Job Description

• As the name "roofer" suggests, the main job description of a roofer is to repair and thatch the roofs of various buildings and structures. A roofer is tasked with covering the roofs of buildings with materials, such as wood, brick, asphalt, tar, shingles, slate, aluminum, bricks and other appropriate materials. He also uses materials to bind, insulate and seal openings in the roofs of houses, apartment complexes, music halls, movie theaters, government buildings and a slew of other structures.
  
  

Typical Workday

• A roofer spends the entire workday constructing and patching up roofs. The first task is to always inspect the roof and determine where the problems lie. A roofer must also determine which types of materials are best to use depending on the type of roof. A roofer spends the majority of the workday covering the building's exterior with gravel, slate, wood, metal and gypsum using tools, such as hammers and drills. The main work of the day involves applying layers of tar or asphalt to roofs and aligning materials, such as aluminum and wood to create a solid base. A roofer also applies gravel as a filler mixed in with the tar or asphalt to create a more solid mixture to cover openings and make them watertight. Furthermore, a roofer cuts shingles, strips of wood and aluminum to fit the specific shape of a roof.
  
  

Other Duties

• Other responsibilities include finishing off the roof by applying a glaze to smoothen out any roughness. A roofer must accurately measure and apply coverage materials, such as wooden slabs and shingles. Depending on the type of roof, A roofer must also apply layers of insulation and seal off openings that let in cold air. Some mundane duties including maintaining tools, ordering more materials as needed, cleaning up any debris before and after fixing the roof, making sure the roof is easily accessible by employees or tenants and making sure the roof is waterproof. Finally, a roofer spends part of the workday determining cost of materials and labors needed to do the job.