How to hire a roofer: metal sheets, tiles, waterproofing membrane
The roofing material decides the specialist
Metal tile sheets and profiled sheeting are fixed on battens over waterproofing and vapour barriers, and here fixings and drainage matter. Bitumen shingles need a solid base, usually of OSB or moisture-resistant plywood, and neat work at the overlaps. Standing-seam roofs and flat roofs with PVC or TPO membranes need special techniques and tools. A craftsman who is good with profiled sheeting may not cope with a membrane, so name the material.
What to include in the vacancy
- Roofing material — metal tile sheets, profiled sheeting, bitumen shingles, standing seam, membrane, cement sheets.
- Type of work — new roof, replacement, repair, rafter system, insulation, gutters.
- Volume — roof area in square feet, for example 2,700 sq ft.
- Type of site — private house, apartment block, industrial or flat commercial roof.
- Pay — per square foot, for example R 5.93 per sq ft, per day or per site.
- Address — city and area.
- Type of employment — season, one site, long stints away from home.
- Work at height — training for work at height and safety equipment.
- Accommodation and experience — whether you provide a place to stay, and the material the candidate must have worked with.
Example request
“A crew of roofers is needed near Johannesburg to put on a new roof for a private house, about 2,700 sq ft. Metal sheets on ready battens, plus gutters. Pay R 5.93 per sq ft, paid after each stage is handed over. At least 2 years' experience, safety harness, accommodation provided during the work.”
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
You write your request once. It is checked for ads and contact details, and you are prompted to add details. Roofers in your area reply in the chat: who is in the crew, what experience they have, their rate and when they can start. BlaBlaPrice shows the strongest replies first, and candidates' reviews are visible next to them. Your phone number stays hidden, and you pay nothing for the search. More on the page “How it works”.
Season and safety
Before you start looking, measure the roof: the area depends not only on length but also on the slope and the complexity of the joints, and the amount of material and labour depends on it.
Roofing crews are busiest in the dry months before and after the rainy season, so search early, especially if you need a specific date. A roof must never be left open in the rain: agree that every stage is closed in on the day of work or covered with sheeting. Height needs protection, so ask whether the crew has the equipment.
Also discuss what the price covers: removing the old covering, carting away rubbish, lifting the material onto the roof. For helpers on the ground look for a general labourer, and for finishing the walls after the work a facade worker.
If you are looking for work
Register as a service provider on BlaBlaPrice, choose the category and your area, and you will receive vacancies for roofers. For other trades see the section “Construction / finishing works”.
