Role

Roofer

Installs and repairs roofing systems on homes and commercial buildings.

12 chaptersAbout 4–5 months15–30 min a day13 skills2 projects
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Chapter 1 is free. No card needed.

Day 1 on the Roofer path.

What a Roofer does

Installs, repairs, and waterproofs roofs on homes and commercial buildings so they stay dry, strong, and weather-tight. Because the work happens at height, the safety schemes and certifications a roofer must hold vary by country (for example, fall-protection rules set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the US).

  • Read plans and measure roofs to plan layout, slope, and material needs
  • Strip old roofing and inspect the deck for rot or damage
  • Install underlay, flashing, and waterproof layers to keep water out
  • Lay shingles, tiles, slate, metal panels, or single-ply membrane sheets
  • Seal joints, vents, and edges so the roof does not leak
  • Repair storm damage, leaks, and worn sections on existing roofs
  • Set up scaffolds, harnesses, and edge guards before working at height

A day in the life

  1. Check the plan, weather, and load tools and materials onto the truck
  2. Set up access and fall-protection gear before climbing onto the roof
  3. Strip, prep, and lay roofing in sections, checking lines and seals
  4. Coordinate with other trades around vents, chimneys, and deliveries
  5. Clear debris, secure loose materials, and note progress for the next day

Tools you will use

Measuring tools: tape measure, chalk line, slope gaugeCutting tools: utility knife, tin snips, shingle cutter, angle grinderFastening tools: roofing nail gun, hammer, screw gun, seam rollerSealing tools: caulk gun, heat welder, torch for membrane workAccess and safety gear: ladders, scaffolding, harness, edge guardsMaterials: shingles, tiles, slate, metal panels, membrane, underlay, flashing

Your plan

Chapter by chapter.

1~2 wks

See the work of a Roofer

StartFree
2~2 wks

Roofing Craft and Materials

Skills
3~2 wks

Blueprint walkthrough and your own measured drawing of a room

Proof
4~2 wks

Staying Safe on Site

Skills
5~2 wks

Lifting safely and working in weather

Skills
61–2 wks

Meet people doing the work

People
7~2 wks

Problem Solving and Adaptability

Skills
8~2 wks

Working with People

Skills
9~2 wks

Roof mock-up with flashing and a water-tightness test

Proof
101–2 wks

Prepare for Roofer interviews

Interview
111–2 wks

Choose your route into Roofer work

Decide
12on your timeline

Apply for Roofer roles

Apply

By the last chapter

This is what you can show.

Things you've made

Blueprint walkthrough and your own measured drawing of a room and Roof mock-up with flashing and a water-tightness test

Skills you can prove

13 skills, each rated on work you actually did.

People you've talked to

3 people who do the job, with a message ready for each.

Questions you can answer

19 interview questions and a mock interview, with feedback.

Credentials

6 credentials compared, so you can pick one, or decide you don't need one. None is required.

Ways in

There is more than one route.

Ways to study

  • Apprenticeship with a roofing contractor mixing classroom and paid work
  • Trade school or vocational diploma in roofing or construction
  • Community college certificate in building trades or construction technology
  • On-the-job training starting as a roofing laborer with short safety courses

How people get their first job

  • In the UK, apply for a roofing apprenticeship leading to an NVQ and a CSCS card
  • In the US, join a union or contractor apprenticeship and complete OSHA fall-protection training
  • Start as a roofing laborer to learn materials, tear-offs, and jobsite safety
  • Take a short working-at-height and ladder safety course to be site-ready
  • Build a small portfolio with photos and notes of practice and supervised jobs

Life skills on this path: Networking · Job interviews · Job search

How the work is changing

What AI is doing to this role

How AI is changing this role · one of 6 tasks we track

Read plans and measure the roof

Lightly changed

What AI does

Takeoff apps speed up measuring and material counts.

Still yours

Checking slope and real site conditions is still your call.

Reviewed September 2026

In the app · Premium

The rest is in the app

  • How AI affects the other 5 tasks
  • Whether this job is growing or shrinking
  • How hard the first job is to get
  • Similar roles that are easier to get into
  • Updated every month, with sources
See it in the app →

How we rate a job →

Already working

Already a Roofer?

Plan your move to Lead Roofer: 9 chapters that end with a strong case for your next review.

Grow in the role →

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Questions

Questions about this path

How long does it take to become a roofer with Welica?

The path is 12 chapters, 4–5 months at 15 to 30 minutes a day. You can go faster or slower; the plan moves with you.

Do I need a degree?

Not always. Common routes are apprenticeship with a roofing contractor mixing classroom and paid work, trade school or vocational diploma in roofing or construction, community college certificate in building trades or construction technology, or on-the-job training starting as a roofing laborer with short safety courses.

What is free?

Chapter 1, See the work of a Roofer, is free for good. Premium unlocks the rest of the path.

Start the Roofer path.

Chapter 1 free. About 15 to 30 minutes a day.

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