A word from a craftsman – Baptiste Hémery, roofer

At 31, Baptiste is co-manager of a company specialising in roofing.
But what kind of roofing?

Slate, thatch, lead, flat tiles, zinc… and many others.

Baptiste and his teams intervene in private homes for simple repairs. But not only that! They are also available when it comes to renovations (on houses or historical monuments) or to respond to public or private calls for tender.

A roofing trade that comes from far away

Baptiste wears several hats these days – roofer, zinc worker, thatcher – but he is not the first of his generation.
This roofer actually grew up on the rooftops, and his family business has a lot to do with it, it has been operating in Bourges since 1840.

Baptiste represents the 7th generation of roofers, after his father Blaise Hémery, 55 years old, roofer at Angers roofing school, he himself representing the 6th generation. His grandfather, Hugues Hémery, Compagnon du Devoir of roofing and Best Labourer in France was born in 1936 and represents the 5th generation.

From the age of 5, Baptiste was already walking on the rooftops with his father and grandfather. Even as a child, he felt the desire to join the company.

He continued to work on the tops of all kinds of buildings during his teenage years as a seasonal worker.

After studying for an architecture and housing diploma, a civil engineering baccalaureate, a vocational and professional roofing diploma from the Compagnons du Devoir Association, as well as 3 years of participation in the Tour de France, he can now work on various historical buildings (e.g. the Basilica of Fourvière or the Donjon of the Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg).

The roofing trade? He has been officially working in it full time for 11 years now.

Work at height is made easier by Tubesca-Comabi

A roofer needs to be able to stand at heights in order to work, which is why Tubesca-Comabi products have been supporting him for over 30 years.

Foot scaffolding is the product most needed for façade and roofing work.

Baptiste uses the multidirectional range (starting elements, uprights, diagonals, stringers, guardrails, floors, brackets, anchors, stairs and storage). He also uses R200 frames and uprights for his facades.

“I like these products because the different sizes make it easy to adapt in very central sites.”

In other words, Baptiste recommends them for being easy to assemble.

His favourite product? The UNISTEP staircase!

It allows easy access for the workers and for the other people working on the site.

He demonstrates the value of this through the renovation of the roof of Bourges station, which imposes major safety and access constraints.UNISTEP was up to the task.

A passion for roofing that is reflected in the transmission of know-how

What does he like most about this job? Exchanging techniques with colleagues and other trades on the site.

And if he had to sum up the love for his business? “Passing on knowledge to apprentices”.

Moreover, when sharing knowledge, nothing is left to chance. The next generation of roofers are learning from him. He says, “roofers always do a high level of work.” and we are delighted to be setting the bar ever higher to support our users in their daily work at height.