2 answers
Esteban
Student
Yuma, Arizona
2
Questions
Updated
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Does the work for an roofer pay off after you get the job done?
Hi, my name is Esteban and I am a Jr. high student from Crane Middle School and I am wanting to be a roofer. I want to be a roofer because I have seen videos of how they are on top of houses and they just put wood on the roof. I also wonder if there are strict rules that could get me fired if I don’t follow the. I also want to know if there are some tips I could use being a roofer that everyone should know but most people don’t. Thank you for reading.
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2 answers
Liam Rielly
Data Center Technician
195
Answers
Manassas, Virginia
Updated
Liam’s Answer
Hello! Being a roofer is a tough job but it is something that we all need! A roof over our heads is a basic need and if you have ever dealt with a roof problem you know how important it is.
Being a roofer is manual labor. You are working in the sun without shade and moving roofing materials all day. If you like to work with your hands, being a roofer is a great job. There are many different styles of roof, like the roof for a house can be asphalt, slate, metal, cedar, or tile. The roof of a commercial building is usually some sort of membrane like vinyl, rubber, or it can be asphalt as well. Likely you will do commercial roofs or residential roofs and only specialize in one type but be able to do a couple types.
What can get you fired? Unsafe acts. Not tying off when working up high, not tying down tools and supplies, not using the correct ladders and scaffolding, and throwing stuff from height with no sort of warning or boundaries. You will get "safety culture" habits as you train so you will likely just do everything correctly and not suffer loss of work or an accident when working.
I am not a roofer but I have worked along side with roofers and have seen what they do day in and day out. Personally I don't like working on roofs but I will say that one of the most satisfying thing in a day is standing on a roof in a place with some scenery. Try to find some roofers to ask questions to, see what they say about the job.
So far as extra knowledge, being a roofer is more about showing up and doing the job to learn than it is about book studies. There are classes by manufacturers, there is definitely a lot of engineering involved but a roofer will have that done by an architect or civil engineer before they start. Read books on architecture and see what roofs are made of and how they serve the buildings they are on if you are curious about the process and the jobs.
Being a roofer is manual labor. You are working in the sun without shade and moving roofing materials all day. If you like to work with your hands, being a roofer is a great job. There are many different styles of roof, like the roof for a house can be asphalt, slate, metal, cedar, or tile. The roof of a commercial building is usually some sort of membrane like vinyl, rubber, or it can be asphalt as well. Likely you will do commercial roofs or residential roofs and only specialize in one type but be able to do a couple types.
What can get you fired? Unsafe acts. Not tying off when working up high, not tying down tools and supplies, not using the correct ladders and scaffolding, and throwing stuff from height with no sort of warning or boundaries. You will get "safety culture" habits as you train so you will likely just do everything correctly and not suffer loss of work or an accident when working.
I am not a roofer but I have worked along side with roofers and have seen what they do day in and day out. Personally I don't like working on roofs but I will say that one of the most satisfying thing in a day is standing on a roof in a place with some scenery. Try to find some roofers to ask questions to, see what they say about the job.
So far as extra knowledge, being a roofer is more about showing up and doing the job to learn than it is about book studies. There are classes by manufacturers, there is definitely a lot of engineering involved but a roofer will have that done by an architect or civil engineer before they start. Read books on architecture and see what roofs are made of and how they serve the buildings they are on if you are curious about the process and the jobs.
Oleg Kushnerov
Construction Project Manager
19
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Oleg’s Answer
You're never too young to learn about staying safe, whether it's on a construction site or on the road. The OSHA 10 and 30 courses teach important safety rules for work and construction. Once you finish, you'll get a certificate showing what you've learned.
When working on a roof, it's really important to be careful not to fall or make anyone else fall.
Good luck with your studies!
When working on a roof, it's really important to be careful not to fall or make anyone else fall.
Good luck with your studies!