| By :
Nick Messe
In the history of the world, going back to ancient times, the roof is one of the most over-looked technological marvels. One of the first types was the thatched roof. It was made of branches, straw or reeds found in the local area. Today there are slate or tile roofing and also the more modern types are metal and asphalt shingles. Roofing has changed over the years and become much more efficient and effective. Any structure with a roof is called a building, and because there are so many buildings in the world, it makes for a lot of potential jobs when those roofs need replacing. Every job that gets bid upon gives the foreman the opportunity to hire new laborers and expand their business. The foreman got the position he is in due to years of hard work and experience. All foremen got their start as a apprentice. The term apprentice is a term that basically means the person is starting to learn or is learning a trade. In this manner of teaching, the student is taught by an experienced trade person who imparts their knowledge in a hands-on manner on the job. If a person is a hard worker and has dedication and initiative, they can become a prime candidate for the apprenticeship programs that are available. Most apprenticeship programs are initiated by contacting a roofing foreman or owner. These programs can be completed in about five years by doing 5500 hours of labored training. The work can be extremely hot or cold depending on the area of the country and what time of year it is. However, the benefits can be rewarding. Some of those benefits include earning an average of sixteen dollars an hour after only six months into the apprenticeship. After a full five year apprenticeship, a individual can make more than twenty-nine dollars per hour. Once a person is ready to enter the position of journeyman they can make thirty-seven dollars per hour. On the job as a roofer, a person can have a very wide variety of jobs to complete. They can range from sheds, garages, awnings, houses, cabins, retail stores, and manufacturing plants. The roofing materials can be just as unique as the building itself. For example, the roof of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona is made of a translucent fabric and is over 200 feet above the ground. A school building roof is usually composed of slightly overlapped aluminum or steel sheets with a aluminum tar mixture for both sealing out moisture and reflecting heat. However, the most common is the typical house roof covered with asphalt shingles. Sometimes water damages the wood and causes wood rot which leads to sagging roofs and mold that can cause health hazards. With the never ending onslaught of weather, the roofers job is never done.
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