How to Become a Roofer

Louise Petty

July 29, 2024

5 min read

If you’re interested in becoming a roofer and are looking for guidance on what qualifications and skills are required, whether you’re a school leaver, someone looking to retrain or just fancy a new career, then this article will help you learn more. Roofing is a popular trade in the UK and a skilled roofer can earn in excess of £32K each year. Take a look at our article to understand more about what a roofer does, how to get a job as a roofer and what skills you’ll need to be successful.

What Does a Roofer Do?

A roofer, also known as a roofing operative, is someone who repairs and replaces roofs, roof cladding, lead flashing and skylights, etc. Roofers can work with all types of roofing materials, including tiles, slates, lead, timber, brick, stone and thatch.

A roofer might work on residential buildings, such as people’s homes, commercial buildings, like shops, or on a construction site. No matter where they work, a roofer is guaranteed to be working at height in all types of weather conditions and requires a good knowledge of work at height safety precautions.

Examples of tasks a roofer does include:

Removing broken roof tiles or slates.
Repairing broken roof tiles or slates.
Fitting roof insulation or felting.
Checking the condition of roof timbers.
Applying new slates, tiles, cladding, lead, etc.
Waterproofing flat roofs.
Tiling sloped roofs of varying pitches and sizes.
Sealing roof joints.
Installing skylights.
Installing solar panels.
Fitting lead or plastic flashing.
Capping chimney pots.
Repairing chimney stacks, such as repointing or reflashing.
Installing underlay and battens.
Measuring and cutting roofing felt to size.

Roofing Job Requirements – What Qualifications Do You Need to Be a Roofer?

The route you take into being a roofer depends on your own training preferences and the requirements of the employer you’d like to work for, so take a look at job ads for specific companies to see what they expect from the roofers they hire.

In general, to become a roofer you’ll need either a roofing apprenticeship, a certificate from a relevant college course, a City and Guilds qualification and/or some hands-on work experience. You’ll also need a valid CSCS card if you plan to work on a construction site.

Roofer College Courses – a college course in a topic such as roof slating, tiling or roof sheeting and cladding will give you the practical skills needed to then apply for a trainee roofer role in a bigger company. You could also specialise in a skill such as thatchwork. To take a college qualification, you’ll need at least two GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course or at least four GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course or T level.
Roofer Apprenticeships – a roofing apprenticeship enables you to combine on-the-job training with theoretical knowledge. To start an apprenticeship, you’re likely to need at least two GCSEs in English and Maths (or five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for an advanced apprenticeship). An example of a relevant course would be the Roofer Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.
City and Guilds Roofing Diplomas – City and Guilds offers a range of diplomas in subjects such as roofing, roof slating and tiling.
Roofing Work Experience – alongside your education, you could take a job as a roofing labourer or roofing mate to gain further knowledge and experience of the industry whilst you work on your qualification.

If you plan to work or train on a construction site, then you’ll also need a valid Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card, so keep in mind the time and costs associated with obtaining a card if you’re aiming to pursue this line of work.

After working as a roofer for a while, you can then look to progress your roofing career and do further training to enter a role such as a roofing surveyor, site manager, steeplejack or in heritage conservation work.

What Skills Do You Need to Be a Roofer?

To be a roofer, you’ll not only need the basic, practical roofing skills learnt with hands-on training, but you’ll also require a good knowledge of the industry as a whole. You may need to do extra training to gain the skills needed to be a roofer, but some qualities you may already possess.

There are various skills that you’ll need to be a roofer, including both practical skills, soft skills and theoretical knowledge. For example:

A good head for heights.
A good level of overall fitness, dexterity and strength.
Ability to work well with your hands.
Attention to detail.
Basic maths skills for measuring.
Ability to understand technical plans and drawings.
Ability to operate machinery and equipment.
Knowledge of the construction industry as a whole.
An understanding of working at height safety legislation.
Knowledge of the risks posed by scaffolding.
An understanding of fall protection measures.
Basic carpentry skills.
Teamwork.
Good verbal communication skills.

Want to Learn More?

As a roofer, it’s vital that you have a good understanding of the dangers of asbestos. Asbestos is commonly found in roofing materials created before the year 2000, so it’s very likely you’ll encounter them whilst at work. Our Asbestos Awareness training course will teach you all you need to know about the subject and is perfect for trainee roofers.

How to Get a Job as a Roofer

If being a roofer is the job for you, then the National Careers Service is the best place to start if you’re looking to find an apprenticeship or training course related to roofing.

The Government’s Find a Job service can also help you look for available roofing jobs in your area, or take a look at our article on other roles in the construction industry if you’d like to learn more about similar career options that you may wish to consider alongside being a roofer.

Furthermore, consider joining a professional industry body, such as the Institute of Roofing, to gain valuable contacts and industry knowledge or look to obtain a professional accreditation for your roofing skills from the National Federation of Roofing Contractors. These things will all help you get a job as a roofer in the UK.

Roofing is a valuable profession for the construction industry and a trade that will set you up with a career for life. Becoming a roofer requires a qualification in a relevant topic, plus essential hands-on experience of the role and good knowledge of the roofing industry. Once you have the right skills, getting a job in roofing should be no problem at all.

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