Hands on-roofing and bricklaying

We all need to have a roof over our head and four walls to protect us from the elements but how many of us actually have the skills to do this ourselves?

Integral to any new building is the ability to build the walls and finally put the roof on. These two areas are distinct skills each with their own expertise and skill base. Roofers will work with many different materials on roofs ranging from commercial to residential. There are two types of roof - flat and pitched (sloped). Most commercial, industrial, and apartment buildings have flat or slightly sloping roofs. Most houses have pitched roofs. Roofers can work on both types, or specialise. However, what they will all have in common is the fact you will be working at heights.

Roof slaters and tilers lay new roofs and also replace broken slates and tiles on existing roofs. They lay slates and tiles in horizontal rows, working from the bottom of the roof to the top and cutting tiles to fit corners and gable ends. Built-up felt roofing involves putting layers of felt on top of each other. Roofers measure and cut materials to fit, and use a blowlamp to melt bitumen on the back of the felt as it is laid. You may finish off the roof with fibre cement tiles, slabs or granite chips.

Lead sheet is used as a weatherproof shield for flashing weatherings. It can be used on houses as well as unusual shapes such as spires. Some roofers also waterproof and damp-proof masonry and concrete walls and floors. You will hammer and chisel away rough spots, or remove them with a rubbing brick, before applying a coat of liquid waterproofing compound. You may also paint or spray surfaces, or attach waterproofing membrane.

Bricklaying is an altogether different skill, but no less physical. Bricklayers build the interior and exterior walls of buildings, as well as other types of walls such as the linings of tunnels. You may also repair existing walls and refurbish old buildings. Bricklayers use different grades of standard and special bricks and materials such as mortar, firebricks, blocks and patterned blocks for work such as ornamental walls or archways.

Building a wall is a skilled job. On larger sites, designers and engineers set out the positioning of the walls. The bricklayer's job is then to cut bricks using hammers, chisels or portable power tools and complete the wall ensuring it is straight and level using lines and spirit levels. On smaller jobs you may have to carry your own bricks, mix the mortar and erect scaffolding. You might lay several hundred bricks a day in a team of bricklayers working on different sections of a building at the same time. Self-employed bricklayers often work additional hours, especially when first becoming established.

Bricklayers are needed for new construction work and to carry out maintenance and repair on buildings. They may work for:

• private householders, re-pointing walls or adding extensions
• building or mechanical engineering services contractors
• public sector bodies such as local authorities
• specialist contractors in the marine, chemical and gas industries
• contractors abroad

Bricklayers and roofers usually work on building sites. Much of the work is outside, in all weathers, as well as in noisy, dusty, dirty or wet areas. A lot of building work takes place at high levels so they need to climb ladders and work from scaffolding. The work involves a lot of standing, kneeling and movement, often using heavy tools or carrying loads of bricks and mortar.

Getting up to NVQ level 3 is a must if you wish to become fully and professionally qualified, but a determined service leaver can achieve an NVQ level 2 within a relatively condensed period. The NVQ can only be achieved when in employment, so the first step for the unskilled would be to undertake relevant training prior to entering the industry which covers the theory elements of the NVQ. An essential part of your training should be in building a portfolio of evidence, which will be a document to which you will add to through your career and act as one of your best marketing tools to show off your capabilities. A company specialising in the adult re-training market for the construction trades, such as Step to Training, will offer a six week course covering the key competencies for the NVQ level 2. Alternatively, you could do a taster course to see if it is a skill for you. However, you need to be aware that to get on-site a CSCS card will be essential and this can be obtained by enrolling on an NVQ programme, usually with your local college.

A typical NVQ level 1 trainee in roofing or bricklaying would earn £14,500 while fully qualified professionals earn in the region of £21,000 upwards. However, some employers pay much more and there may also be bonuses and overtime pay. There are national rates for travelling time, travel expenses and the cost of accommodation, but these can also vary. Both roofers and bricklayers travel from site to site, working on a project and then moving on to the next one. They may also have to work away from home for short or long periods. The skills they both require are:

• practical ability
• good fitness
• to be agile and active
• the ability to plan jobs in advance and carry out tasks in the right order
• to understand drawings and plans
• to follow written or spoken instructions
• a head for heights
• team-working skills

The employment opportunities to an extent mirror the new build construction industry which is presently good and with the number of new projects coming on line over the next decade, such as the housing for the 2012 Olympics, should remain strong.

About the author:
Philip Sykes is a focused individual who had the foresight to set up a company focusing on adult learners and career changers. With the barrier to entry for adults, Philip developed some of the first intense programmes for adults to enter the construction industry. Since our inception in April 2003, Step to Training has been the market leader in training for adult career changers wanting to get into the building trades. As a passionate, proactive and dynamic organisation we offer intense training courses to give adults the skills to get into the construction industry. www.steptotraining.co.uk

Step to Training (UK) Ltd
Lodge House
15 Gosditch Street
Cirencester
Gloucestershire
GL7 2AG
0845 257 1797 (phone)
07092 125 566 (fax)
Training Mature Career Changers
Building New Careers
www.steptotraining.co.uk