, shakes or other roofing tiles on sloped roofs. Roofers install and replace shingles, tiles and similar coverings on sloped roofs. Roofers may also waterproof basements, foundations and decks.

As a Roofer, you will be employed by roofing and general contractors for construction or repair jobs, or you may be self-employed. Roofers will work mostly outdoors, and with a crew of other construction professionals. The job can be physically strenuous and demanding as you may have to lift heavy materials, as roofing can be quite hot during the summer. As a skilled construction worker, you could help build homes, offices, schools, bridges, roads, factories or shopping malls and be part of a $174 billion industry. 

 

There are four sectors in the construction industry. Each uses different equipment and needs workers with a variety of skills. Depending on the career you choose, you could work in two, three or all four of these sectors.

New Home Building and Renovation – building, remodelling or renovating houses and apartment buildings. Heavy Industrial Construction – building industrial facilities such as cement, automotive, chemical or power plants, refineries and oil-sands installations.

Institutional and Commercial Construction – building commercial and institutional buildings and structures such as stadiums, schools, hospitals, grain elevators and indoor swimming pools.

Civil Engineering Construction – engineering projects such as highways, dams, water and sewer lines, power and communication lines, and bridges.

The Roofer would normally obtain the required knowledge and skills through completion of a Journeyman Roofing Program together with related experience.

 

Industry Changes

The government has recently set targets for greater energy efficiency to combat climate change. With further training, you may be able to install and maintain renewable energy technologies like solar powered panel systems.

 

Over the next ten years, the employment outlook is considered to be excellent. The lack of trained and qualified Roofers and the expected increased retirement rate in these trades over the next decade highlight the opportunities within the industry for good potential jobs.

 

Employment for Roofers is expected to increase. Turnover in this field is high, so many openings occur each year. Demand should also be high for those who stay informed about new developments in this field.

 

Safety

Safe working practices and accident prevention are the primary importance to the health and safety of all person(s) at any or all work place environments. All person(s) including employee, employer and government, share this responsibility in order to keep everyone free of any dangers or accidents that may cause an individual(s) serious bodily harm or death.

 

Roofers and shinglers are trained to work safely and wear special equipment such as safety harnesses to protect themselves from falls and other injuries.

 

The Occupational Health and Safety Acts and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Regulations, should be consistently reviewed and enforced in every work place environment. Educating and understanding these regulations is everyone’s responsibility in order to keep a safe work place environment. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) has contributed to a safer work place environment. Health and safety has become a high priority in the workplace due to increased awareness of dangers and the identifications of hazardous materials. Practicing health and safety is a tremendous contribution to a safe and accident free work place environment.

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Job Tasks

• Applying waterproof coating to concrete surfaces

• Building

• Drilling

• Estimating

• Requiring materials and costs

• Erecting

• Framing

• Installing, repairing or replacing roofing systems using materials such as asphalt and gravel

• Installing, repairing or replacing shingles and other roofing tiles

• Installing and repairing metal roofs using hand and power tools

• Installing scaffolding to provide safe access to roofsLay building foundations

• Maintain doors, windows, furniture and other items

• Maintain building interiors and exteriors

• Mix and pour cement

• Monitor and replace weather stripping

• Perform minor electrical repairs

• Porches and grounds

• Prepare for framing for cement

• Roofing

• Scaffolding

• Siding

• Stairs Trim work

• …and much more

 

Tools

• Adjustable wrench

• Air Compressor

• Ball peen hammer

• Caulk Gun

• Chalk Line

• Circular Saw

• Crow bar

• Drills

• Framing Square

• Glue

• Grinders

• Hack saw

• Hammer

• Ladders

• Laser Level

• Levels

• Measuring tape

• Metal Siding Power Shear

• Mini pipe cutters

• Nail Broom

• Needle nose pliers

• Pencil

• Plumb bob

• Pnuematic Caulk Gun

• Power Broom

• Power Nailer

• Pry Bars

• Push Broom

• Reciprocating saw

• Riviting Hammer

• Roof Rake

• Roofing Bar

• Roofing Hammer

• Roofing Hatchet

• Roofing Jacks

• Roofing Shovel

• Roofing Tongs

• Rulers

• Safety Harness

• Screw driver set

• Shapers

• Siding Gutter Cutter

• Slater Axe

• Slate Cutter

• Slate Hammer

• Socket set

• Steel Broom

• Tin snips

• Tool belt

• Vice grips

• Wheel Barrow

• Wrenches

• Wire strippers

• Wood Saw

• …and much more

 

Skills

• Critical Thinking

• Analytical Thinking

• Decision Making

• Numerical

• Oral Communication

• Problem Solving

• Reading Blueprints and schematics

• Working with others

• Writing

• Computer Knowledge

 

General Wages

• Average -   $21.70

• Minimum -  $15.00

• Maximum - $33.40

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Sample Q&A

 

1. What determines the total run of a shed roof rafter with a roof slope ratio of 1:2?

a. Span of building

b. Span of building minus the thickness of one wall

c. Half the span of building

d. Line length of rafter

Ans. B

 

2. What is the proper procedure used to install asphalt shingles around a masonry chimney?

a. Install step flashing, counter flashing then roofing.

b. Install step flashing, roofing and then counter flashing.

c. Install roofing and step flashing alternately and then counter flashing

d. Install roofing, counter flashing and then step flashing.

Ans. C

 

3. In regards to polycarbonate roofing, which of the following is the reason for the "gap"?

a. following the linear grain

b. avoid cracks from vibration

c. provide for waterproof sealant

d. thermal expansion

Ans. D

 

4. On a rafter, either at the end rafters in the part of a gable roof that projects beyond the gable wall is called?

a. a fly

b. a lookout

c. dragon tied.

d. truss

Ans. A

 

5. How should scissor trusses be attached to the exterior bearing wall?

a. Installing a dedicated scissor truss hanger.

b. Toe-nailing to the top plate on both sides of the truss.

c. Nail down thru the top chord with galvanized nails.

d. Installing hurricane clips.

Ans. A

 

6. What procedure is used to keep the soffit the same for an unequal slope roof with an equal overhang?

a. Raise the wall under the minor roof by the difference in height of ridges of the two roofs

b. Raise the wall under the major roof by the difference in rise of the roofs over the run of the overhang

c. Raise the ridge of the minor roof to the ridge of the major roof

d. Raise the wall under the minor roof by the difference in rise of the roofs over the run of the overhang

Ans. D

 

7. Which of the following is the correct way to level out slightly crooked or bowed joists before the application of ceiling roof board?

a. furr and shim where needed

b. nail strong-back across joist at mid span

c. cover with 3/8in board and fill rest with mud

d. notch out of alignment joist and insert shims in the notches.

Ans. B