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How exposed to AI is a Roofer?

Of the 28 tasks O*NET lists for roofers, 0 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 28 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Commercial RooferIndustrial RooferMetal Roofing MechanicResidential RooferRoof MechanicRoof Service TechnicianRooferRoofing TechnicianSheet Metal Roofer
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
28
tasks rated for this occupation
7%
hold a degree, from a survey of 24
130k
people do this job in the US
57 of 61
least protected in construction

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Cannot be sped up

28
  • Inspect problem roofs to determine the best repair procedures
  • Remove snow, water, or debris from roofs prior to applying roofing materials
  • Set up scaffolding to provide safe access to roofs
  • Estimate materials and labor required to complete roofing jobs
  • Cement or nail flashing strips of metal or shingle over joints to make them watertight
  • Install partially overlapping layers of material over roof insulation surfaces, using chalk lines, gauges on shingling hatchets, or lines on shingles
  • Cut felt, shingles, or strips of flashing to fit angles formed by walls, vents, or intersecting roof surfaces
  • Apply plastic coatings, membranes, fiberglass, or felt over sloped roofs before applying shingles
  • Install, repair, or replace single-ply roofing systems, using waterproof sheet materials such as modified plastics, elastomeric, or other asphaltic compositions
  • Attach roofing paper to roofs in overlapping strips to form bases for other materials
  • Cover roofs or exterior walls of structures with slate, asphalt, aluminum, wood, gravel, gypsum, or related materials, using brushes, knives, punches, hammers, or other tools
  • Waterproof or damp-proof walls, floors, roofs, foundations, or basements by painting or spraying surfaces with waterproof coatings or by attaching waterproofing membranes to surfaces
  • Apply reflective roof coatings, such as special paints or single-ply roofing sheets, to existing roofs to reduce solar heat absorption
  • Apply alternate layers of hot asphalt or tar and roofing paper to roofs
  • Install vapor barriers or layers of insulation on flat roofs
  • Cover exposed nailheads with roofing cement or caulking to prevent water leakage or rust
  • Smooth rough spots to prepare surfaces for waterproofing, using hammers, chisels, or rubbing bricks
  • Glaze top layers to make a smooth finish or embed gravel in the bitumen for rough surfaces
  • Mop or pour hot asphalt or tar onto roof bases
  • Install attic ventilation systems, such as turbine vents, gable or ridge vents, or conventional or solar-powered exhaust fans
  • Install skylights on roofs to increase natural light inside structures or to reduce energy costs
  • Apply gravel or pebbles over top layers of roofs, using rakes or stiff-bristled brooms
  • Install solar roofing systems that have energy-collecting photovoltaic panels built into roofing membranes, shingles, or tiles
  • Spray roofs, sidings, or walls to bind, seal, insulate, or soundproof sections of structures, using spray guns, air compressors, or heaters
  • Attach solar panels to existing roofs, according to specifications and without damaging roofing materials or the structural integrity of buildings
  • Punch holes in slate, tile, terra cotta, or wooden shingles, using punches and hammers
  • Apply modular soil- and plant-containing grids over existing roof membranes to create green roofs
  • Install layers of vegetation-based green roofs, including protective membranes, drainage, aeration, water retention and filter layers, soil substrates, irrigation materials, and plants
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.