Question 1

Walk me through how you'd reroof a standard asphalt shingle house.

Accepted Answer

It's the fastest way to tell a real roofer from someone who has carried bundles once. The order of the steps shows whether you understand why each layer is there. Start with setting up: tarps over the landscaping, the dump trailer placed, anchors set and everyone tied off Tear off down to the deck, pull nails and check for soft or rotted sheathing to replace Install drip edge, ice and water shield at eaves and valleys, then synthetic underlayment Run starter strip, then shingle courses with the right nail placement and exposure, working flashing in as you go Finish with ridge vent and ridge cap, then run the magnet and walk the yard

Question 2

How do you tie off on a steep roof?

Accepted Answer

Falls are the thing that ends careers and companies. They want to hear that you do it without being reminded, and that you know the gear. Install the roof anchor into a rafter or truss per the manufacturer's instructions, not just the sheathing Put on and inspect your fall-arrest gear, then connect the rope grab and lanyard Keep your line adjusted so a slip doesn't turn into a long fall Mention roof brackets and toe boards on steeper pitches

Question 3

How would you flash around a chimney?

Accepted Answer

Leaks almost always start at flashing, and chimneys are where sloppy work shows. This question separates helpers from installers. Apron flashing at the low side, then step flashing woven in with each shingle course up the sides Counter flashing cut into the mortar joint and sealed, covering the step flashing A cricket or saddle on the high side for wider chimneys, so water doesn't pool behind it Say you don't rely on caulk or roof cement as the main defense

Question 4

Have you worked on flat or low-slope roofs? Which systems?

Accepted Answer

Commercial contractors need to know whether you can weld TPO, glue EPDM or torch modified bitumen, because each takes different training and gear. Name the actual membranes you've installed and on what kind of buildings Mention the tools: hot air welder, seam probe, rollers, adhesive, or torch Be honest about what you've only watched versus what you've done yourself Say you're willing to learn the systems you haven't used

Question 5

You pull up the old shingles and find soft, rotted decking. What do you do?

Accepted Answer

On residential jobs, rotten wood changes the price. They want to know you'll stop and tell the foreman instead of shingling over it or tearing out half the roof on your own. Stop and show the foreman or lead before cutting anything out Mark the damaged area so it can be photographed for the homeowner and the office Cut back to solid rafters and replace sheathing with matching thickness once it's approved Note that the crew needs to keep the opening covered if weather is coming

Question 6

What do you do when a storm rolls in halfway through a tear-off?

Accepted Answer

An open roof in the rain can flood a house and cost the company a claim. They want someone who thinks about the homeowner's ceiling, not just their own safety. Watch the forecast in the morning and only tear off what the crew can dry in that day When it turns, get underlayment or tarps down over any open deck fast Get off the roof when there's lightning or wind, even if it's not finished Check inside the house or the attic afterward if the owner allows it

Question 7

How do you keep a homeowner's yard and driveway safe during a job?

Accepted Answer

Residential companies live on reviews and referrals. A nail in a tire or a crushed flower bed can undo a good roof. Tarps and plywood over plants, windows and the air conditioning unit Keep debris going straight into the trailer or dumpster, not thrown into the yard Run a magnet sweep over the lawn and driveway before the crew leaves each day and again when the job wraps Be polite to the homeowner and send questions to the foreman

Question 8

Can you be at the yard early, and do you have reliable transportation?

Accepted Answer

Crews leave together before sunrise in summer. One person missing can hold up a truck or leave a crew short on a tear-off. Give a straight yes, and say how you'll get there Mention a backup plan if your car breaks down Say you understand that weather sometimes changes the schedule the night before

Question 9

Tell me about a time you disagreed with how a foreman wanted something done.

Accepted Answer

Crews work close together in heat and under pressure. They want to know you'll speak up about safety or quality without starting a fight on the roof. Pick a real, specific example, like nail placement or skipping ice and water shield Explain that you raised it privately and briefly Say what happened and that you did it the foreman's way if it wasn't a safety or leak issue Show that you still respect the chain of command

Question 10

Which tools do you own, and which are you comfortable running?

Accepted Answer

It tells them how much setup you'll need and how serious you are about the trade. List your hand tools: hammer, hook-blade knife, tin snips, flat bar, chalk line, tape Name the power tools you've run: coil roofing nailer, compressor, circular saw Mention anything specialized, like a hot air welder or a seamer Say you keep your tools in working shape

Question 11

How do you deal with working in serious heat?

Accepted Answer

Heat illness is common on roofs and it takes out workers without warning. They want to know you'll take it seriously and not become the emergency. Drinking water all day, starting before the shift Taking short breaks in shade, and wearing light clothing that covers your skin Knowing the early signs, like dizziness, cramps or stopping sweating, in yourself and others Telling the foreman when something feels off instead of pushing through

Roofer interview questions and how to answer them

The 8 questions you will almost certainly get

A forgettable answer, and a better one

"Walk me through how you'd reroof a standard asphalt shingle house."

"How do you tie off on a steep roof?"

Questions to ask them

Need more Roofer interviews to prep for?

The question	What they want to know	Your angle
Walk me through how you'd reroof a standard asphalt shingle house.	It's the fastest way to tell a real roofer from someone who has carried bundles once. The order of the steps shows whether you understand why each layer is there.	Start with setting up: tarps over the landscaping, the dump trailer placed, anchors set and everyone tied off
How do you tie off on a steep roof?	Falls are the thing that ends careers and companies. They want to hear that you do it without being reminded, and that you know the gear.	Install the roof anchor into a rafter or truss per the manufacturer's instructions, not just the sheathing
How would you flash around a chimney?	Leaks almost always start at flashing, and chimneys are where sloppy work shows. This question separates helpers from installers.	Apron flashing at the low side, then step flashing woven in with each shingle course up the sides
Have you worked on flat or low-slope roofs? Which systems?	Commercial contractors need to know whether you can weld TPO, glue EPDM or torch modified bitumen, because each takes different training and gear.	Name the actual membranes you've installed and on what kind of buildings
You pull up the old shingles and find soft, rotted decking. What do you do?	On residential jobs, rotten wood changes the price. They want to know you'll stop and tell the foreman instead of shingling over it or tearing out half the roof on your own.	Stop and show the foreman or lead before cutting anything out
What do you do when a storm rolls in halfway through a tear-off?	An open roof in the rain can flood a house and cost the company a claim. They want someone who thinks about the homeowner's ceiling, not just their own safety.	Watch the forecast in the morning and only tear off what the crew can dry in that day
How do you keep a homeowner's yard and driveway safe during a job?	Residential companies live on reviews and referrals. A nail in a tire or a crushed flower bed can undo a good roof.	Tarps and plywood over plants, windows and the air conditioning unit
Can you be at the yard early, and do you have reliable transportation?	Crews leave together before sunrise in summer. One person missing can hold up a truck or leave a crew short on a tear-off.	Give a straight yes, and say how you'll get there