Roofing is one of many different seasonal jobs that you can do during the summer months, and it can pay fairly well depending upon how many jobs you can get and your location. There are a lot of skills that a roofer has to possess in order to become successful on the job and make roofing a viable career choice. I have known many roofers in my lifetime and have definitely seen what types of skills are needed in order to make a nice income during the summer and winter months. Here are three skills you will need if you want to become a roofer, based on my own personal experiences living around roofers.
1. Roofing is not a job for the faint of hearted, which means that you will likely be tested when it comes to the weather. For example, if you live in an area that gets extremely hot during the summer you need to be able to withstand the humidity and heat. There are a lot of people that quit roofing because they can either not stand the heat in the summer or they freeze during the winter time. Roofing requires that you have the ability to basically block out the current weather conditions and just dress as comfortable as you can for that particular season. The roofers I know in Ohio often wear layers of clothes in the winter and just peel them off if they are too hot. This same idea goes for the summer months as well, wear something cool and comfortable and try to still maintain a nice appearance for the job. You should always be checking the weather forecast and then planning your attire accordingly, because you have to be able to handle whatever weather is thrown your way if you are thinking about becoming a roofer. You should also make sure you ask your doctor before you begin a career in roofing to ensure you are healthy enough to be out in extreme weather conditions and to make sure the heat will not interfere with any medications you might be taking regularly.
2. You also will need to have experience handling various tools and be partially mechanically inclined. Roofing requires that you handle a variety of tools on a regular basis such as a chainsaw, hammer, nail gun, drill and a ladder. You have to know how to use these tools at least somewhat if you want to become a roofer, because this is going to be required at about every job. You also need to make sure that you can purchase your own set of tools because a lot of contractors require you bring your own in order to work. If you do not know what tools you will need then it will be pretty hard to go out and buy them, let alone trying to use them if you are unsure how they work. You will also need to be a little mechanically inclined when it comes to knowing how the tools work, knowing how to setup your ladder and knowing what other equipment you will need. Not everyone can become a roofer because they do not possess the skills needed when it comes to handling tools and understanding the basic functions of each tool. From what I have seen in my own life, I can tell you that having a clear understanding of the tool functions will help you when it comes time to work on your own at a job, where no one is there to help you out. As with any job, you have to have a general idea of how things work and why you need certain items in order to perform your job successfully. Having experience with various tools and knowing how to use them on the job will help you in your roofing endeavors and it will make you more valuable to an employer.
3. As a roofer, it is also important that you have a basic understanding of math including measurements and fractions. Roofing is one of many jobs that use a lot of math formulas in everyday work and you have to know how to figure these measurements out. You will often have to work by the square so you have to know how to multiply the length of the house or commercial building you are working on in order to figure out how much material you will need. A lot of roofers also get paid by the square, so math is important so that you can figure out how much the job will be paying you at the end. You will likely use a tape measure everyday as a roofer and be drawing markings for certain dimensions so you can cut your material down to the right size, so math is like an essential aspect of roofing. You do not have to be a genius in math or know the hardest types of formulas, but you have to at least have a basic understanding of formulas, fractions and multiplication. I personally know someone that has not even finished high school and is a roofer, so intermediate level math is just about all you will need to become successful. If you are not good with fractions or calculations however, then roofing might not be the best career choice for you.
If you possess these three skills then you will likely become a successful roofer, just like the people I personally know that hold these skills. Roofing can be a great summer job for someone in school or it can become a main career, but it all depends on how well you utilize your skills and your location.
Myself, Personal Experience