Some claim that hard work pays off, while others disagree.
Roofing can be a fulfilling and excellent career choice, but there are also disadvantages that those looking to get into the field should consider.
If you’re contemplating becoming a roofer, then you must look at both sides of the coin to understand if this is the right career path.
Roofers install and maintain roofs, including proper material selection and correct labor and cost estimates.
Roofers also inspect roofs for damage and communicate the appropriate repair procedures.
Keep reading to understand the pros and cons better to decide if roofing is the right career for you!
Table of Contents
Pros of Being a Roofer
Becoming a roofer is accompanied by a variety of benefits, such as:
1. Can Give Favors to Others
One minor advantage to becoming a roofer is the ability to assist family and friends with their roofing needs.
For example, there could be a situation where a friend’s roof becomes damaged from a storm, and the roofing expert can help them repair the issue.
This saves friends and family significant money from hiring a professional roofer.
Also, roofers can help with the repairs promptly and know they are getting top-notch work completed.
2. Can Start a Roofing Business
One major benefit is gaining experience and saving enough money to start a roofing company.
While some enjoy the benefits of working for a roofing or construction company, others have an enterprising spirit and don’t want to work for anyone else.
They enjoy control over their work and leading a team of others to build, repair, or inspect roofs.
Many get into the roofing industry with the long-term goal of starting a business.
Therefore, roofing is an excellent choice for those who are more business-minded, and it is easier to start a business than in most other industries.
3. Decent Job Security
As the population continues to increase, so does the housing demand.
Roofers play a critical role within the real estate and construction industries, so they are always in high demand.
Urbanization has created a supply housing shortage and forced construction projects to be completed quickly.
This means having more jobs available than a single roofing team can achieve.
For any roofer entering the industry, a job surplus equates to decent job security with plenty of available work and the ability to work for the company that pays the most, treats employees the best, and offers top-notch benefits.
4. Ease in Schedules
Since roofers work a typical workweek with little overtime and infrequent weekends, they have more flexible schedules than many other professions, especially in construction.
This allows for better planning activities with friends and family or focusing more on a hobby.
Seasonal work may require overtime and weekend work, but only for a brief period.
5. Endless Fresh Air
One advantage that many roofers enjoy is working outside and accessing constant fresh air.
Many other careers require employees to sit indoors and breathe recycled air without going out.
This impure air can harm the lungs, and sitting in front of a computer daily can impact the back, joints, and eyes.
Roofers typically have healthier lungs and are more fit with better blood circulation.
As the old saying goes, a healthy mind is a healthy body, meaning roofers benefit both.
Access to fresh air contributes to both aspects of the body compared to those working in an office.
6. Extra Hours Not Required
While some roofing professionals can choose to work overtime if a major roofing project needs to be completed, generally, they stick to 40 hours per week and sometimes less.
Experienced roofers complete tasks quicker and may enjoy breaks or leave early once the job is complete.
This advantage makes becoming a roofer an attractive career option for those who want to make decent money and have sufficient leisure time.
The extra time allows for more social life and time with family and friends compared to other career options.
7. Not Stressful
While roofing may seem stressful, most roofers report having a relaxed day.
Demanding customers and a seemingly endless number of jobs can add stress, but generally, most workers are relaxed.
Having continuous access to nature and fresh air contributes significantly to the relaxed mindset in the day of a roofing professional.
Cons of Being a Roofer
Simultaneously, roofing can be a demanding job, with some of the drawbacks being:
1. Accidents are Frequent
A significant disadvantage to becoming a roofer is the risk of being in an accident.
Although precautions and procedures are in place, roofers regularly fall off the roof, and some even die because of the impact.
While the risk of falling off the roof is low, other minor accidents occur when using heavy equipment or moving hefty construction materials.
Therefore, it’s important to greatly consider the accident risk when determining if you want to become a roofer.
2. Often Extreme Conditions
Accidents often occur because of exposure to extreme conditions such as inclement weather or wind.
Roofers typically work rain or shine in hot or cold temperatures, while others may go to work in a regulated indoor environment.
This is one of the downsides to working outside, as it won’t always be beautiful sunshine with comfortable temperatures.
3. Physically Demanding Career
One of the greatest disadvantages of becoming a roofer is the job is physically demanding.
Working on the roofs of multi-storied buildings, villas, apartments, or homes requires routine, balance, and strength to manage heavy tiles.
Throughout one day, maintaining this strength and balance can be incredibly tiresome.
As a result, roofers need to sit, relax, and maybe even go to bed earlier than others in most professions instead of enjoying time with friends and family or working on hobbies.
4. Potential for Long-Term Health Problems
Due to the physical requirements of the job, those working in this sector develop significant health problems in the long term.
For instance, serious spine problems and back pain are common and get worse with age.
At the beginning of a roofer’s career, when they are younger, this work helps get them in excellent physical shape, but these stresses wear on the body over time.
5. Salary on the Low End
Roofers have a salary on the low end of the spectrum unless you own the company.
Therefore, expect to earn enough money for basic needs, but don’t expect to become rich or even well off compared to many other professions.
If you want to become a roofer, money should not be your primary motivation but focus on the other positive aspects of this career type.
6. Won’t Learn Skills Beyond Roofing
While you will gain all the skills necessary to be an effective roofer, you won’t gain knowledge about other areas.
This includes lacking critical digital and analytical skills, which can help with future technologies.
However, suppose you are a business-minded individual who wants to start a roofing company.
In that case, you can always ask your superior to be included in the company’s business end to understand better quoting, pricing, labor charges, and other important aspects.
Career growth in other professions allows you to learn a variety of vital skills which can be used across multiple fields.
Unfortunately, being a roofer means you will only learn and understand the hard skills applicable to this trade type, so you can only find another job within the industry.
7. Work With Demanding Clients
Roofers collaborate with demanding clients who nitpick every tile in any service-related job.
Having easy-to-work-with clients is always ideal but is unlikely always to be the case.
One of the primary challenges of being in a client-centered career is that many are demanding, which can create friction within the company and cause pauses in your workflow.
With so many roofing jobs available, slowing your work can majorly impact the bottom line.
Also, dealing with difficult clients means you won’t look forward to going to work when waking up early, which can impact your craftsmanship quality.
Pros and Cons of Being a Roofer – Summary Table
| Pros of Being a Roofer | Cons of Being a Roofer |
|---|---|
| 1. Can Give Favors to Others | 1. Accidents are Frequent |
| 2. Can Start a Roofing Business | 2. Often Extreme Conditions |
| 3. Decent Job Security | 3. Physically Demanding Career |
| 4. Ease in Schedules | 4. Potential for Long-Term Health Problems |
| 5. Endless Fresh Air | 5. Salary on the Low End |
| 6. Extra Hours Not Required | 6. Won’t Learn Skills Beyond Roofing |
| 7. Not Stressful | 7. Work With Demanding Clients |
Should You Become a Roofer?
Being a roofer can be fulfilling, even considering these disadvantages.
If you’ve read and thought deeply about the advantages and prefer not to pursue this career, there are plenty of other options for working outside and working with your hands.
However, if you view the pros as outweighing the cons and enjoy an output-based path, roofing might be the right choice.
Adding health and safety into the equation is never a difficult decision.
To better understand the right career path, list the priorities and note the viable solutions if they are not sufficiently met.
Remember, it takes time to become a roofer due to around three-to-four years of training and apprenticeship with extensive physical hard labor and sifting through an uncontrolled environment.
You will face a major challenge if you don’t boast the necessary soft or hard skills to work with various materials and client personalities.
In summary, roofing requires arduous work, and it doesn’t always pay off, but it can be a fulfilling career option for the right individual.
Sources
https://roofhippie.com/top-15-reasons-why-roofing-is-not-a-good-job/
https://roofr.com/blog/is-roofing-hard
