What does a roofer do?

A roofer uses scaffolds and hand tools to alter or construct roofing. They can work as an apprentice to a contractor, a contractor themselves or as part of a construction company. They might work on a project basis or be hired out by a construction company to work regularly on roofing projects. Good roofer candidates are able to work with machinery and hand tools and safely install or dismantle scaffolding.

Roofers are often able to multitask with ease, understanding the logistics of a product and how to implement the designs and requirements of the client. On the whole, however, a roofer’s responsibilities will depend on the scope of the projects you are hiring them for.

Roofer skills and qualifications

When looking for roofer candidates, you can consider the following skills and qualifications in your search:

• A well-established reputation in their community as a roofer and/or construction worker
• Time management and budgeting skills
• An ability to maintain, repair and build different types of roof and roofing systems
• Good customer service and communication skills
• An ability to move heavy objects
• Experience in using hand tools and other roofing equipment

Roofer experience requirements

An experienced roofer often has a good eye for spotting leaks or potential faults in roofing. They might be able to spot where roofing has been poorly built and know how to fill in any gaps or repair faults. They will often be confident using scaffolding and do not have a fear of heights. They should ideally be familiar with roofing tools like saws and iron benches for slating and cutting equipment.

While many roofers will be able to deal with working on different types of roofs, it is worth thinking about whether you need a roofer with specialised experience. Some residential houses or period buildings in the UK have traditional thatching that will need a specialist thatcher to service them. When working on period building projects, you might look at hiring a Heritage Roofer. These types of specialists can be found via databases online as they require a much higher level of experience than most roofers.

When looking to hire an experienced roofer, it is worth considering whether they have worked previously for another construction company or have been self-employed. Ideally, they should have a good reputation within their local community, with good references that they can draw upon for support.

Roofer education and training requirements

Roofers do not necessarily need a formal qualification for roofing; however, you might look to hire a roofer who has undergone an apprenticeship, college course or has on-the-job experience. That way, you are more likely to hire someone who is confident in providing a good service within a given timeframe.

Examples of roofer education training include the NVQ Diploma in Roofing Occupations. This involves learning about health and safety, slating, installing weathering flashings, roofs, tiles and correctly handling resources.

Roofer salary expectations

According to Indeed UK salaries, the average salary of a roofer is £35,528 per year. Salary may depend on the exact job duties and responsibilities, the employer, location and experience.

Job description samples for similar positions

If this job description doesn’t adequately describe the job opening you have, here are a few job description samples of similar positions to consider:

• Building Maintenance Technician
• Electrician
• Labourer
• Painter

Roofer job description FAQs

When do roofers work?

Roofers are sometimes hired on a project-by-project basis. Depending on the amount of work that they have, roofers can work up to 40 hours per week. Although roofers can work through most weather conditions, spring and summer are good times to hire a roofer as they are less likely to encounter poor weather conditions that hinder their work.

How to make a roofer job description stand out

When hiring a roofer, you can make a job description stand out to top candidates by explaining their potential duties and responsibilities clearly. If your business is working on any interesting projects, such as heritage sites, you might want to mention this in the description. You can make your job description stand out to specialist roofers by describing the kinds of roofing that you plan to be working with. Entice candidates with a competitive pay rate, holidays, pensions and perks.