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Building trades

Roofer

Couvreur

Builds, repairs, and weatherproofs roofs using tiles, slates, metal flashings, membranes, and safe access equipment.

Advantages

  • The job produces visible results that protect the whole building.
  • Roofers work with different coverings, shapes, and renovation projects.
  • The trade mixes precision, outdoor work, and technical installation.
  • Good roofing skills are useful in both new construction and repair work.
  • The work often develops strong safety habits and practical judgment.

Disadvantages

  • The job is physically demanding and often done at height.
  • Rain, wind, heat, and cold can slow the work or create risks.
  • Careless details can quickly cause leaks and serious damage.
  • Lifting coverings and working on slopes can be tiring.
  • Safety equipment and careful movement are required at all times.

Tools

Main tools used in this job

Each card shows the English term, the French term, and one visual reference to help students recognize the item more easily.

Hammer

Roofing hammer

Marteau de couvreur

Cuts, fixes, and adjusts some tiles or slates during roof work.

Photo: Flominator · CC BY-SA 3.0

Slate ripper

Slate ripper

Arrache-ardoise

Removes damaged slates during repair without opening the whole roof area.

Chalk line

Chalk line

Cordeau traceur

Marks straight layout lines before fixing battens or coverings.

Photo: MH / Sonett72 · Public domain

Snips

Tin snips

Cisaille a tole

Cuts zinc, flashing, and thin sheet metal used on roofs.

Photo: Twotonetoo · CC BY-SA 4.0

Nibbler

Nibbler

Grignoteuse

Cuts sheet metal cleanly for zinc work, gutters, and flashings.

Photo: Hydrargyrum · Public domain

Soldering iron

Soldering iron

Fer a souder zinc

Assembles and seals some zinc roof details and rainwater parts.

Photo: Santhosh Notagar99 · CC BY 4.0

Harness

Safety harness

Harnais antichute

Protects the roofer during work at height on sloping roofs.

Photo: NIOSH · Public domain

Roof ladder

Roof ladder

Echelle de toit

Helps move safely on the roof while keeping stable support.

Photo: Paul Sableman · CC BY 2.0

Materials

Main materials used in this job

Materials are shown with the same bilingual format so the learner can connect the right object, name, and usage.

Roof tile

Clay roof tile

Tuile en terre cuite

Traditional covering used on many pitched roofs in housing projects.

Slate

Slate

Ardoise

Flat natural roof covering used for durable and neat finishes.

Zinc

Zinc sheet

Zinc de couverture

Sheet metal used for some roofs, flashings, and waterproof junctions.

Underlayment

Underlayment

Ecran sous-toiture

Secondary protective layer installed under the roof covering.

Batten

Roof batten

Liteau

Wood strip used to support roof tiles or slates at regular spacing.

Flashing

Flashing

Solin

Metal waterproof detail around walls, chimneys, and roof penetrations.

Gutter

Zinc gutter

Gouttiere en zinc

Collects rainwater and sends it toward downpipes.

Ridge cap

Ridge cap

Tuile faitiere

Protects and finishes the ridge line at the top of a tiled roof.

Membrane

Roofing membrane

Membrane d etancheite toiture

Improves waterproof performance on some roof systems and flat details.

Mortar

Chimney flashing mortar

Mortier de solin

Supports some sealing details around chimneys and masonry junctions.