A felt roofer puts several layers of felt, bonded together with bitumen, onto a flat roof to keep the building watertight.

The Work

You could be:

• removing old roofing material
• measuring the area to work out how much new material you need, preparing and cleaning the surface
• fitting insulation board before fixing the felt
• unrolling, measuring and cutting the reinforced roofing felt
• fitting the first layer of felt, bonding or nailing it over the roof timbers
• securing more layers by pouring melted bitumen on to surface
• using knives, brushes, spreaders, hammers and blowtorches to fix the felt securely
• checking that joints in the felt are sealed.

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.

As of June 2023 the Building and Allied Trades Joint Industrial Council (BATJIC) recommends the following rates for a 2-year apprenticeship based on a 39-hour week are:

Year 1 – £237.46 (£6.09 an hour)
Year 2 – £316.02 (£8.10 an hour).

Please note these rates may vary if the Apprentice is 21 years old or over and has completed the first year of their apprenticeship. National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) will apply.

With experience you might earn around £400 to £700 a week or more. You can earn extra through overtime and bonus payments.

Conditions

• You work outdoors in all weathers.
• You climb on ladders and scaffolding and working at heights.
• The working day begins early and varies according to hours of daylight with occasional lay-offs in winter.
• You often work overtime in the evenings and at weekends.
• You might have to travel a lot and spend some time away from home.
• You have to wear a hard hat and other protective gear.

Getting In

• The normal entry route is through a Modern Apprenticeship with an employer.
• You do not always need formal qualifications, but some employers ask for subjects at National 4 or 5 including English, Maths and a science or technological subject.
• You could study the Foundation Apprenticeship in Construction (SCQF Level 4 or 5) in S3-S6, which can help to get into a relevant Modern Apprenticeship. 
• You usually have to sit an aptitude test as part of the application process.
• A driving licence is useful and may be necessary.
• You must hold a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to work on a site. You must pass a health and safety test to qualify for this scheme.

Look for jobs with building contractors or roofing contractors.

Job Outlook Scotland

Job Outlook Scotland and UK

  Scotland

2022

1945

0.1 %

FALL

2027

1944

  United Kingdom

2022

17735

2.5 %

RISE

2027

18175

LMI data powered by EMSI UK

What Does it Take?

You need to have:

• a good head for heights and a good sense of balance
• an awareness of health and safety regulations
• good practical skills
• a methodical approach
• good numeracy skills to calculate the amount of materials needed.

You need to be able to:

• understand and follow drawings or plans
• work as part of a team.

Training

• Training during an apprenticeship is mainly on the job with off the job training at college.
• You would work towards SVQ Waterproof Membrane Roofing Systems (Construction) (Reinforced Bitumen Membrane Roofing) at SCQF Level 5.

Getting On

• With experience, you can move on to a supervisory post.
• You might move into management.
• You might become self-employed and set up your own roofing company.

More Information

For more information please see the organisations listed below:

• Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) 
• Scottish Building Apprenticeship and Training Council (SBATC)

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.