If you’re interested in helping people to maintain the protection of their home and family to keep homes and other buildings secure, a position as a roofer might be suitable for you. All it takes is experience and a willingness to learn while on the job. To succeed in this career, it’s important to understand what employers (e.g. roofing companies) are looking for in roofers.
What does a roofer do?
A roofer is a professional who installs, repairs and maintains the roofs of different structures and types, from residential single-family homes to commercial office buildings. They may specialize in one kind ofntrac roofing service or roof repair, or work as roofing contractors with a variety of roofing materials such as metal, slate, tile, and asphalt shingles. Roofing contractors work on projects of a big scale, supervising subcontractors and other roofing professionals, scheduling the roofing job, purchasing the materials, obtaining cost estimates of material and labor for customers and clients. Some roofing contractors establish their own roofing companies after some years in the industry.
To become a roofer, most people don’t need any formal education and often begin getting experience on the job. But these several steps may navigate you in the process.
Earn a high school diploma
Many roofing contractors that hire roofers require at least a high school diploma or equivalent. The high school courses allow basic preparation for a career post-graduation.
Sign up for an apprenticeship
An apprenticeship is a program that prepares you for your chosen career. During the apprenticeship, you will most likely work with more experienced roofers and have an opportunity to learn from their experiences as well as begin making a salary.
Complete training
In the roofing industry experience is valued over education. But experience comes from knowing how to be a good roofer and the best ways to stay safe. Roofing companies value having roofing contractors on their team who have completed some sort of training and know how to keep themselves and others safe and how to correctly fulfill the requirements of the roofing project.
Obtain licensure
Depending on your state regulations, there may be variations in what’s required to have a license as a roofer. You should check with your state to see what kind of licensure you need to work as a roofer. Typically, you should have a certain number of hours of on-the-job training and experience as well as pass an exam with your state licensing board.
