What’s a Roofer? Learning the Ins and Outs of Roofing

0
1824

A home is one of the most important pieces of living your life. It is the shelter against the weather, your peace away from the rest of the world, the gathering locale of your friends and family. Whether it’s by yourself or with a family of your own, a house is crucial to successful and comfortable living.

What’s just as important as owning a house is maintaining it. A house isn’t like an apartment complex or studio room, where the company who owns it fixes things for you if they go wrong, which can come in the form of pest control or maintenance. No, if you own a home, whatever upkeep or maintenance is needed, you’re in charge of doing it.

Some facets are easier than others, like changing the air filters on your air conditioning unit or replacing the broken locks on your door frame. But there are other facets as well that require a more delicate approach, a more hands-on method if you will. And one of those facets is your roof.

Why Care About the Roof?

The roof is one of the most critical aspects of your home. It is the fortification of your castle, the shield against mother nature and natural disasters. It, along with the walls and the windows, keeps things such as weather and pests from infiltrating your abode. But the roof is the most durable, and it is the top of any successful home.

So of course, up keeping your roof should be at the top of your list in house maintenance. Thankfully, a house roof doesn’t require much in the way of repairs, not unless it’s the victim of a major storm or other natural event. Suffice to say, if there are no leaks or creaks atop your head, then the roof can be left alone for the most part.

However, in the case of damaged or missing shingles, of light and critters coming in through the attic, of staining, or even of old age, you’re going to want to have that roof serviced.

But if you aren’t knowledgeable about the aspect, you’re in luck, because there are those who engage in a profession that involves fixing the roofs of homes. And that profession is, you guessed it, roofers.

What are Roofers?

A roofer (see more here) is someone who specializes in the installation, repair, and overall maintenance of roofs. They are mainly based in the construction industry, and their responsibility is making sure that the roofs they work on are durable, structurally sound, weatherproof, and overall provide the necessary protection for the building and its occupants.

What Do Roofers Do?

Low angle shot of builders fixing a tiled roof against blue sky A roofer’s job includes these following aspects:

  • Installation– Installing and placing new roofs on a building. This can involve cutting and measuring roofing materials to fit the building’s length and width, laying down underlayment, and attaching the necessary materials to the roof such as the shingles and tiles.
  • Maintenance and Repair– Repairing and maintaining the state of the roof. This includes identifying leaks, damage, deterioration, or any other aspect that compromises the foundation of the roof. Maintenance and repairs include replacing broken shingles, sealing leaks, patching holes, etc.
  • Safety– Safety is a priority in any given profession, and for one that involves standing upon an unsteady surface with feet of space between them and the ground, this is especially the case in point. A roofer must ensure that they are prioritizing the safety of both themselves and those working with them. This includes wearing personal protective equipment(PPE), proper usage of the ladder, and utilizing fall protection measures.
  • Customer Service– One of the most common aspects of successful business is customer service. A happy customer is a good customer, and for roofers no less is true. Ensuring that the roof is up to their standards is an endeavor that they also adhere to.

Types of Roofers

Roofing has a method for every roof, just as there’s every roofer for the type of job at hand. Some of these types of roofers include:

  • Residential Roofers– those who specialize in the installation and repair of residential homes. The ideal choice for a prospective homeowner.
  • Flat Roofers– those who specialize in installing and maintaining roofs without a slope. These include the likes of commercial buildings.
  • Shinglers– those who specialize in the installation and repair of shingles. They are capable of properly aligning and attaching shingles in a way that ensures a secure and tight roof, one without the risks of leaking or damaging.
  • Metal Roofers– those who specialize in working with metal roofs and metalworking materials like steel, aluminum, copper, etc. Metal roofs are different from regular roofs and require certain techniques and tools to do the job properly.

How Much Do They Make?

A roofer can make anywhere between $30,000-73,000 dollars annually. This of course varies by state and country, but the average median amount earned as of 2021 was around $47,000 dollars. That is a decent pay for honest work.

Where to Find Them

Roofers are in no short supply; they can be found in any place that has a home, complex, business, or neighborhood. You can find them in your average yellow page book, or online on sites like https://www.gen819.com/blog, or even on commercials from websites and TV.

You’ll have no issue finding one, for wherever there’s a roof, there is a roofer that’s nearby, whether in person or on advertisements.

Conclusion

A home is like a castle, one that is meant to keep the enemy at bay and the residents inside safe. And do you know what help makes a protected castle? A proper roof to protect your head and that of others.

Roofing is a humble profession, but an honest one, and one which offers good pay and great craftsmanship. So, the next time you find your roof in danger of collapsing in on itself, or even if you spy a broken shingle or two, make sure the job’s done right.