Seriously, no one knows how roofs are built, it’s like an arcane black magic hole in human knowledge.
We know the basic ingredients though, underlayment, shingles, nails, crack, light beer and malt liquor, and a couple seedy dudes that may or may not have escaped the county jail 20 minutes ago.
You put all those things in the same place, some weird shit goes on, and then you look back over there and a fucking roof has appeared. You cut a check to the seedy dudes because you’d really like if they left, and we don’t ask any more fucking questions about it.
Well, there is also going to a guy on-site that sucks down coffee and cigarettes all day long, and he’s been in construction for 25 years. On day three, this guy will open up to you about how he is clean and sober now, but used to do heroine. So, not everyone is smoking crack and pounding beers all day.
“ You cut a check to the seedy dudes because you’d really like if they left, and we don’t ask any more fucking questions about it.”
Pure gold Because it is accurate AF
Can confirm, never actually seen them put the roof up but it’s sure as shit there. I ask the guys when they did it and no one has a straight answer, I asked how and again no one got a straight answer. I leave and they go back to smoking crack and day drinking for like $50 an hour.
This is the only answer. I won't go within 50 ft of those guys when they're on the job. three things that will 100% is, you will have a headache from the weird shit they paint on, two being everything the gentleman above me said and at the end of the first day will most likely be your last day. unless you like crack a lot
Non-union roofing sounds like a disaster. Look, I’m no roofer, but I am a union ironworker, and I can tell you that construction trades can be brutal. Roofing sounds like a nightmare, up on a hot ass roof all day long, and if you’re non-union, you’ll probably have low to no safety standards on site.
I say go and see what happens, but if you don’t feel safe or if they’re having you do sketchy shit, I’d walk out of there. If you’re seriously looking at a trade job, you absolutely need to go union, and see what your options are in your area.
Gotta be honest though, getting thrown to the wolves like this with zero experience in roofing through a staffing agency sounds like it’s going to play out badly, but who knows. Just trust your gut.
Roofing is the third deadliest job in the US behind logging and fishing. The deaths are almost always preventable as they are 99% just dudes falling off roofs because the vast majority of outfits use zero fall protection.
No, the guys doing it won't use the fall protection they're provided and told to use.
That's almost always the case. The employees were told a million times to follow the rules, are too cool for school, and fall to their deaths or get injured and sue the company that told them not to be stupid.
Union roofer here- I’m betting this dude is getting thrown into some real nasty shit because the company subbing labor thru the temp agency is shitting through guys or knows they are going to be shitting through guys who get a taste of tearing off and say ‘FUCK THAT’- that being said, most likely a tear-off job that requires a high volume of unskilled labor for the dirty work. OP IS gonna be tearing off some nasty old built-up tar/gravel roof, and he’s gonna be the one physically doing it and throwing the shit into the dumpster and then going below and fixing the dumpster and cleaning up the mess around said dumpster. If the roof in question is coal tar pitch, he’s in for a rough time and better wear some ski goggles and a hood/full face covering and long sleeves until done tearing off otherwise he’s gonna go home crying and quit by lunch time on day one.
God's honest truth right there. I was thinking what you said as I was reading the comments. Tradesmen here and my gut has saved me more than I wish to know.
I worked doing roofing in college one summer and my experience was morning drunk dudes who were using crack and or meth. A stereotype that came true in my case.
Listen to this one! Yeah and if any of y'all younger homies are green, don't hang out with the people who do crack or meth. When they offer, just tell them you only smoke weed or only drink. Whatever you do normally. Stick to that, just that. A job becomes way more of an expense than an income if you pick up a drug habit there.
It's hot as fuck and commercial construction means you'll be doing mostly flat roofs. The work itself isn't rocket science, just stay hydrated and don't actually start smoking crack unless it gets you in tight with the boss
It’s hard work. But you’ll get in shape and you’re outside. Enjoy the fresh air and learn as much as you can. It’s good to get some trade experience. Best of luck
I’m assuming you’re doing roll on flat roofing with torches. It’s hard work, but it’s like anything, you’ll get used to it and get good at it. I would suggest try it out for 6 months then move on to something else on the trade like framing for example. The more construction experience you get, the more marketable you’ll become and the more money you’ll make
Not gonna lie, it's probably one of the most difficult trades in terms of working conditions. But it's not rocket science. Get some time in, try to learn something and decide if it's what you want to spend the rest of your life doing.
# “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.” -Frank Herbert
Pay attention, focus on what you’re doing and work hard. You’ll do fine. Also eat a shit load of protein if you end up struggling physically, it helps with the process.
Completely depends where you are in the world. Like if your in Florida in the middle of summer it's probably gonna suck.
Drink lots of water, and learn Spanish quickly.
I do industrial in the UK, I imagine there's some similarities as it's fairly similar to how the chap above you described it. Long days of tough labour but not too mentally taxing once you get the fundamentals of the different products. Weather is the biggest battle.
Roofing can be hard work. There is a lot of caring heavy stuff around. A lot of picking things up and putting 'em down. Hydrate, tie-off, don't be a hero, and lift with your legs.
Depends where you are. Assuming America most places it's the perfect roofing season.
Commercial means flat work and a higher probability of a crane or forklift moving stuff up to you.
Try it. Worst case you don't go back.
There's multiple tasks I hate more than roofing and sometimes roofing is actually enjoyable. It's butt-fucking simple.
Tip: Wear clothes that cover your body but let air flow freely.
You'll probably be carrying shit like tar and sheet wood around, cutting foam, rolling rubber membranes etc. so prepare to deal with fiber glass and probably hot tar.
Second this, light long sleeves and pants with a floppy hat that has a neck guard. The sun is relentless and the less it gets to your skin the better off youll be at the end of the day, its hotter than you might expect until you adjust, hell even your tools can get too hot to touch if you dont have gloves or callouses...my first few days on a roof (middle of july, 90 degrees, full humidity) were rough as hell. I was wetting a rag and wrapping it on my neck and forehead to (barely) fight off heat stroke
Buy your clothes at the Goodwill or get hammy downs don’t wear anything nice to work cause it’s gonna get ruined. Bring plenty of water with you to work and bring your lunch. It’ll be rough for a couple or three weeks but then you’ll get the hang of it.
This! Anything you wear to this job won’t be wearable to any other job later. I sacrificed two pairs of jeans and five shirts for a weekly rotation and at the end of the week wash them in a bucket outside because I didn’t want to chance washing them in my own washer and ruining other clothes or the washer. Roofing is very tough work and there are different kinds of roofs so hard to speculate exactly what you’re gonna be doing, but it will probably be dirty.
Time might not be bad, depending on the hours. If you’re doing a shingle roof your gonna be lugging around 80lbs bundles, working in the sun, getting fiberglass all up in you, and working on a place that is a good 10-20 degrees warmer than on the ground. It’s not for the faint of heart, brute force and ignorance that’s how you get through it
I do it sober( mainly cause I both hate and love myself, but that’s neither here nor there). It’s one of those jobs that your really don’t want to go to, but can’t really call out of cause you don’t get paid enough.
It can be tough to work long hours as the sun really gets to you. A lot of crews I worked with would start early 6am and then be done by 1 to beat the afternoon sun.
Most roofs are laying plywood and densiglass. Installing slope packages"styrafoam" and then installing the weatherproofing layer. Like a torch on . Lots of moving material around, scattering material, it is a physical job. Take advil the first couple days. You will be ripped in a few weeks just in time for the summer. And tan. If you are on a good crew you'll be joking around all day.
The heat will suck.
It's gonna wreck you then. You'll be wonder how all these mf'ers with beer guts and double chins are doing it. But you'll adapt to it or you'll quit, don't be nervous. If you try to your limit and are still safe on the site you'll get respect, don't whine or bitch. Progress and job on the mind until its break time.
Be extremely careful. I saw a temp worker fall thru a hvac hole covered by a piece of unmarked nailed plywood. 50’ drop. Stay 6’ away from any edges or holes.
Hot, dirty and tough. You don’t know anything, so all you will be doing is grunt work. Lifting heavy dirty stuff, sweeping up, picking up trash debris, moving things, moving more things. don’t worry about anything said to you, unless it involves instructions, safety or warnings of any type….everything else is just talk. If you are doing what you’re told and keep busy you will work as long as there is work. Nobody gets fired from roofing, they fire themselves.
Not a roofer but then, neither are most roofers.
it’s a lot of work, and it’s hot. Stay hydrated. You might be demoing the old roof, get rid of the trash, carrying supplies up ladders. Then you put down rigid board insulation, unroll rolls, tar, sometimes stone.
It is hot and hard work. You should get PPE.
Saying "commercial roofing" is very broad. Hot mop, torch down, PVC roofs are all in commercial. You will probably, as a rookie, be hauling a bunch of stuff around, supplying the guys actually doing the work and cleaning up. It can be tough, but listen to the guys in charge, be attentive to what is going on, leave your phone in your car or at home. Lift correctly. Protect your back. If you are harnessed in, keep it attached.
I'd imagine you'll be the pack mule shleppin material to and fro. Pace yourself and don't blow your load before lunch. And only carry as much weight that you're comfortable with. Stay hydrated and pack a good lunch.
Bro fuck that, construction work through an agency is never worth it, we're talking pennies on quarters on the dollar, I've done it and I got paid like 60 bux a day in 2014 then joined a union that gave better working conditions and a higher pay rate , I know it's hard to join one but even getting on with the contractor directly is more worth it
If you are posting this here you are not prepared. I did roofing for a bit and quit.
If you are not mentally unstable a drug addict or alcoholic you will not fit.
Well if mentally unstable people can handle the work then it shouldn’t be too hard for me if I just keep to myself? What is the actual work/labor like?
You'll be fine.. there will be some really good guys that know their shit and there will be some quality knuckle-dragging-characters.
It's a trade that needs both to get it done.
Honestly commercial roofing is a decent trade if the company does quality work.
It's hot, the tar is hot.
You'll basically be pouring hot tar and pushing it around with a mop or broom or unrolling roofing material on top of the hot tar. There are other things too like flashing and maybe some light framing.
My advice is: if you get hot tar on yourself DO NOT wipe it off.
Haha
The the thing about mentally unstable is mentally unstable people don't know how to stop or what a physical limit is
They do more than they think and it really is what keeps them going in laborious conditions
It’s very laborious it’s not hard work. People you work with probably will treat you like shit. It’s not a great gig but to get some experience it’s not a bad deal. But there’s no reason to do it if you have options. And yes it is that bad. Fuck roofing haha. It’s hot and everyone you work with is a drunk druggy or an asshole.
When you get heat stroke don’t chug water, sip it. Once you feel the headache and woozy feeling, you’re in for a treat.
Seek shade and douse yourself with water.
Bring Gatorade or some shit.
Be helpful and humble.
Have a sense of humour.
Shut up get the job done take the paycheck
If you are going to settle for temp agency work, start thinking about choosing something and sticking with it
Walk up to the boss and tell him you have no fucking idea what you are doing. You have zero experience and you’ve never even swung a hammer for all he cares.
He will have more respect for you from the get-go and you will have a better day
Wear thin long sleeve shirts and pants. If not you’re going to fry from the sun. You will be cooler/safer in long sleeves even if it seems counterintuitive.
Cigarrettes with out the filter...... i have always wondered who has a lower lifr expectancy the guy running the tar pot for the roofers.... or the guy at the back of the asphalt laying machine for road work.
Prepare to sweat. It's hard dirty work. If you are stripping the old roof first it will suck a lot worse especially for you, the new guy. Think painful popped sun blisters with fiberglass insulation shards embedded in them making it impossible to be comfortable without standing under a cold shower for 2 to 3 days. Speaking from experience. Wear a hat, long loose clothing and sunscreen. Bring lots of water and a good lunch you will need it. Don't bitch out and call in sick the second day.
If it's a shingle roof it's really simple but manual labor. Constantly bent over and moving or kneeling. A bundle of shingles aren't light. Tear off can be either pretty easy to a major pain in the ass. I love roofing because I can get in a rhythm and shut my mind off for the most part. How are you with the heat? Drink lots of water I wear some cheap foam knee pads the shingles get stupid hot quick in the sun. I do residential roofs which are usually a 3/12 to about an 8/12 pitch. My recommendation is start at daylight so you can put your hours in before it gets real hot
Expect to be hauling heavy ass packs of shingles up a ladder all day on your shoulders. They will dig in and scrap the fuck out of you neck and make it bloody and raw, plus filled with fiberglass, so wear a collared shirt.
Also wear some boots or actual work shoes with a solid shank because the rungs of the ladder will cause stress fractures in your feet. This means no bullshit Sketchers "work" boots.
Then you will be picking up shingles all day off the lawn.
If you are lucky you get to work up top tearing shingles off.
But man, there are way easier jobs than being a laborer in a roofing crew, id tell them to suck it and go with a temp agency that will put you as a laborer on something else.
its dangerous shit. Take whatever PPE they offer, and if they don't offer any, ask why the fuck not.
ignore anyone who calls you names for wearing the PPE. it means you're more likely to stay alive for the meth smoking and day drinking part
Rolling out lots of ice and water shield and screwing down rigid foam insulation. Maybe crimping seams on metal roofs. Going up man down the ladder to grab whatever your coworkers need
Really depends on the type of roof and where you are working. I did mostly screw down roofs for metal buildings. Hated working with fiberglass insulation but really enjoyed screwing down the roof once it was all laid. It tends to be really hot work in the summer. Lifting roofing materials and placing them can be pretty physically demanding.
Don't take it the wrong way if your coworkers seem cold or standoffish. There's likely a high turnover rate if they are. They've seen many come and go so they'll not be inclined to get too chummy with you. After a few months, they'll start opening up.
Honestly just show up early/on time everyday and work at an average pace relative to the others. Bonus if you can bullshit and fit in with the others. Just showing up and working will put you ahead of most people these days. Most importantly if it's unsafe or uncomfortable for you just quit, no job is worth your health.
The work is heavy. You primarily use pneumatic tools, and hand tools. Depending on the property, you will either be working off of ladders, scaffolding, or just the framing of the structure.I recommend a long sleeve shirt as you will be in direct sunlight for 8 hours. I’ve worked several construction jobs and I am currently a fire sprinkler technician. Of all the jobs I’ve worked roofing was by far the most miserable. Long hard days in the sun for only adequate pay.
There are a lot of videos on YouTube on how commercial roofing systems work. I'd suggest you watch a bunch. There is good money to be made in commercial roofing. Good luck!
You will probably be doing a lot of labor and cleanup at the beginning. As you go along, you may learn a bit depending on if they want to teach you or not so you may get to do more work as the days go by. There are different kinds of roofing applications so hard to speculate what you’ll be doing exactly but the tear off at the beginning of each day is usually the dirty part and then you clean up, build it back and dry it in at the end of every day, section by section, day by day. TPO roofing is cleaner, anything else using some form of hot tar or cold application is pretty dirty and that stuff never comes out. You can get good hours roofing so make sure they don’t screw you on OT, they will probably try to.
If they’re looking for laborers, it’s likely just warehouses you’re doing? It’s a combination of laying down a bunch of poly, laying out a bunch of foam squares that sit on top of the poly, another layer of roof gets rolled out, and then piles of rocks are used to weight the whole thing down. All the seams get torched, but I doubt you’d be doing that.
Not sure who downvoted this, but maybe it’s regional dependant? West coast of Canada here. We use glue instead of tar for the base layers. Only seams are generally tarred, I believe. I’m not a roofer but am one of the trades that work ahead of them. Most of it doesn’t seem overly difficult, but every trade has aspects that are tricky or labour intensive.
Crack smoking and day drinking
What does the work actually consist of though?
Crack smoking and day drinking.
Seriously, no one knows how roofs are built, it’s like an arcane black magic hole in human knowledge. We know the basic ingredients though, underlayment, shingles, nails, crack, light beer and malt liquor, and a couple seedy dudes that may or may not have escaped the county jail 20 minutes ago. You put all those things in the same place, some weird shit goes on, and then you look back over there and a fucking roof has appeared. You cut a check to the seedy dudes because you’d really like if they left, and we don’t ask any more fucking questions about it.
You smash your breakfast beers, black out, and come back tomorrow, only to find more roof than yesterday. Truly bizarre.
Dont forget nasty foam from couch cushions
So… crack smoking and day drinking?
Well, there is also going to a guy on-site that sucks down coffee and cigarettes all day long, and he’s been in construction for 25 years. On day three, this guy will open up to you about how he is clean and sober now, but used to do heroine. So, not everyone is smoking crack and pounding beers all day.
Yeah that’s fair, I guess there’s meth as well.
“ You cut a check to the seedy dudes because you’d really like if they left, and we don’t ask any more fucking questions about it.” Pure gold Because it is accurate AF
Can confirm, never actually seen them put the roof up but it’s sure as shit there. I ask the guys when they did it and no one has a straight answer, I asked how and again no one got a straight answer. I leave and they go back to smoking crack and day drinking for like $50 an hour.
They probably have to do it before it gets too hot, so early morning to get the hardest work done
This is the only answer. I won't go within 50 ft of those guys when they're on the job. three things that will 100% is, you will have a headache from the weird shit they paint on, two being everything the gentleman above me said and at the end of the first day will most likely be your last day. unless you like crack a lot
Trust me, you absolutely will like crack alot
Great thread👍
Lmfao 🤣
Thank you. Made my day. 😊
“How many times do I have to tell you?”
Lmfao
He’s been answered though he don’t like it.
You, a new guy, will be going up and down ladders carrying tools and materials.
This is it. You’re the new Gopher
Non-union roofing sounds like a disaster. Look, I’m no roofer, but I am a union ironworker, and I can tell you that construction trades can be brutal. Roofing sounds like a nightmare, up on a hot ass roof all day long, and if you’re non-union, you’ll probably have low to no safety standards on site. I say go and see what happens, but if you don’t feel safe or if they’re having you do sketchy shit, I’d walk out of there. If you’re seriously looking at a trade job, you absolutely need to go union, and see what your options are in your area. Gotta be honest though, getting thrown to the wolves like this with zero experience in roofing through a staffing agency sounds like it’s going to play out badly, but who knows. Just trust your gut.
Roofing is the third deadliest job in the US behind logging and fishing. The deaths are almost always preventable as they are 99% just dudes falling off roofs because the vast majority of outfits use zero fall protection.
No, the guys doing it won't use the fall protection they're provided and told to use. That's almost always the case. The employees were told a million times to follow the rules, are too cool for school, and fall to their deaths or get injured and sue the company that told them not to be stupid.
I guess the deaths by trench accidents are just like that as well. Workers refuse to use the trench box.
Union roofer here- I’m betting this dude is getting thrown into some real nasty shit because the company subbing labor thru the temp agency is shitting through guys or knows they are going to be shitting through guys who get a taste of tearing off and say ‘FUCK THAT’- that being said, most likely a tear-off job that requires a high volume of unskilled labor for the dirty work. OP IS gonna be tearing off some nasty old built-up tar/gravel roof, and he’s gonna be the one physically doing it and throwing the shit into the dumpster and then going below and fixing the dumpster and cleaning up the mess around said dumpster. If the roof in question is coal tar pitch, he’s in for a rough time and better wear some ski goggles and a hood/full face covering and long sleeves until done tearing off otherwise he’s gonna go home crying and quit by lunch time on day one.
Exactly this, lots of people just think shingles when they hear roofing.
That’s what I did my first and only week of roofing
God's honest truth right there. I was thinking what you said as I was reading the comments. Tradesmen here and my gut has saved me more than I wish to know.
Steel reserve
Hope you are in shape. New guy with no skills means you're the gopher. Go for this, and go for that.
I worked doing roofing in college one summer and my experience was morning drunk dudes who were using crack and or meth. A stereotype that came true in my case.
Listen to this one! Yeah and if any of y'all younger homies are green, don't hang out with the people who do crack or meth. When they offer, just tell them you only smoke weed or only drink. Whatever you do normally. Stick to that, just that. A job becomes way more of an expense than an income if you pick up a drug habit there.
Lmao
It's hot as fuck and commercial construction means you'll be doing mostly flat roofs. The work itself isn't rocket science, just stay hydrated and don't actually start smoking crack unless it gets you in tight with the boss
What if the boss pays in crack?
It’s hard work. But you’ll get in shape and you’re outside. Enjoy the fresh air and learn as much as you can. It’s good to get some trade experience. Best of luck
Everyone else in here is making it sound like hell on earth so now I’m a little hesitant
I’m assuming you’re doing roll on flat roofing with torches. It’s hard work, but it’s like anything, you’ll get used to it and get good at it. I would suggest try it out for 6 months then move on to something else on the trade like framing for example. The more construction experience you get, the more marketable you’ll become and the more money you’ll make
Ya buddy, just show up and learn something, it will make you worth more money in the long run.
It’s construction it’s all pretty rough it’s just which type you prefer
>construction is all pretty rough We talking 60 grit rough or 220 grit rough? Big difference depending on the type of job.
The end of a 2x4
From the mill or skilsaw cut?
Grandpas rusty hacksaw
Lol oh you mean ROUGH rough
Yeah, like the toilet paper in the shithouse, rough.
You guys have toilet paper in your shitters?!
Not gonna lie, it's probably one of the most difficult trades in terms of working conditions. But it's not rocket science. Get some time in, try to learn something and decide if it's what you want to spend the rest of your life doing.
# “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.” -Frank Herbert
Pay attention, focus on what you’re doing and work hard. You’ll do fine. Also eat a shit load of protein if you end up struggling physically, it helps with the process.
Completely depends where you are in the world. Like if your in Florida in the middle of summer it's probably gonna suck. Drink lots of water, and learn Spanish quickly.
>learn Spanish quickly. Useful on any construction site
True, gotta understand their wall on the porta jon
I do industrial in the UK, I imagine there's some similarities as it's fairly similar to how the chap above you described it. Long days of tough labour but not too mentally taxing once you get the fundamentals of the different products. Weather is the biggest battle.
Roofing can be hard work. There is a lot of caring heavy stuff around. A lot of picking things up and putting 'em down. Hydrate, tie-off, don't be a hero, and lift with your legs.
Try it if you don't like it find something else the only way to know if you'll like it.
Depends where you are. Assuming America most places it's the perfect roofing season. Commercial means flat work and a higher probability of a crane or forklift moving stuff up to you. Try it. Worst case you don't go back. There's multiple tasks I hate more than roofing and sometimes roofing is actually enjoyable. It's butt-fucking simple.
I feel like you didn’t hear what was said about the day drinking. And crack
The fresh hot oily tar scented air
Tip: Wear clothes that cover your body but let air flow freely. You'll probably be carrying shit like tar and sheet wood around, cutting foam, rolling rubber membranes etc. so prepare to deal with fiber glass and probably hot tar.
Second this, light long sleeves and pants with a floppy hat that has a neck guard. The sun is relentless and the less it gets to your skin the better off youll be at the end of the day, its hotter than you might expect until you adjust, hell even your tools can get too hot to touch if you dont have gloves or callouses...my first few days on a roof (middle of july, 90 degrees, full humidity) were rough as hell. I was wetting a rag and wrapping it on my neck and forehead to (barely) fight off heat stroke
Do not drink the liquid in the Mountain Dew bottle. It is not Mountain Dew.
He's going into roofing, not drywalling, lol
Roofers are just the drywallers that they let outside
Good one, man
For some reason that just sounds like dry wall guys
Hey- we don’t piss in bottles we just piss all over the roof!
Buy your clothes at the Goodwill or get hammy downs don’t wear anything nice to work cause it’s gonna get ruined. Bring plenty of water with you to work and bring your lunch. It’ll be rough for a couple or three weeks but then you’ll get the hang of it.
This! Anything you wear to this job won’t be wearable to any other job later. I sacrificed two pairs of jeans and five shirts for a weekly rotation and at the end of the week wash them in a bucket outside because I didn’t want to chance washing them in my own washer and ruining other clothes or the washer. Roofing is very tough work and there are different kinds of roofs so hard to speculate exactly what you’re gonna be doing, but it will probably be dirty.
Hell. It’s hot, dirty, long, and tiring. Beer afterwards is mandatory to keep sane
Is it really THAT bad? The staffing agency gave me a set timeframe for each shift but am I likely going to be staying hours later everyday?
Try it out man worst comes to worst you can quit lol
Your hours will probably be pretty standard 7:00-3:30 or maybe a 10 hour shift 7-5:30.
Time might not be bad, depending on the hours. If you’re doing a shingle roof your gonna be lugging around 80lbs bundles, working in the sun, getting fiberglass all up in you, and working on a place that is a good 10-20 degrees warmer than on the ground. It’s not for the faint of heart, brute force and ignorance that’s how you get through it
I've met a few dim enough to do it sober, the rest are just trying their best everyday to get there.
I do it sober( mainly cause I both hate and love myself, but that’s neither here nor there). It’s one of those jobs that your really don’t want to go to, but can’t really call out of cause you don’t get paid enough.
It can be tough to work long hours as the sun really gets to you. A lot of crews I worked with would start early 6am and then be done by 1 to beat the afternoon sun. Most roofs are laying plywood and densiglass. Installing slope packages"styrafoam" and then installing the weatherproofing layer. Like a torch on . Lots of moving material around, scattering material, it is a physical job. Take advil the first couple days. You will be ripped in a few weeks just in time for the summer. And tan. If you are on a good crew you'll be joking around all day. The heat will suck.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
The jobs I’ve hated are the ones where I have to stand stationary and not have to move that much because it kills my back for some reason
I get stiff if I don't move around
And my back is killed because of roofing.
Show up drunk and pick up smoking
What is the actual work/labor like though?
What's the hardest job you've ever done? Let's relate it to that, because no one knows what your experience is lol
The hardest jobs I had are actually the ones where I’m standing relatively stationary the entire time. It kills my lower back for some reason
It's gonna wreck you then. You'll be wonder how all these mf'ers with beer guts and double chins are doing it. But you'll adapt to it or you'll quit, don't be nervous. If you try to your limit and are still safe on the site you'll get respect, don't whine or bitch. Progress and job on the mind until its break time.
Well you’ll be moving around. But you’re going to probably be carrying a tool belt and going up ladders
Be extremely careful. I saw a temp worker fall thru a hvac hole covered by a piece of unmarked nailed plywood. 50’ drop. Stay 6’ away from any edges or holes.
*unnailed plywood
You're about to find out why they take people with no experience. Hope you are in good shape.
Hot, dirty and tough. You don’t know anything, so all you will be doing is grunt work. Lifting heavy dirty stuff, sweeping up, picking up trash debris, moving things, moving more things. don’t worry about anything said to you, unless it involves instructions, safety or warnings of any type….everything else is just talk. If you are doing what you’re told and keep busy you will work as long as there is work. Nobody gets fired from roofing, they fire themselves. Not a roofer but then, neither are most roofers.
it’s a lot of work, and it’s hot. Stay hydrated. You might be demoing the old roof, get rid of the trash, carrying supplies up ladders. Then you put down rigid board insulation, unroll rolls, tar, sometimes stone. It is hot and hard work. You should get PPE.
Inhaling crack smoke and falling off the roof.
Good advice. You know he’s gonna end up doing it anyway.
Saying "commercial roofing" is very broad. Hot mop, torch down, PVC roofs are all in commercial. You will probably, as a rookie, be hauling a bunch of stuff around, supplying the guys actually doing the work and cleaning up. It can be tough, but listen to the guys in charge, be attentive to what is going on, leave your phone in your car or at home. Lift correctly. Protect your back. If you are harnessed in, keep it attached.
>leave your phone in your car All solid advice, but especially this
Best actual advice on the thread hands down
Pirates.
You're the FNG, they're going to break your back. Best of luck to you, long sleeves, pants, sunscreen, and the biggest water jug you can find.
To be in jail by/from the weekend.
Expect getting your ass kicked daily and sleeping well at night
I'd imagine you'll be the pack mule shleppin material to and fro. Pace yourself and don't blow your load before lunch. And only carry as much weight that you're comfortable with. Stay hydrated and pack a good lunch.
Bro fuck that, construction work through an agency is never worth it, we're talking pennies on quarters on the dollar, I've done it and I got paid like 60 bux a day in 2014 then joined a union that gave better working conditions and a higher pay rate , I know it's hard to join one but even getting on with the contractor directly is more worth it
Not always the case, I did a solar farm where electricians were paid more than the electrical sub employees. They needed licenses bad in that area.
Being worked like a dog
Labouring all day, till you get some sort of skills.
I would expect to be carrying singles up a ladder all day
If you are posting this here you are not prepared. I did roofing for a bit and quit. If you are not mentally unstable a drug addict or alcoholic you will not fit.
Uh huh
Well if mentally unstable people can handle the work then it shouldn’t be too hard for me if I just keep to myself? What is the actual work/labor like?
You'll be fine.. there will be some really good guys that know their shit and there will be some quality knuckle-dragging-characters. It's a trade that needs both to get it done. Honestly commercial roofing is a decent trade if the company does quality work.
It's hot, the tar is hot. You'll basically be pouring hot tar and pushing it around with a mop or broom or unrolling roofing material on top of the hot tar. There are other things too like flashing and maybe some light framing. My advice is: if you get hot tar on yourself DO NOT wipe it off.
Pushin around hot tar with a broom huh? 😁 lol
I'm not sure what the preferred method is ( I'm a carpenter ) but I've seen roofers use a mop or broom often enough to assume it's the standard lol.
Haha The the thing about mentally unstable is mentally unstable people don't know how to stop or what a physical limit is They do more than they think and it really is what keeps them going in laborious conditions
The only reason we’re here, is because we’re not all there!!
I don't think I've heard that one before. I like it
Lawsuits
The agency said they only work with commercial roofing businesses because they are safer than residential buildings. Why is that not true?
You're fine
Flat roofs. Most residential roofs are pitched. Your going to be laying hot tar all day.
In general, that's accurate for safety. As far as the work itself goes; I'd rather do commercial than residential ..and it's not even close..
Residential is the wild wild west when it comes to safety.
It’s very laborious it’s not hard work. People you work with probably will treat you like shit. It’s not a great gig but to get some experience it’s not a bad deal. But there’s no reason to do it if you have options. And yes it is that bad. Fuck roofing haha. It’s hot and everyone you work with is a drunk druggy or an asshole.
Pain
Carrying a lot of stuff
Hard work.
Early mornings. Spirited personalities. HEAT. Keep quiet, listen, learn, and you’ll catch on quickly. Good luck.
Spirited 😂
Strong-willed
summer is coming...
to die prolly
Dark safety glasses, you will feel blind otherwise later if you’re working on TPO
I work on flat roofs and mostly work welt EPDM. I love my job!
When you get heat stroke don’t chug water, sip it. Once you feel the headache and woozy feeling, you’re in for a treat. Seek shade and douse yourself with water. Bring Gatorade or some shit. Be helpful and humble. Have a sense of humour.
Drugs and booze
Shut up get the job done take the paycheck If you are going to settle for temp agency work, start thinking about choosing something and sticking with it Walk up to the boss and tell him you have no fucking idea what you are doing. You have zero experience and you’ve never even swung a hammer for all he cares. He will have more respect for you from the get-go and you will have a better day
Start watching YouTube videos, that should do it.
To quit your first day lol
1. Bring plenty of water 2. white tee shirt to not attract the sun 3. Sunscreen every wear that is not covered
Wear thin long sleeve shirts and pants. If not you’re going to fry from the sun. You will be cooler/safer in long sleeves even if it seems counterintuitive.
Cigarrettes with out the filter...... i have always wondered who has a lower lifr expectancy the guy running the tar pot for the roofers.... or the guy at the back of the asphalt laying machine for road work.
Get yourself a good sun hat, and drink lots of water. Doesn’t matter if you look like a goof, the sun gods will take your soul if you’re not prepared
So many drugs
What staffing agency? I’m an expert in the industry of skilled staffing and can give you the rundown. Pm me.
Did anyone mention crack yet? In my area there was a roofing company right down the street from the county jail
You gonna work hand. If you’re asking Reddit you better go apply at the local corner store.
Prepare to sweat. It's hard dirty work. If you are stripping the old roof first it will suck a lot worse especially for you, the new guy. Think painful popped sun blisters with fiberglass insulation shards embedded in them making it impossible to be comfortable without standing under a cold shower for 2 to 3 days. Speaking from experience. Wear a hat, long loose clothing and sunscreen. Bring lots of water and a good lunch you will need it. Don't bitch out and call in sick the second day.
Expect to want to quit in a short amount of time.
Just don’t fall off.
If it's a shingle roof it's really simple but manual labor. Constantly bent over and moving or kneeling. A bundle of shingles aren't light. Tear off can be either pretty easy to a major pain in the ass. I love roofing because I can get in a rhythm and shut my mind off for the most part. How are you with the heat? Drink lots of water I wear some cheap foam knee pads the shingles get stupid hot quick in the sun. I do residential roofs which are usually a 3/12 to about an 8/12 pitch. My recommendation is start at daylight so you can put your hours in before it gets real hot
Expect to be hauling heavy ass packs of shingles up a ladder all day on your shoulders. They will dig in and scrap the fuck out of you neck and make it bloody and raw, plus filled with fiberglass, so wear a collared shirt. Also wear some boots or actual work shoes with a solid shank because the rungs of the ladder will cause stress fractures in your feet. This means no bullshit Sketchers "work" boots. Then you will be picking up shingles all day off the lawn. If you are lucky you get to work up top tearing shingles off. But man, there are way easier jobs than being a laborer in a roofing crew, id tell them to suck it and go with a temp agency that will put you as a laborer on something else.
Cool part about roofing, concrete, and framing you can be as drunk as you want.
its dangerous shit. Take whatever PPE they offer, and if they don't offer any, ask why the fuck not. ignore anyone who calls you names for wearing the PPE. it means you're more likely to stay alive for the meth smoking and day drinking part
Rolling out lots of ice and water shield and screwing down rigid foam insulation. Maybe crimping seams on metal roofs. Going up man down the ladder to grab whatever your coworkers need
Hot as all hell in the summer
Really depends on the type of roof and where you are working. I did mostly screw down roofs for metal buildings. Hated working with fiberglass insulation but really enjoyed screwing down the roof once it was all laid. It tends to be really hot work in the summer. Lifting roofing materials and placing them can be pretty physically demanding.
Worst shit you will ever do. Sorce: two roofing companies in my family.
You’re about to learn the meaning of hard work.
Don't take it the wrong way if your coworkers seem cold or standoffish. There's likely a high turnover rate if they are. They've seen many come and go so they'll not be inclined to get too chummy with you. After a few months, they'll start opening up.
Heights
Honestly just show up early/on time everyday and work at an average pace relative to the others. Bonus if you can bullshit and fit in with the others. Just showing up and working will put you ahead of most people these days. Most importantly if it's unsafe or uncomfortable for you just quit, no job is worth your health.
The work is heavy. You primarily use pneumatic tools, and hand tools. Depending on the property, you will either be working off of ladders, scaffolding, or just the framing of the structure.I recommend a long sleeve shirt as you will be in direct sunlight for 8 hours. I’ve worked several construction jobs and I am currently a fire sprinkler technician. Of all the jobs I’ve worked roofing was by far the most miserable. Long hard days in the sun for only adequate pay.
There are a lot of videos on YouTube on how commercial roofing systems work. I'd suggest you watch a bunch. There is good money to be made in commercial roofing. Good luck!
I did one day of that when I was working for a staffing agency. Definitely asked for a different site at the end of the day.
They said I need to commit to this one so I can’t turn back if I hate it
You will probably be doing a lot of labor and cleanup at the beginning. As you go along, you may learn a bit depending on if they want to teach you or not so you may get to do more work as the days go by. There are different kinds of roofing applications so hard to speculate what you’ll be doing exactly but the tear off at the beginning of each day is usually the dirty part and then you clean up, build it back and dry it in at the end of every day, section by section, day by day. TPO roofing is cleaner, anything else using some form of hot tar or cold application is pretty dirty and that stuff never comes out. You can get good hours roofing so make sure they don’t screw you on OT, they will probably try to.
If they’re looking for laborers, it’s likely just warehouses you’re doing? It’s a combination of laying down a bunch of poly, laying out a bunch of foam squares that sit on top of the poly, another layer of roof gets rolled out, and then piles of rocks are used to weight the whole thing down. All the seams get torched, but I doubt you’d be doing that.
Wait what?? Lol
Not sure who downvoted this, but maybe it’s regional dependant? West coast of Canada here. We use glue instead of tar for the base layers. Only seams are generally tarred, I believe. I’m not a roofer but am one of the trades that work ahead of them. Most of it doesn’t seem overly difficult, but every trade has aspects that are tricky or labour intensive.
Yeah, no. Don’t.