Imagine a superhero who protects houses from the rain and wind! That's a roofer. Roofers are special builders who work high up on the very top of buildings. Their job is to make sure the roof is strong and keeps everyone inside warm and dry. They use different materials like tiles, slates, or even special felt to create a waterproof shield over the building. It is a very important job because without a good roof, rain would come right into our homes! Roofers need to be good at working with their hands and not be afraid of heights. They also need to be very careful to stay safe when they are up high. They might fix old roofs that are leaky or build brand new ones for new houses. They learn how to measure, cut, and fit all the pieces together perfectly. It's a job where you get to work outdoors, see new places, and make a real difference to people's homes.
A roofer just starting out might earn around 18,000 to 22,000 pounds a year. With more experience, they can earn between 25,000 and 40,000 pounds a year, and very experienced roofers might earn even more.
There are always roofs that need fixing or building across the UK, so jobs for roofers are generally steady. It is a skill that is always in demand for homes and other buildings.
Most roofers work about 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Sometimes they might work longer, especially when trying to finish a job before bad weather comes.
Imagine you're putting together a giant puzzle on a roof! A Tile Fitter carefully puts special tiles, like flat plates, onto roofs to keep the house dry and warm. You need to be good at measuring and making sure everything fits perfectly.
Some roofs are not pointy; they are flat like a big playground! A Flat Roofer makes sure these flat roofs are super waterproof using special materials, often like big sticky blankets, so no rain gets inside. It's important work to keep buildings dry.
When people have fireplaces, sometimes they have chimneys on their roofs. A Chimney Sweep makes sure these chimneys are clean inside, like cleaning a big pipe, so the smoke can go out safely. They often wear special clothes and use long brushes!
Notice all the different kinds of roofs you see on houses and other buildings. Are they flat, pointy, or rounded? What are they made of?
When you walk around, take a peek at the roofs above you! You'll see some roofs are made of red tiles, some are grey slates, and some might even be flat with felt. Noticing these differences helps you start to understand the many jobs a roofer does. You can also think about why a roof is shaped a certain way or what materials might be best for different types of weather.
If you know someone who works in construction or building, ask them about roofs and what roofers do. They can share cool facts!
Talking to grown-ups who work in building can give you super helpful information. Ask them things like 'How do roofs keep rain out?' or 'What tools do roofers use?' They might even tell you about the safety gear roofers wear to stay safe when working high up, like harnesses and hard hats. Learning from experienced people is a great way to discover more about a job.
With a grown-up's help, you could try building a small model roof using cardboard, toy bricks, or craft materials to see how it works.
Making a little roof model is a fun, hands-on way to understand how roofs are put together. You could use pieces of card as 'tiles' or even build a small house out of LEGO and put a roof on it. This helps you think about how different parts fit together to create a strong, waterproof cover for a building, just like a real roofer does.
Roofers work high up, so learning about staying safe is super important. Always listen to grown-ups about safety.
Safety is the number one rule for roofers! They use special equipment like harnesses, ropes, and hard hats to keep them safe from falling or getting hurt. Even when you're just playing, always remember to be careful when climbing or using tools. Understanding why safety rules exist will help you prepare for any job that requires working in tricky places.
Roofing can be hard work! Playing outside and doing sports helps you become strong and healthy.
Roofers lift heavy tiles and equipment, and they climb up and down ladders all day. This means they need to be strong and have lots of energy. Playing games like football, running around in the park, or riding your bike are all great ways to stay active and build the strength and stamina you'd need for a job like roofing.
Find out what tools roofers use, like hammers, measuring tapes, and safety gear. You could draw them!
Roofers use many different tools to do their job properly. There are hammers for nailing, saws for cutting, and special tools for lifting tiles. They also need measuring tapes to make sure everything fits perfectly. You could look at pictures of these tools online or in books and learn their names and what they do. Drawing them can also help you remember them!
Keep learning at school, especially in subjects that help you with building and understanding measurements.
When you're older, doing well in subjects like maths will be really useful because roofers need to measure things very carefully. Design and technology classes can also help you learn about how things are built and how to use tools safely. All the things you learn at school, like problem-solving and following instructions, will help you become a great roofer.
After school, you can go to a special college or do an apprenticeship to learn all about roofing from experts.
When you're older, to become a roofer, you usually need to do an apprenticeship. This is where you work with experienced roofers and learn the job while you're actually doing it, getting paid at the same time! You also go to college sometimes to learn the theory behind roofing. This training teaches you how to use tools safely, how to fix different types of roofs, and how to work as part of a team.
Once you've learned everything, you can start your exciting job helping houses stay safe and dry!
After your training, you'll be ready to work as a roofer! You'll join a team and get to work on different kinds of buildings, from small homes to big schools. Every day might bring a new challenge, whether it's fixing a leaky roof, putting on a brand new one, or making sure a roof is super strong for bad weather. It's a job where you get to see the results of your hard work every day.
Bricklayers build the walls of houses and buildings using bricks and mortar. They work on the parts of the house that are below the roof.
Carpenters work with wood to build and repair many parts of houses, like the wooden frame that a roofer builds the roof onto, or doors and window frames.
Scaffolders build the temporary metal structures that help roofers and other builders reach high up parts of buildings safely. They make sure roofers have a safe place to stand.
Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Roofer. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.
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You can get into this job through:
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.
You could do a course in roof slating and tiling or roof sheeting and cladding.
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
You could do a Roofer Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.
This can take up to 2 years to complete. You'll do on-the-job training and spend time with a college or training provider.
You'll usually need:
You could work as a roofing labourer or 'mate' and do further training while you work to get a roofing qualification.
You can find out more about becoming a roofer from Go Construct and House Building Careers.
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