Mastic Asphalter

A mastic asphalter spreads hot mastic asphalt (a material made of a mixture of limestone and bitumen) on horizontal or vertical surfaces, such as roofs, walls, floors, car parks or swimming pools, to seal them and make them waterproof.

The Work

You could be:

• measuring the area and calculating the amount of asphalt you need


• cleaning and preparing the area


• working as part of a team with a potman or woman who melts the blocks of asphalt


• if necessary, adding colour


• fixing wooden battens as laying guides, applying the asphalt between the battens, using wooden hand floats, and smoothing it level with a trowel
• applying a second layer of asphalt


• sealing the joints and perhaps finishing the surface with tiles, sand, wood chippings or a reflective coating.

Conditions

• You work outdoors in all weathers, sometimes at heights.


• You work among fumes in dirty conditions.


• There is some risk of accidental burns.


• You might have to work overtime at evenings and weekends to meet deadlines, and hours could be longer in summer than in winter.


• You may need to work away from home for periods.


• You spend most of the time kneeling or standing.


• You would wear protective clothing - overalls, gloves, boots, knee pads and a safety helmet.
• Some jobs are temporary.

Getting In

• The normal entry route is by an apprenticeship - by Skillseekers or a Modern Apprenticeship registered with the Scottish Building Apprenticeship Training Council (SBATC).


• You do not always need formal qualifications, but Standard grades in English, maths and a technological subject are helpful.


• You usually have to take an aptitude test before entry.


• A driving licence is useful.


• You should be fit, strong and agile, with no allergies to dust or fumes.


• From 2010 workers in the construction sector must hold a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent. You must pass a health and safety test to qualify for this scheme.

What Does It Take?

You need to have:

• a safety conscious attitude


• good hand skills and good hand to eye coordination


• maths skills to calculate the amount of asphalt needed for a job


• a good head for heights.

• work neatly and carefully


• enjoy working out of doors


• work as part of a team.

Training

With on-the-job and off-the-job training, you would work towards a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) in Roofing Occupations (Construction) at Levels 2 and 3 and Level 2 Applied Waterproof Membranes (Construction) (Built Up Bituminous Roofing).

Getting On

• With experience, in a large firm, you could move into a supervisory job.
• You could become self-employed, doing contract work.
• You might find work abroad.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:

• where you work


• the size of the company or organisation you work for


• the demand for the job.

More Information

Most construction employees find it very satisfying to know that they have helped build something that might well last for generations.

• Around 10% of women make up the UK construction workforce and the industry is encouraging more women to join.
• The construction industry predicts that about 37,000 new entrants a year will be recruited in each of the next 4 years, excluding new entrant trainees.
• There should be more construction jobs coming to Glasgow with the preparations for the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

Addresses

The following organisation(s) may be able to provide further information.