Understand the job before learning the words
Use this page in order: discover the main missions, remember the professional qualities, practise the useful sentences, then open the tools and materials.
Building trades
Roofer
Couvreur
Builds, repairs, and weatherproofs roofs using tiles, slates, metal flashings, membranes, and safe access equipment.
01
MAIN MISSIONS
What does this professional do?
- Prepare the work area
- Check measurements and plans
- Carry out the main operation
- Control quality
- Clean and report
02
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
What qualities are important?
03
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Where can this job be done?
⌖ Workshop⌖ Construction site⌖ Customer premises
SPEAK ON SITE
Useful sentences for this job
Read the English sentence aloud, then check the French meaning.
Vérifiez les mesures avant de commencer.
La zone de travail est maintenant sécurisée.
Advantages 5 points
- 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 5 points
- 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 8 items
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 10 items
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.