Roofing Contractors Houston
A roofer, roof mechanic, or roofing contractor is a tradesperson who specializes in roof construction. Roofers replace, repair, and install the roofs of buildings, using a variety of materials, including shingles, bitumen, and metal. Roofing work includes the hoisting, storage, application, and removal of roofing materials and equipment, including related insulation, sheet metal, vapor barrier work, and green technologies rooftop jobs such as vegetative roofs, rainwater harvesting systems, and photovoltaic products, such as solar shingles and solar tiles.[1]
Roofing work can be physically demanding because it may involve heavy lifting, climbing, bending, and kneeling, often in extreme weather conditions.[2] Roofers are also vulnerable to falls from heights due to working at elevated heights. Various protective measures are required in the United States by OSHA to address this concern.
Global usage
According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of May 2022, there were 131,980 individuals working as roofers. Among that population, a majority of roofers (90.4%; 119,280) were contractors for Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior projects.[3]
In Australia, this type of carpenter is called a roof carpenter and the term roofer refers to someone who installs the roof cladding (tiles, tin, etc.).
In the United States and Canada, they’re often referred to as roofing contractors or roofing professionals. The most common roofing material in the United States is asphalt shingles. In the past, 3-tab shingles were used, but recent trends show “architectural” or “dimensional” shingles becoming very popular.[4]
Depending on the region, other commonly applied roofing materials installed by roofers include concrete tiles, clay tiles, natural or synthetic slate, single-ply (primarily EPDM rubber, PVC, or TPO), rubber shingles (made from recycled tires), glass, metal panels or shingles, wood shakes or shingles, liquid-applied, hot asphalt/rubber, foam, thatch, and solar tiles. “Living roof” systems, or rooftop landscapes, have become increasingly common in recent years in both residential and commercial applications.[5][6]
Roles and responsibilities
Credit: Bernd Settnik, German Federal Archives
Roles and responsibilities of roofing professionals include:
- Assessing the roof system and components (may include decking and structural components)
- Determining the proper roofing system for the building
- Install roof system components according to manufacturer’s specifications
- Repair the roof system
- Maintenance of the roof system
