A roofer is a highly skilled tradesperson who has the capability to build, repair and maintain roofs. A quality roofer will be constantly in demand, whether by homeowners looking after their properties, employers needing work on their commercial buildings, or those in charge of a construction site.

These trade professionals may opt to specialise in one type of roof, or they may use many different types of materials with the goal of making sure roofs are weatherproof, durable and sealed in the correct manner.

Quality roofers, sometimes also referred to as roofing operatives, will be skilled to work with various hand tools and machinery too. They should be able to both set-up and dismantle scaffolding safely as well.

What does a roofer do?

A typical day of roofing work may involve these aspects:

Working on the construction of various types of roofs, including dormer, Dutch, gable, hipped, flat and pitched styles
Using materials like metal sheets, felt, tiles and slates to install, repair and maintain roofs
Constructing roofs from timber or trusses
Accurately measuring and cutting materials so that they can fit around roof fixtures such as chimneys, skylights and vents
Fitting waterproofing materials onto roofing materials
Installing insulation, underlay and battens
Fitting solar panels and skylights onto a building
Capping a chimney pot and making repairs to chimney stacks, such as by reflashing or repointing the fixtures
Undertaking lead work. This includes shaping and moulding lead sheets to install the materials to a roof from scratch, as well as repairing lead flashings which have become damaged
Carrying out inspections on a roof for damage, as well as making the necessary repairs once identified
Removing broken tiles and slates correctly
Keeping in regular communication with customers or other tradespeople working at a site
Drawing up warranty paperwork and having the capability to review these with customers
Filling in accurate records of all work completed, which should include details about hours worked and materials used
Keeping a job site clean and safe throughout work
Being a supervisor for other roofers

Roofer job requirements

A roofer’s duties and responsibilities mean they need the following skills:

Can work well with their hands
Able to adapt to change and can be flexible
Able to work at height
Able to work in various weather conditions
Can work well with others
Have great customer service skills
A strong communicator
Will pay attention to detail
Can adhere to health and safety procedures and regulations
Great numeracy skills
Great time management skills
Great budgeting skills
Have proven physical fitness, endurance capabilities, strength and dexterity
Show basic carpentry and joinery skills (such as when using king or queen trusses on traditional roofs to create vaulted ceilings)
Can undertake basic tasks on a handheld device or computer
Able to understand technical drawings and plans
Knowledge about the building and construction industry

Expected roofer salary

Wondering, how much do roofers make? According to research carried out by Checkatrade, the average salary of this type of tradesperson is as follows:

An apprentice roofer has an average salary in the region of £11,520 per year, which works out at approximately £11,300 of take-home pay
A newly qualified roofer has an average salary in the region of £17,100 per year, which works out at approximately £15,300 of take-home pay
An employed roofer has an average salary in the region of £29,700 per year, which works out at approximately £23,800 of take-home pay
A sole trader roofer has an average salary in the region of £66,600 per year, which works out at approximately £48,300 of take-home pay
A business owner of a Ltd company in the roofing sector has an average salary in the region of £80,100 per year, which works out at approximately £56,100 of take-home pay

Roofer apprenticeships and courses

An apprenticeship or acquiring National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) diplomas are two educational routes available to becoming a roofer…

A roofing apprenticeship

Undertaking a Roofer Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship will see trainee roofers being able to combine theoretical knowledge that they’ll gain in the classroom with on-the-job training opportunities.

The apprenticeship takes up to two years to complete, with some GCSEs, two of which usually includes English and Maths, are often required to apply.

An NVQ diploma in roofing

The NVQ system is another way for roofers to be evaluated and certified when they are looking to become employed in the construction industry.

Level 2 NVQ diplomas are vocational qualifications which teach students about many aspects of roofing work. Meanwhile, Level 3 NVQ diplomas are advanced vocational qualifications which detail complex tasks like how to design and construct a full roof.

Some other important considerations while working through roofing qualifications

To stand out when training to become a roofer, consider taking a job as a roofing mate or labourer. This form of work experience can be done alongside working on a qualification and allows valuable experience and knowledge of the industry to be gained.

Roofers need health and safety training as well, so consider getting ahead by taking up safety procedure opportunities provided by the Health and Safety Executive.

Many UK construction sites also require workers to have a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card, as this demonstrates that a tradesperson has the training and skills needed to work within these areas.

Hopefully this guide has helped you on your path to becoming a roofer. If you’re still unsure what type of tradesperson you’d like to be qualified to be though, have you also checked out our career guides on how to become a builder, a carpenter, a joiner or a plumber?

Career Guide: How to Become a Roofer

What is a roofer?