Roofer Nils Scharf – HAZET industry story

We offer the complete range of services of a roofing company. In addition, we also design, manufacture and renovate wall cladding. Some people don't realise that roofers don't just work on the roof.

I first studied to teach sports science and German language and literature at grammar schools. I promised myself I would pursue a sporty profession with a lot of variety - but that career path could not offer me that. Since I like working with different materials, the career as a roofer is ideal for me. I'm physically active, have direct contact to customers and, as a master roofer, also do commercial work.

If you are reliable, hard-working and physically fit, you have almost already met all the prerequisites. A secondary school diploma is not crucial, but those from the field of academics who fancy a change can also have a successful career in this trade. And, of course, you can't be afraid of heights

Yes, being a roofer is actually one of the most dangerous professions there is. Only working as a scaffolder is more dangerous. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for roofers to have to take early retirement or become physically unable to work. That's why the "safety first" principle applies to us in particular. The health and well-being of our employees is very important to us. In eight years, there have been no serious accidents, only minor cuts.

Meeting at the warehouse at 7 o'clock in the morning, we load our vans with the materials we are taking to the construction site. On site, we work in 2-3 teams made up of 2-4 workers each. The master roofer then tells the team who is doing what. After the morning's work, the teams spend their lunch break together. At the end of the day, the teams drive back to the warehouse. And then? We call it a day and look forward to a hard earned break after a busy day on the job.

The focus of our work has changed enormously. In the last 4 years, energy-saving measures have accounted for about 80% of our work. Air-tightness on roofs has been a major part of that. Overall, the industry has come leaps and bounds technically and has also become more professional. For a roof to be signed off by a surveyor, it must comply with more and more criteria.

There is little new construction work in the Ruhr area and the Bergisches Land, but there is no shortage of roofs that are in poor condition. Roof renovations therefore make up the bulk of our work. Slate work is typical for the Bergisches Land. We like to add a modern and dynamic twist to this classic roof tile and make it our own.

At the end of the day, you get to see the fruits of your labour. It's just a great feeling to see 2,000 tiles on top a roof that you put there. But without a doubt, the best part is seeing it all once you've taken down the scaffolding. The before-and-after comparison makes it clear what you have achieved. It always gives you goose bumps.

I am always impressed that HAZET comes up with optimal solutions for our industry and consistently offers the highest quality. There is still the odd roofing tool missing from the product portfolio, but at the speed at which HAZET innovates, I am confident that it is just a matter of time before HAZET brings out a fitting solution for this as well.