Roofer jobs include everything from estimating the job to installing the roofing materials. Roofer jobs such as tile removers, shingle installers, and tar applicators are common on most roofing job sites. Spreading pea stone on some types of rubber roofs is one of the most exhausting roofer jobs, while some green roofing systems have workers lay sod over a waterproof membrane placed on the roof.
The job of a job estimator is one of the most important of all roofer jobs. This person, who is also known as a crew foreman, meets with a potential customer and gives them an estimate for a new roof. If the estimate is too high, the job may be lost to another roofing company; if it is too low, the job may not show a profit or the homeowner may become enraged when the final bill is much higher than the estimated cost. Because the estimator is often the first person the customer meets, the prices of all of the different materials, as well as colors, features, and warranty information, must be clearly understood by the estimator in order for the customer to receive accurate information.
The entire existing roof must be removed on some roofs. The tear off crew is in charge of this type of work. These roofer jobs require not only the removal of old shingles, tiles, or metal roofing materials, but also the removal of the roof material itself, which is usually plywood, down to the exposed rafters. Roofs are frequently reconstructed by crews with more carpentry experience. After the roof has been reconstructed, the roofers cover it with felt paper, then shingles, tiles, or metal sheets. Instead of using a hammer and nails, air-powered nail guns are commonly used to accomplish this.
Rubber roof jobs are some of the more involved commercial roofer jobs. This type of job frequently necessitates the use of a specialized crew to remove the pea stone used to keep the roof in place. The old roof is lifted off the building and tossed into a trailer for recycling after the stone has been completely removed. Roofers, such as applicators and fitters, cut and glue sheets of rubber to the roof, ensuring that the rubber is tightly fitted to all roof features such as chimneys, vents, and antennas. A tar crew will mop hot tar over all of the seams once they’ve been applied and properly fitted.