UK Roof Craft is supported by passionate industry sponsors who help to fund the competition. This enables us to organise the event and all the logistics involved.
The four competition categories are as follows:
Competitors are tasked with displaying skills and ability using natural slate to complete roof rigs. Cut and dressed slate details will be included in the competition, with a combination of tasks to showcase talent.
Competitors will use tiles to complete roof rigs, combining accuracy, attention to detail and presentation to display ability in roof tiling. Some mortar work will also be included in the set-up.
Competitors should expect to demonstrate understanding and knowledge in the leadwork discipline, with combinations of bossing and welding techniques, working towards completing a small roof rig with various elements.
Competitors will be given various tasks to complete using zinc, copper and other metals on a roofing rig with a variety of details and technical applications.
During the two-day heat round you will have your own roofing rig. This will be a small but detailed roofing rig with several technical features. You will be given a list of materials and all the tools you will need to complete the tasks. You are welcome to bring your own tools too. You will then be given eight hours on day one, and eight hours on day two to complete the work. A competition examiner will be present but will leave you to complete each stage of the work before examining and marking that stage. You will then be able to continue with the next stage.
At the finals you will be given 16 hours to complete your roof rig.
The rig will differ from the heat round set-up and tasks and features will be unique from the heat round you completed. Once again, you will be given a list of materials on the day and a task sheet, featuring the details and features which need to be completed in the allotted time. However, this time there will be no stage marking from our judges, who will instead take notes and mark work during the whole 16 hours. As in the heat rounds, tools will be provided but you are also welcome to bring your own personal tools.
Registration will be open from 3rd January 2022 until 3rd May 2022. The heat rounds will begin in 8th March 2022 and run until 8th July 2022.
Once you register, you will be sent a UK Roof Craft competition pack, including lots of useful information about the competition. These will include hints and tips from the judges on what they will expect to see, a list of areas which will be included on the competition roof rig and advice on how to use your time correctly to complete the tasks in good time.
The heat round will be a two-day assessment at the NCTS/Master Roofers Training Academies. Participants will book a two-day slot at one of the centres and you will be allocated a date to attend the heat round.
Competitors may have to arrange overnight accommodation; local accommodation options and travel information will all be included in your competition pack.
A competition examiner will take notes throughout your heat stage and tally up your scores based on factors like neatness, attention to detail, accuracy with measuring, etc.
At the end of the heat rounds in July, all of the completion examiners’ score sheets will be checked and the four highest scoring competitors from each category will be invited to attend the final of UK Roof Craft 2022.
The UK Roof Craft finals will be held in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire during October 2022 (dates to be confirmed). This will be a five-day event with trade stalls, visitors from the industry and also from schools and colleges.
There will also be roofing-related seminars and demonstrations for people to get involved in.
Architects, specifiers and industry professionals are welcome to attend the event which will offer free admission.
Visitors will need to pre-register for the event here
Finalists from all categories and classes will meet at this finals event, with eight separate competition awards to be won.
Finalists will compete alongside each other on four roofing rigs over 16 hours. These competition hours will run on consecutive days, typically comprising two days of eight hours each.
As a finalist, your accommodation will be taken care of and you will also be provided with refreshments during your time at the finals. Finalists will be announced at the end of the week with a prize-giving ceremony to follow at the Master Roofers Awards in 2023.
Entrants must be 18 years of age or above with a minimum of two years’ experience for under-25s, and a minimum of three years’ experience for over 25s.
Entrants must have a good understanding of roofing techniques. Areas which are essential are:
Setting out and measuring batten gauges
Correct marking and cutting slates with slate knife, break iron and other hand tools
Marking valley, verge and hip details
Physically healthy and able to lift up to 25kg
Minimum two years’ experience with natural slate: Open Class
Minimum three years’ experience with natural slate: Masters Class.
Setting out and measuring batten gauges
Correct marking and cutting tiles with nibblers, hand tools and electric tools
Marking valley, verge and hip details
Ability to work with mortars and trowel
Physically healthy and able to lift up to 25kg
Minimum two years’ experience with tiles: Open Class.
Minimum three years’ experience with tiles: Masters Class.
Setting out and measuring with a good knowledge of regulations
The ability to weld lead neatly and without defects
The ability to boss lead, for instance roll ends
Physically healthy and able to lift up to 25kg
Minimum two years’ experience with lead welding, and bossing: Open Class
Minimum three years’ experience with lead welding and bossing: Masters Class.
Setting out and measuring materials and details
A good knowledge of hard metal details like seams, joints and roof details
The ability to solder zinc and copper neatly and without defects
Minimum two years’ experience with hard metals: Open Class
Minimum three years’ experience with hard metals: Masters Class.