Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Tin Worker (Tinsmith)

🎯 Role Definition

A Tin Worker (Tinsmith) fabricates, assembles, installs and repairs sheet metal products—such as roofing flashings, gutters, downspouts, cornices, and ductwork—using hand and powered tools, bending and forming metal to precise dimensions, soldering or welding seams, and interpreting blueprints and patterns. This role requires strong sheet metal fabrication skills, familiarity with metals like copper, lead, zinc and galvanized steel, and the ability to work safely at heights on roofing and scaffolding.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Sheet metal apprentice or trade school graduate in metal fabrication.
Roofing helper or construction laborer with sheet-metal exposure.
General fabricator or metal shop worker (sheet metal experience).

Advancement To:

Lead Tin Worker / Tinsmith Foreman
Sheet Metal Foreman or Project Supervisor
Estimator or Project Manager for roofing and sheet metal projects
Specialty Metal Fabrication Shop Manager or Small Business Owner

Lateral Moves:

Roofer / Roofing Technician
HVAC Sheet Metal Technician
Architectural Metal Fabricator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Read, interpret and verify architectural drawings, shop drawings and blueprints to determine dimensions, materials and sequencing for tin and sheet metal work, ensuring accurate takeoffs and material lists.
Layout, measure and mark metal workpieces using squares, calipers, protractors and marking tools to ensure cut lines and bend lines match job specifications and templates.
Cut, shear and notch sheet metal using hand tools and powered equipment (guillotine shears, nibblers, plasma cutters or torch) while minimizing material waste and following pattern specifications.
Form and bend metal with brakes, folder machines, slip rolls and hand tools to fabricate gutters, flashing, caps, cornices and custom architectural components to tolerance and finish requirements.
Shape and assemble seams, joints and intersections by folding, seaming, crimping, riveting or soldering to create weatherproof and structurally sound assemblies for roofs and facades.
Solder, braze and use appropriate welding techniques (e.g., oxy-acetylene soldering, brazing, and where required MIG/TIG) for copper, lead and other metals to produce leak-free joints and durable seams.
Install roof flashings, step and chimney flashing, counterflashing, drip edges and valley liners to prevent water ingress and preserve building envelope integrity.
Fabricate and install custom gutters, downspouts and leader systems, including forming elbows and miters, securing hangers, and ensuring proper slope and drainage.
Prepare and apply sealants, caulks, mastics and protective coatings to seams and finished assemblies to ensure weatherproofing and longevity of metalwork.
Perform on-site repairs and emergency service calls to patch leaks, replace damaged flashing, repair seams and restore drainage components with speed and quality.
Assemble and install prefabricated metal components, securing them to substrate using fasteners, rivets, solder or welds while coordinating with roofers, carpenters and general contractors.
Maintain tight quality control by inspecting finished work for dimensional accuracy, seam integrity, proper slope and fit, making adjustments or re-fabricating parts as required.
Select appropriate metals and gauges for each job (copper, lead-coated copper, zinc, stainless steel, galvanized steel, aluminum) based on corrosion resistance, appearance and structural requirements.
Create and use templates and patterns for repeatable fabrication, updating patterns to reflect field conditions and ensuring consistent product fit and finish.
Operate and maintain shop equipment and tools—brakes, shears, rollers, seamers, hand tools—performing routine maintenance, sharpening, and safety checks to extend tool life and prevent downtime.
Coordinate with project managers, foremen and other trades to schedule work, sequence installations and ensure on-time delivery of metal components to job sites.
Accurately estimate material needs and labor hours for small jobs, renovations and custom work, communicating material costs, lead times and installation timelines to supervisors or customers.
Ensure strict compliance with safety policies, OSHA standards and job-site protocols including fall protection, scaffold safety, proper PPE, hazardous material handling and safe operation of cutting and forming equipment.
Document work performed including jobsite measurements, change orders, material usage and time records; complete punch-list items and sign-off documentation with supervisors or clients.
Train and mentor apprentices and less experienced tinsmiths on best practices for layout, fabrication, soldering, and safe work at heights, fostering skill development and knowledge transfer.
Evaluate and recommend improvements to fabrication techniques, joint details and flashing designs to improve watertightness, reduce install time and optimize material use.

Secondary Functions

Assist project estimators and project managers with material takeoffs, cost estimating and sequencing of tin work for bidding and planning purposes.
Support inventory management by tracking commonly used gauges, fasteners, solder and sealant levels, and coordinating reorders to avoid job delays.
Participate in job-site pre-construction meetings to review interface points with roofers, carpenters and architects to minimize rework and field modifications.
Provide on-site customer communication for scheduling, access, and scope clarifications while maintaining professional client relations and documenting customer requests.
Maintain clean, organized work areas in shop and on site; load and unload materials and stage prefabricated items for efficient installation.
Contribute to continuous improvement by providing feedback on fabrication jigs, templates and shop layouts that reduce waste and speed production.
Help enforce company safety programs by conducting informal toolbox talks, reporting hazards and participating in safety audits.
Assist in custom product design and mock-up assembly for architectural metalwork, collaborating with engineers and fabricators to meet aesthetic and structural goals.
Keep accurate field measurement records and photographs that support quality control, warranty claims and as-built documentation.
Provide backup support for related trades (roofing, flashing details, basic carpentry) as needed to complete project phases on time.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficient sheet metal fabrication techniques: cutting, bending, forming, and finishing using brakes, rollers, shears and hand tools.
Skilled in soldering and brazing for copper and lead work; competent with oxy-acetylene, silver soldering and flux techniques.
Experience with rivets, pop-riveting, seaming tools, crimpers and mechanical joinery for durable metal assemblies.
Ability to read and interpret blueprints, shop drawings, architectural details and dimensioned sketches for accurate fabrication and installation.
Competence operating power tools and shop machinery: slip roll, box-and-pan brake, shear, seamer and power folder.
Knowledge of metals and coatings: copper, lead, zinc, stainless, aluminum, galvanized steel, and when to apply protective coatings or paints.
Proficient use of measurement and layout tools including levels, squares, calipers, tape measures and laser distance meters.
Competent in rooftop and scaffold installation techniques, fall protection, use of harnesses, and safe ladder practices.
Basic welding skills where required (MIG/TIG/arc) for structural attachments; ability to select appropriate welding method for metal type and thickness.
Material estimating and job costing skills: creating accurate material lists and waste factors for project planning.
Familiarity with sealants, mastics and caulking methods to produce watertight transitions and long-lasting installations.
Basic maintenance and troubleshooting of shop equipment and tools to minimize downtime.

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and a commitment to delivering weatherproof, high-quality workmanship.
Excellent problem-solving skills to adapt patterns and assemblies to field conditions and unexpected site challenges.
Clear verbal and written communication skills for coordination with contractors, foremen and customers.
Time management and organizational skills to prioritize tasks and meet project deadlines.
Teamwork and collaborative mindset to work closely with roofers, carpenters, and other trades on complex installs.
Customer-service orientation and professional demeanor when interacting with clients on-site.
Mentor and coaching ability to train apprentices and junior tinsmiths in safe, efficient fabrication.
Physical stamina, dexterity and balance for prolonged work at heights and manual fabrication tasks.
Adaptability and flexibility to handle changing job scopes and emergency repair calls.
Strong safety mindset with the ability to identify hazards and enforce safe work practices.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED; solid trade-school, vocational program or equivalent hands-on experience preferred.

Preferred Education:

Certificate or diploma in sheet metal fabrication, tinsmithing, or related trade; completion of an accredited apprenticeship program or journeyman certification.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Sheet Metal Fabrication
Welding and Metalworking
Construction Technology / Roofing Technology
Mechanical or Architectural Metals

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–7 years of progressive hands-on sheet metal and tinsmith experience; entry-level roles may accept 0–2 years with apprenticeship.

Preferred:

3–5+ years of commercial roofing/tinsmith experience for mid-level roles; 7+ years for senior tinsmith, lead or foreman positions, including documented experience with copper, lead and architectural metal systems.