AL Roofing Contractor study guide
AL Roofing Contractor · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Alabama Roofing Contractor License Examination is the assessment used by Alabama's licensing authority for roofing contractors and roofing subcontractors seeking state certification. It is intended for people who will run or qualify a roofing business - estimating, contracting, supervising crews, and answering to inspectors and homeowners - not just for installers who want a credential. The AL Roofing Contractor study guide has 10 sections and about 2,709 words.
01Roofing Materials and Systems
Start by being able to classify systems by slope : low-slope (generally under 3:12) uses membrane or built-up systems - modified bitumen, EPDM, TPO, PVC, and BUR - while steep-slope uses asphalt shingles, clay/concrete tile, wood shakes, metal, and synthetic. Questions love to test the minimum slope at which a product may be applied without special detailing, and the underlayment requirement that changes with slope.
289 words, about 1 min02Roofing Installation and Application Practices
Installation questions test whether you know the order of operations and the fastening pattern . For steep-slope, that means eave protection first, then underlayment, then flashing, then field material, working from the eave upward and from the rake inward.
285 words, about 1 min03Roof Deck, Underlayment, Flashing, and Waterproofing
The deck is the foundation. Know minimum thickness and span ratings for wood sheathing (e.g., 15/32 in.
304 words, about 2 min04Structural and Framing Fundamentals
Roofers must understand dead load (weight of materials), live load (snow, wind, maintenance), and deflection limits . Know that adding tile or a second layer of shingles increases dead load and may exceed the design capacity of the framing.
301 words, about 2 min05Estimating, Plans, and Specifications
Estimating starts with reading the plans : roof plan, elevations, sections, and the general notes that specify materials, slopes, and code references. Know how to compute roof area from the footprint using the slope factor (roof area = footprint area × slope factor).
250 words, about 1 min06Business Organization, Licensing, and Contracting
Know the business entity types - sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, corporation - and their liability and tax implications. An LLC limits personal liability but does not shield against personal negligence or unlicensed activity.
265 words, about 1 min07Contracts, Liability, and Consumer Protection
Know the difference between express warranties (written or stated) and implied warranties (workmanlike performance, habitability). Know that limitation-of-liability clauses cannot override statutory consumer protections in many states.
236 words, about 1 min08Safety and Occupational Hazards
Falls are the leading cause of roofing fatalities. Know fall protection triggers - generally 6 ft in construction (verify the current OSHA standard and any state plan) - and the systems: guardrails, safety nets, personal fall arrest (harness, lanyard, anchor), and warning lines for low-slope.
269 words, about 1 min09Codes, Standards, and Regulatory Compliance
Know the hierarchy : model codes (e.g., International Residential Code, International Building Code) are adopted by jurisdictions, often with local amendments . Manufacturer instructions are typically required to be followed by code.
253 words, about 1 min10Financial Management, Taxes, and Payroll
Know the three financial statements - income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement - and how they differ. Know job costing : direct costs (materials, labor, subs) vs.
257 words, about 1 min