RoofersA leaky roof can damage ceilings, walls, and furnishings. To protect buildings and their contents from water damage, roofers repair and install roofs made of tar or asphalt and gravel; rubber or thermoplastic; metal; or shingles made of asphalt, slate, fiberglass, wood, tile, or other material. Repair and reroofing—replacing old roofs on existing buildings—provide many job opportunities for these workers. Roofers also may waterproof foundation walls and floors. There are two types of roofs—flat and pitched (sloped). Most commercial, industrial, and apartment buildings have flat or slightly sloping roofs. Most houses have pitched roofs. Some roofers work on both types; others specialize. Most flat roofs are covered with several layers of materials. Roofers first put a layer of insulation on the roof deck. Over the insulation, they then spread a coat of molten bitumen, a tarlike substance. Next, they install partially overlapping layers of roofing felt—a fabric saturated in bitumen—over the surface. Roofers use a mop to spread hot bitumen over the surface and under the next layer. This seals the seams and makes the surface watertight. Roofers repeat these steps to build up the desired number of layers, called �plies.� The top layer either is glazed to make a smooth finish or has gravel embedded in the hot bitumen to create a rough surface. An increasing number of flat roofs are covered with a single-ply membrane of waterproof rubber or thermoplastic compounds. Roofers roll these sheets over the roof�s insulation and seal the seams. Adhesive, mechanical fasteners, or stone ballast hold the sheets in place. The building must be of sufficient strength to hold the ballast. Most residential roofs are covered with shingles. To apply shingles, roofers first lay, cut, and tack 3-foot strips of roofing felt lengthwise over the entire roof. Then, starting from the bottom edge, they staple or nail overlapping rows of shingles to the roof. Workers measure and cut the felt and shingles to fit intersecting roof surfaces and to fit around vent pipes and chimneys. Wherever two roof surfaces intersect, or shingles reach a vent pipe or chimney, roofers cement or nail flashing-strips of metal or shingle over the joints to make them watertight. Finally, roofers cover exposed nailheads with roofing cement or caulking to prevent water leakage. Roofers who use tile, metal shingles, or shakes follow a similar process. Some roofers also waterproof and dampproof masonry and concrete walls and floors. To prepare surfaces for waterproofing, they hammer and chisel away rough spots, or remove them with a rubbing brick, before applying a coat of liquid waterproofing compound. They also may paint or spray surfaces with a waterproofing material, or attach waterproofing membrane to surfaces. When dampproofing, they usually spray a bitumen-based coating on interior or exterior surfaces. Related news articles Valley man claims roofer ripped him off - Oct 13, 2006 WAFF,Charles Tudor needed a new roof on his A-frame house. He contracted with Champion Roofing in Somerville but says he didn't check the company's reputation. ... Roofer tells his side of roofing controversy - Oct 12, 2006 WAFF,An update on a story we first told you about Monday night on WAFF 48 News at 6:00. A contractor, accused of botching a job, says ... Long Island Roofer Sentenced in Workers' Comp Case - Oct 10, 2006 Insurance Journal,A Long Island, NY business owner has been sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty to attempted violation of the workers' compensation law, and ... Roofer charged in brutal murder case - Oct 6, 2006 Inside Bay Area,...police said. Stefanson, a roofer, was arrested Tuesday night after a high-speed car chase through Oakland and Hayward. He remains ... Roofer hits head on rock in fall, not seriously injured - Oct 6, 2006 Eagle Tribune,...rock. The man, a 36-year-old roofer for Haverhill-based Lambert Roofing Co., was flown by helicopter to a Boston hospital. Ronnie ... Repair job turns into roofer madness - Oct 1, 2006 Contra Costa Times,THE IDEA of easy living during summer vacations -- sun and boozy barbecues -- usually dissipates as quickly as the moisture on your swimming trunks during the ... Source: Wife Might Plead Guilty In Roofer's Death - Sep 20, 2006 Channel Cincinnati.com,She'd called 911 in May 2005 and claimed a stranger had broken into their rural Campbell County home and shot the well-known roofer while he was sleeping. ... Roofer in critical condition - Sep 25, 2006 The Jersey Journal,By GREG HANLON. A Bayonne roofer who suffered a horrific workplace injury is in critical condition at the St. Barnabas Medical Center's ... Burned roofer is still in critical condition - Sep 26, 2006 The Jersey Journal,The Bayonne roofer who suffered tar burns on more than 40 percent of his body in a workplace accident Friday remains in critical condition at the St. ... Roofer needs blood - Sep 29, 2006 The Jersey Journal,By RONALD LEIR. The family of a Bayonne roofer who was badly burned by tar last Friday is asking the public to give blood two weeks from today. St. ... Madigan files suit against Frankfort roofer - Sep 18, 2006 Joliet Herald News,By Clare Walters. Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit last month against Jason Norris individually and doing business as ... Scottsdale remodeler, roofer Sunvek files for bankruptcy - Sep 23, 2006 KVOA.com,SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. One of the best known home remodeling and roofing companies in metropolitan Phoenix has filed for bankruptcy protection and closed its doors. ... Roofer filing for Chapter 11 reorganization - Sep 23, 2006 AZ Central.com,SCOTTSDALE - Sunvek, one of the Valley's biggest names in residential remodeling and roofing, abruptly filed for reorganization in US Bankruptcy Court this week ... Roofer injured in Stony Point - Sep 27, 2006 The Journal News.com,STONY POINT — A 42-year-old worker fell off a roof yesterday morning and was taken by helicopter to the Westchester Medical Center. ... Roofer suspected of raping newlywed - Oct 2, 2006 KHOU (subscription),AP. SHREVEPORT, La. -- A roofer suspected of raping a newlywed woman after tying up her husband at their Shreveport apartment has been captured in Texas. ... Inspired by post-storm horror, Lafayette roofer designs attic ... - Sep 24, 2006 2TheAdvocate,LAFAYETTE — While repairing roofs on homes in New Orleans, Lafayette roofer Don Savely imagined the terror residents felt as rising water cornered them into ... Roofer hurt in fall from ladder in Edgerton - Sep 15, 2006 Janesville Gazette,EDGERTON-A helicopter was called this morning to Edgerton Hospital and Health Services to pick up a roofer who fell off a ladder on Washington Street. ... Roofer falls, sues - Sep 21, 2006 West Virginia Record,CHARLESTON - A Cross Lanes roofer says a customer did not provide him a safe working environment, and he suffered brain trauma as a result of the subsequent ... State probe focuses on Orlando roofer - Oct 14, 2006 Orlando Sentinel,...in South Florida. "This is a public-service announcement," began the recorded phone solicitation from the roofer. "Project HOPE, a ... More information on Roofers from The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook Overview of Roofers occupation Number of Roofers in the U.S. Salary and earnings for Roofers Working conditions for Roofers Significant points for Roofers Training requirements for Roofers Labor Information Home | Occupational data by city | Search Rainforests | Madagascar | What's new |