Outdoor Lovers Excel in Roofing Jobs?

Answer 1

Roofing jobs, referred to as roofers, install and repair roofs to provide homes and buildings protection from the elements. Roofers use a variety of tools and materials to perform their job and generally spend much of their day outside on top of buildings. Roofers should enjoy heights and working outside in all types of weather.

Generally, roofers only need a high school diploma or GED to enter this career and then trained on the job. During high school, classes including math, mechanical drawing and basic carpentry assist in getting started in roofing jobs. Roofers must have a good sense of balance and physical strength to be successful and avoid injuries. Roofers start this career by assisting experienced roofers with their day to day responsibilities. After several months, new roofers perform the majority of the tasks of roofing themselves.

Roofers use materials such as tar, shingles, metal and rubber to install roofs. Most of their work involves repairing roofs to prevent damage to the interior of a home or building. A leaking roof can deteriorate the structure of a building if it's not repaired quickly. Installing a new roof requires measuring and cutting the roofing materials, then attaching the materials to the roof, creating a waterproof and air-tight seal.

Among the many construction trades, roofing jobs are less likely to experience downturns in tough economic times. Roofs require repairs frequently, so even if new construction slows down, other work is available for roofers. Those experienced using different types of roofing materials and understanding trends, such as "green" roofing, will experience the best job opportunities.

Starting salaries for roofers generally range from $10 to $13 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2010. The average salary was approximately $18 per hour or $37,000 per year. Many roofing jobs are with contractors that repair and install exterior building structures. Because of the demands of the job, experienced roofers move into other construction trades or retire early. This results in many roofing job openings for those new to the roofing trade.