Roofers and shinglers
Career Overview
Roofers and shinglers install, repair and replace flat roofs and shingles, shakes and other roofing tiles on residential, industrial and commercial buildings.
People in these occupations:
- Work for roofing and general contractors
- May be self-employed
- Should be able to work both independently and in a team setting
- Should have good manual dexterity and an eye for detail
- Should also be physically fit and able to lift heavy objects
- Must be comfortable working at heights
Job Titles
Duties
The duties of roofers and shinglers are closely related. In general, roofers have a higher level of training than shinglers and have advanced roofing techniques and waterproofing strategies. Shinglers specialize primarily in the removal, renewal and installation of interlocking shingles. A roofer can perform all the duties of a shingler.
Roofers:
- Install, repair or replace built-up roofing systems using materials such as asphalt saturated felts and hot asphalt and gravel
- Install, repair or replace single-ply roofing system using waterproof sheet materials such as modified plastics, elastomeric or other asphaltic compositions
- Install, repair or replace shingles, shakes and other roofing tiles on sloped roofs of buildings
- Install sheet metal flashings
- Apply waterproof coatings to concrete or other masonry surfaces below or above ground level
- Install and repair metal roofs using hand and power tools
- Set up scaffolding to provide safe access to roofs
- May estimate materials required and quote costs
Shinglers:
- Install, repair and replace asphalt shingles, wood shingles and shakes, and masonry or baked clay tiles on sloped roofs
- May set up scaffolding to provide access to roofs
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
3,085% Employed Full Time
46%Most roofers and shinglers work a standard 40-hour week. However, some overtime may be required to complete projects and meet construction deadlines. Since the nature of the work is project-based and seasonal, working hours may be irregular and workers may experience gaps in work throughout the year.
Roofing work takes place almost entirely outdoors. As a result, roofers and shinglers are often required to work in rain, snow, summer heat and other weather conditions, sometimes with little or no protection. Roofers must be able to work at heights and must have the strength to carry heavy bundles or sheets of roofing material. The use of safety harnesses and lines helps to reduce the hazard of falling from heights.
Career Pathways
Roofers may begin their careers as shinglers or construction labourers, or they may enter the work force directly as apprentices. With experience, roofers may advance to supervisory or estimating positions. Some experienced roofers choose to establish their own businesses.
Roofers may specialize in asphalt shingle, residential steep roofing, metal, flat tarred or other roofing systems, and are also able to transfer their skills to related trades, such as carpentry or sheet metal work.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Completion of Grade 10 is recommended. In addition, completion of an apprenticeship program (or a combination of over three years of work experience and some college or industry courses) is required for trade certification. Trade certification is not mandatory to work as a roofer or shingler in B.C., but workers with certification typically have more job opportunities.
Apprenticeship programs in roofing or in residential steep roofing (shingling):
- Generally take three years to complete
- May begin in secondary school, through entry-level training (Foundation) programs at colleges and technical institutes, or through direct entry to the workplace
- Involve a combination of work experience and technical training and require workers to find a sponsor employer who is willing to participate in the program
For more information, please see SkilledTradesBC's website at https://skilledtradesbc.ca.
Roofers are eligible for Interprovincial Standard Endorsement (Red Seal) qualification through SkilledTradesBC. This allows holders to work in any province or territory. Once roofers pass the final examination of their accredited training program, they will achieve certification and will automatically receive Red Seal qualification.
Roofers with 5,400 hours of documented, directly related work experience can challenge the Interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Roofers who are certified for that occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.
For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.
Contact SkilledTradesBC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.
For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.
View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
3,085Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 70 | 2.3% |
| Kootenay | 90 | 2.9% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,750 | 56.7% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 55 | 1.8% |
| Northeast | 30 | 1.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 410 | 13.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 670 | 21.7% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
1,030Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 20 | 0.9% |
| Kootenay | 10 | -0.4% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 680 | 1.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | 1.5% |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 150 | 1.0% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 160 | 0.5% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Construction | 510 |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | 110 |
| Retail Trade | 80 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 60 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 60 |
Insights from Industry
Approximately half of the new jobs in the next five years will result from the need to replace retiring workers.
Roofers and shinglers are needed for ongoing replacement and repair work as well as new construction. As a result, workers are typically busy even when new construction activity slows.
Although new materials and processes have brought changes to the job, the majority of residential roofs in British Columbia continue to be built with asphalt shingling. This is a labour-intensive form of roofing that will require a steady supply of these workers.
Resources
-
British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) – Green Roofs Coursescommons.bcit.ca/greenroof/courses
-
BuildForce Canadawww.buildforce.ca/en
-
Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC)www.cagbc.org
-
Canadian Roofing Contractors' Association (CRCA)www.roofingcanada.com
-
Roofing Contractors Association of British Columbia – Education & Trainingwww.rcabc.org/education-training
-
Roofing Contractors Association of British Columbia (RCABC)www.rcabc.org
-
SkilledTradesBCskilledtradesbc.ca/
