How to Become a Roofer

Demand has never been higher for roofers. In 2025, searches for “roofer near me” came in at #4 for the most in-demand tradespeople in the UK. So, if you’re thinking about how to become a roofer, there’s never been a better time.

What is a roofer?

Roofers are skilled tradespeople who install, repair, and maintain roofs. In both new build construction and property maintenance, roofers play an essential role in ensuring the structural integrity of roofs to make sure they withstand the elements, keeping properties and inhabitants safe and dry.

How do I become a roofer?

This guide will explain everything you need to know about entering the roofing trade, from training and qualifications to earning potential, and how to get your first job in the industry.

If you’re after a lucrative, hands-on career, keep reading.

What Does a Roofer Do?

Before we get into roofer qualifications, let’s take a closer look at a roofer’s job description to outline the main day-to-day tasks, according to Gov.uk:

• Removing old roofs
• Installing new roofs
• Repairing or replacing broken roof tiles and slats
• Fitting insulation and waterproofing membranes
• Identifying and fixing leaking roofs
• Responding to roofing emergencies after adverse weather

As a roofer, you’ll be working across pitched and flat roof structures in a range of materials:

• Pitched roofs - The most common type of roof in the UK, in styles such as gable, hip, dormer, and mansard. Pitched roofs typically have clay, slate, or concrete tiles, but can also be made from metal.
• Flat roofs - Commonly seen on garages, home extensions, outbuildings, and commercial properties. Flat roofs are mostly made from felt, EPDM rubber, or asphalt.

Roofing is an inherently physical trade. Your work will be almost entirely outdoors, working at height, and in various weather conditions.

So, what does a roofer do day-to-day?

One day, you could be working in the 20°C sunshine in summer, installing a new roof on a semi-detached house.

But, it also means you may be responding to a roofing emergency after a heavy storm that’s caused a property’s roof tiles to slip, with water leaking into the house, needing urgent attention.

A central component of a roofer’s job description is the ability to understand plans, blueprints, and the fundamentals of roof design to ensure compliance, safety, and quality work across your projects.

What Skills and Qualities Do You Need?

Now we’ve looked over the roofers’ job description, let’s focus on the skills and qualities you’ll need.

Success in this industry takes more than just having the right tools for roofers’ day-to-day tasks - you’ll need specific physical skills and personal qualities to really thrive.

Essential roofer traits include:

• High level of physical fitness and stamina - Roofing is a physically demanding trade. You’ll work outdoors, at height, and in all weathers, working with your hands, while lifting, bending, and climbing.
• Comfortable working at height - You’ll be working on scaffolding and up ladders for most of your day, so having good balance and a head for heights is essential.
• Basic knowledge of maths and measuring - You’ll need to use simple geometry to calculate roofing material requirements, working confidently with roof pitch, angles, and surface area.
• Keen eye for detail - Small mistakes can turn into big problems when it comes to roofing. If a measurement is out by just a few millimetres, it can lead to leaks, mould, and even cause the entire roof to fail over time.
• Problem-solving skills - If you’re on-site and there’s a leak, but you can’t immediately see where it's coming from, it’ll be your job to find the cause. Finding practical solutions will be part of your day-to-day activities.
• Good teamwork and communication - You’ll work as part of a roofing crew, so you must be able to communicate effectively and respectfully.
• Strong safety awareness - Working at height is dangerous for yourself, your crew, and anyone around the worksite. Adhering to safety protocols and procedures is critical to keep everyone safe.

Routes into the Roofing Trade

There are many ways to become a roofer in the UK, from apprenticeships, college courses, and hands-on training for entry-level candidates, to adult learning options for those wishing to switch careers later in life.

Apprenticeships

Roofing apprenticeships are hands-on ways to learn about the industry. The most common entry-level route into roofing is a Roofer Level 2 Intermediate apprenticeship:

• Duration: Up to 2 years.
• Entry requirements: GCSEs (including English and maths) or equivalent qualifications.
• Age: 16+
• It’ll involve: A mix of on-site experience and structured college learning.
• You’ll get: A qualification that enables you to work as a qualified roofer.

College Courses

You can also enrol in college or Construction Skills Certification Scheme-approved (CSCS) courses to gain roofing experience.

For example, you can complete the Level 2 Diploma in Roof Tiling, which comprises:

• Duration: Usually 1 year, but can be 2 years+ if completed as part of an apprenticeship.
• Entry requirements: No formal qualifications required, but basic English and maths skills are encouraged.
• Age: 16+
• It’ll involve: A combination of roofing theory and practical, on-site training.
• You’ll get: Upon completion, you can begin work as a qualified roofer, or move onto Level 3 qualifications to specialise in a certain type of roofing.

On-the-Job Training

If you have no formal qualifications, you can start your roofing career as a labourer or roofing mate. In this scenario, you’ll work alongside trained roofers to gain hands-on experience in the trade.

Completing basic roofing tasks on-site, such as stripping roofs, passing tools, and carrying tiles, can give you the experience necessary to train for a roofing qualification apprenticeship or NVQ.

Career Switching

Don’t be discouraged thinking you can’t become a roofer if you’re not school-leaver age.

Transferable skills are beneficial in the roofing industry, such as experience in leading a team, working with other people, and being reliable, so even if you haven’t trained initially as a roofer, you can still get into the industry as a mature learner.

Qualifications and Certifications

Let’s take a closer look at roofer qualifications and certifications so you know what you need to enter the roofing industry.

NVQs

NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications) are work-based qualifications that assess your skills and knowledge in a real-life work setting. You’ll need to already be working as a roofer to earn a roofing NVQ.

You can complete your NVQs with institutions certified by City & Guilds or CITB-approved (Construction Industry Training Board) learning providers.

Common NVQs for roofers include:

• Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Roofing Occupations (Construction) Roof Slater
• Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Roofing Occupations (Construction) Roof Tiler
• Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Roofing Occupations (Construction) Roof Slater & Tiler

Once you complete your NVQ, you’ll get a CSCS Skilled Worker (Blue) card, which proves you’re a competent and skilled roofer.

CSCS Cards

CSCS is the leading UK skills certification scheme. It ensures all construction workers have the proper training and qualifications to work safely on-site.

There are different levels of CSCS cards:

• Red - Red CSCS cards are for students and apprentices currently enrolled in roofing training, but have yet to receive their qualifications.
• Green - Green cards are for entry-level roofers’ mates with no formal training or qualifications. It gives you basic access on-site.
• Blue - Blue CSCS cards are known as “Skilled Worker” cards, and they prove your competency in your trade. You’ll commonly get this after gaining a recognised roofing qualification, such as a Level 2 NVQ, and it’ll get you access to UK construction sites.
• Gold - These are “Advanced Craft” cards, obtainable by roofers with Level 3 NVQs.

To get a CSCS card, you must pass the Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test.

This test has been designed to keep workers safe at work by assessing your knowledge of general site safety, accident prevention, and environmental awareness.

The test costs £22.50 and will test your on-site health and safety knowledge.

Additional Training

As well as your fundamental roofing qualifications and certifications, you can upskill with additional certifications to improve your employability.

• Working at height training - Knowing how to correctly use ladders, scaffolding, and harnesses is essential for roofers.
• Asbestos awareness - Buildings constructed before 2000 may contain asbestos, so knowing how to identify asbestos is essential to ensure on-site safety for yourself and those around you.
• First aid training - Despite training, accidents can still happen while roofing. Basic first aid knowledge is vital to reduce the risk of severe health and safety issues on-site.
• General health and safety - A general overview of health and safety best practices is essential for roofers. This can include how to spot a hazard, what to do in an emergency, and knowledge of PPE (personal protective equipment).

Career Progression

Once you’ve got your baseline roofer qualifications, you can easily start growing your roofing career.

After you’ve worked on-site for around 2 years and become a qualified roofer, you can begin to specialise in roofing sectors:

• Tiling and slating - Most houses in the UK are tiled, so choosing to specialise in tiling and slating can be lucrative, with guaranteed long-term job stability.
• Green roofing - With the UK’s growing push for sustainability, green roofs are building momentum. In this specialism, you’ll work with “living” roofs, plants, and vegetation to boost biodiversity and reduce urban heat.
• Heritage roofing - Fancy working on historic buildings all day? Heritage roofing specialisms will get you access to work on listed properties to restore and replicate original roofs, which is a highly paid specialism.
• Solar roofing - Investing in renewable energy is a safe bet, so specialising in solar roofing (including solar panels and tiles) is a valuable move. This combines roofing expertise with basic electrics, and is a growing industry.

You can also develop further by stepping into supervisory or roofing management roles. If you have particularly strong leadership skills, you could look to become a site supervisor.

If you’re thinking of starting your own roofing company, joining a trade association with the NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors) or CORC (Confederation of Roofing Contractors) can give your business more credibility, helping to boost your customers’ trust in your service.

Tools and Equipment

Working safely on-site is critical when you’re a roofer. This means essential PPE and specialist tools are required to complete the work efficiently.

Common tools for roofers include:

• Roofing hammer: £15 - £30
• Tape measure: £5 - £15
• Chalk line: £5 - £10
• Utility knife: £5 - £10
• Tool belt: £20 - £40

A roofer’s starter toolkit typically costs around £100 to £200.

Your on-site team will usually provide you with these tools, but it’s wise to invest in your own quality equipment if you plan to stay in the industry.

For more specialist jobs, roofers may also need:

• Nail gun: £295 - £500
• Roofing torch: £75 - £95

As well as tools, you’ll need the following essential PPE to keep safe on-site:

• Safety harness: £50 - £100
• Hard hat: £10 - £20
• Gloves: £5 - £15
• Non-slip footwear: £30 - £70
• Hi-vis vest: £5 - £10

How Much Do Roofers Earn in the UK?

Now we know how to become a roofer, let’s take a closer look at how much roofers earn in the UK.

What’s the average salary for a roofer in the UK?

An experienced roofer’s average salary in the UK is between £29,000 and £35,000.

All figures are estimates, pre-tax.

Does location affect roofing salaries?

In short, yes: your location will affect how much you earn as a roofer in the UK.

Roofers working in big cities with high population densities are likely to earn more than those in remote, rural locations. This is due to more properties per capita, which translates to more opportunities for roofing work.

Here’s how roofing salaries look across the UK:

All figures are estimates, pre-tax.

How does roofing compare to other trades?

If you’re retraining and deciding which trade to enter, comparing the salaries available is worthwhile.

Here’s a look at how roofing salaries compare to other UK trades:

All figures are estimates, pre-tax.

Do roofing specialists earn more?

Yes - if you’ve chosen to specialise in heritage roofing, for example, you can look to earn upwards of £60,000. Leadwork specialisms can also carry high earning potential, as much as £50,000.

Pros and Cons of Becoming a Roofer

Becoming a roofer has distinct job highlights. It’s a stable career path with clear progression opportunities, with finished projects giving a real sense of achievement.

However, like all jobs, roofing does come with some drawbacks. Safety is an inherent risk factor in the job as you’ll be working at height, but you can reduce these risks with the correct training and health and safety understanding.

Here’s what you need to consider:

Pros:

• ✔ High level of job satisfaction, as you’ll be able to tangibly see your impact on the properties you work on.
• ✔ Stable demand for roofers in the UK, with consistent work available.
• ✔ Opportunities for self-employment, owning your own roofing business, and roofing specialisms to boost earning potential.
• ✔ Hands-on, practical work with the chance to work outside, instead of at a desk.

Cons:

• ✖ Physically demanding and dangerous work due to consistently working at height.
• ✖ Weather-dependent, meaning work can halt if the conditions are unfavourable (storms, rain, or snow).
• ✖ You’ll be working long hours, especially during good weather.
• ✖ If you choose to work for yourself, you’ll need to be comfortable with the business side of the venture, such as taxes, insurance, and quoting.

FAQs

What qualifications do you need to be a roofer?

You can start training as a roofer through a Level 2 apprenticeship, or work alongside an experienced roofer on-site as a labourer for hands-on experience. Once on-site, you can train for a roofing NVQ and earn a CSCS card.

How long does it take to train as a roofer?

You can become a roofer in 1 to 2 years, depending on your training route.

How Much Does a Tree Surgeon Earn in the UK?

The exact tools you’ll need as a roofer will depend on the type of roof you’re working on. As well as safety equipment and PPE, common tools for roofers include:

• Roofing hammer
• Measuring tape
• Nail gun
• Roofing torch

Is roofing a good industry?

Yes - roofing is an evergreen industry, and the current demand for roofers in the UK is high due to the government’s push for 300,000 new houses each year, necessitating the need for more skilled roofers.

Can I re-train as a roofer?

Yes - many skills, such as good teamwork, communication, and troubleshooting, are transferable to roofing. No matter your age, you can learn on-site or complete a course to enter the roofing industry.