Very Important Question... What's Your Favorite Part About Being A Roofer?

You get to look down on all other trades.

You don't need to do extreme sports when you're in danger daily.

Every time you shake someone's hand, they're impressed with your callouses.

You get to confirm your blood is still red on at least a weekly basis.

When it starts raining, you're the first to know.

Since your clean work clothes already have stains on them, you don't fret if something gets spilled on them.

It's really easy to exceed preconceived notions of your intelligence.

There are great answers here and they cover so much ground I doubt I could add much to them. I like it for the reasons cited, but also simply because in a life under a constant barrage of foolishness roofing will always remain inviolately elemental. To what kage said, though, about "quittin addictions" I have to say that for me roofing is an addiction.

but really...

it's nice to be in and out of a job rapidly. show up, take care of business and done and done! to have a limited tooling requirement, to have the ability to move surplus materials from job to job with little waste, bidding is very easy compared to room adds and customs, bids can be very precise, clients like that. clients are TRULY grateful when you solve a problem others failed to, the labor pool is easy to assess for competence,

and the best part...folks have NO CHOICE but to hire. when a roof gets bid most often SOMEONE will be roofing it...the question is who. with a room add or custom or a remodel, there are many bids composed by three or four (or more) contractors and NO ONE gets a gig for various reasons.

That chicks dig us because we're roofers! The big money and prestige are just gravy bonuses. it's all good!

---I like physical work...that from someone who went to college for 8 years and has a master's degree... ---I like being outdoors ---I like the variety...change of jobs, scenery, weather...views... ---I like the challenge...just hand loaded 36 squares on a job that couldn't be reached by the supplier ---I like working with my sons and others ---I don't like the paperwork, and details from being the owner of the company...Always something that needs attention ---I don't like driving all over town fighting traffic to look at/bid several jobs ---I like setting my own schedule, time off if and whenever, staying home if the weather is too uncomfortable... the freedom is priceless ---I like helping out certain people like roofing the church for free or doing work for the widows and orphans. We are set up for production with all the gear and know how. We can do a $10-20k job on a weekend if we want and charge next to nothing to help out those we want to support. I can call in the favors and get 15 guys to show up on a Saturday to volunteer. That is a real feeling of accomplishment to pull it all together and knock something out on a weekend. On the last one they sent me a $50 gift card...and a thank you note. But the enjoyment of making it happen was worth thousands to me. ---I like having access to all the tools and equipment that I can use for my own projects but would never own if I didn't have a business that bought them. ---The bottom line is I like all of the freedom I have from being an owner/operator

Lanny

Roofing is what I do, not who I'am. The short answer is I like solving a Problem, and the satisfaction of doing so.

i like being on a different job site everyday ,i like being the most important person around after a storm ,the phsyical labor ,being outside on top of the world the way it smells ,what the finish product looks like when your done (a sense of acomplishment on a regular basis )the moneys great ..and best of all roofers are always on top ,and they bang harder :P and i always have a great tan

The satisfaction of a job well done. Being self employed and the pay

The satisfaction of a job well done. Being self employed and the pay

Of course it`s the view :)

the sex.

The short and sweet... That we did it and got PAID!

I always liked the freedom I found in the trade. I started out doing a lot of piece work and side work and could pick and choose when I wanted to work. And was always paid based on how much I did. I could work 12 hour days, rap out a ton of shingles and make great money. I could take off any time I wanted and work when I needed some cash. A good roofer is never out of work for long. I always enjoyed having time off for bad weather. Also enjoyed the blood, sweat and tears and looking back at the end of the day at a job well done. Stayed in great shape and always had a great tan. I always found roofing to be a low stress job and it keeps you young. Spent many days on auto pilot, pounding squares without having to think about the work, you can let your mind wander, solve all of the worlds problems. A lot of time to figure things out. That was when I was a roofer. I no longer think of myself as a roofer, I have made the transition to roofing comtractor. Took a while to get there but I couldn't go back to roofing at this point. I still enjoy the trade though. I have more stress but still a lot of freedom as the owner. I enjoy the challenge of selling myself and getting enough work to keep my crew busy. I enjoy having a crew of great people who bust there butts for me as I do for them. I enjoy working with customers (most of them anyway)and getting their referals that keeps the phone ringing. I appreciate this trade and my business more than ever. Can't imagine how things could be better. Without this business I would probably have to be doing sales for another company. I would have to answer to someone else. I am able to make a comfortable living and although I never feel secure I know that I can always keep the doors open and I don't have to worry about losing my job. After 18 years in business I have a good name and the phone rings a lot. I just might have to call Obama and thank him for everything that I have! :laugh:

The finished product and me being able to say I did that.

The best part is that it has kept me in shape and not so old lookin...i've got friends that have office type jobs and they all look like there 20 or so yrs older then me.. :P ..they always ask how come i still look the same after all these yrs?..Roofin!! my friend.. ;) ..and quittin the addictions.. B)