Roofer
Roofers slate and tile roofs, fit skylight windows and replace lead sheeting, guttering and cladding. They also repair damaged slates and tiles.
Also known as: Slater, flat roofer, roofing operative
- Starter salary£26,000 a year
- Experienced£42,000 a year
- Typical hours42 to 45 a week
- Green jobPotential
What you'll do
As a roofer, you could:
- remove or repair broken tiles or slates
- check the condition of roof timbers and seal roof joints
- measure the roof area to work out how many slates and tiles are needed
- fit loft insulation
- cover roofs with slates, tiles, sheeting or cladding
- apply waterproof materials to flat roofs
- fit plastic or lead 'flashings' around chimneys, windows and adjoining walls
As a thatcher, you could:
- put up scaffolding or secure ladders to buildings
- identify thatched areas for repair or replacement
- strip off old thatch
- check roof timbers for damage or rot
- prepare bundles of straw or reeds
- secure bundles of thatch to roof timbers
- remove moss and lichen growth from roofs
- grow and harvest your own thatching materials
Working environment
You could work on a construction site, at a client's business or at a client's home.
Your working environment may be at height, dirty and outdoors in all weathers.
You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- knowledge of building and construction
- the ability to work well with your hands
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- knowledge of maths
- physical fitness and endurance
- to be flexible and open to change
- the ability to operate and control equipment
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to become a roofer
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
College
You can take a college course which will teach you some of the skills you'll need to get a trainee position with a roofing company.
Courses include:
- roof slating and tiling
- roofing occupations
- built-up felt roofing
- construction skills
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
Apprenticeship
You can apply to do an apprenticeship with a roofing company, such as a Roofer Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.
This can take around 2 years to complete and has options to specialise in:
- slating and tiling
- installing waterproof membranes
- sheeting and cladding
If you want to work as a thatcher, you could apply for the Thatcher Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, with a thatching company.
The National Society of Master Thatchers (NSMT) also offers an apprenticeship and mentoring scheme .
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
Work
You can start work as a roofing labourer or roofer's 'mate' and take further training while you work to get your roofing qualifications.
In thatching, you can apply to thatching companies to be taken on as a trainee. Employers will want to see enthusiasm for the craft and good practical skills.
Direct application
You can apply directly for roofing jobs. You'll need some GCSEs and relevant practical experience, for example gained from working in other areas of construction.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- be able to cope with working at height
You may need a driving licence for some jobs.
Career path and progression
You could become a roofing surveyor, estimating costs, dealing with contracts and working with architects. You could also be a site manager, move into equipment sales or work on heritage buildings.
With extra training, you could install solar panels on roofs ready for a qualified electrician to connect the panels' cabling to the building's electrical network.
With a lot of experience, you could train apprentices or set up your own business.
Career tips
Roofers are required in all areas of the country. If you're looking for a career in thatching, you may need to relocate to an area where thatching skills are in demand.
Registration
- you'll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on a construction site
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleConstruction site supervisor
- Job roleScaffolder
- Job roleSteeplejack
- Job roleCarpenter
- Job roleEstimator
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0