Floor Finisher
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Carpet Layer

Related Job or Working with these Jobs


Service or Persuading
Practical or MechanicalSkill Level 2

Floor finishers and coverers install and repair floor coverings such as carpet, vinyl, rubber, cork, FutureGrowthModerate parquetry and timber flooring. They may specialise as hard floor finishers, textile layers or resilient layers.

ANZSCO description: 3321: Measures, cuts, installs and repairs soft and resilient floor coverings. Registration or licensing may be required.

Alternative names: Floor Coverer

Specialisations:

  • Carpet Layer: A carpet layer fastens the edges and seams of the carpet, then stretches and fixes it along walls and borders, using gripper strips.
      
  • Hard Floor Finisher: A hard floor finisher lays and finishes timber, cork and parquetry floors in mosaic and block patterns. They also sand, stain and apply finished coatings to timber floors.
       
  • Resilient Layer: A resilient layer specialises in laying and finishing vinyl, linoleum and rubber in sheet or tile form. They may lay these materials on bench tops and walls as well as floors.

Carpet Samples



Knowledge, skills and attributes

Relevant knowledge, skills and attributes include:

  • good mathematics and problem solving
  • the ability to determine the most appropriate equipment to undertake the task
  • good communication skills.
  • You'll need to enjoy dealing with people as it's a job that involves contact with the public, as well as builders, retailers and other tradespeople.

Duties and Tasks

Floor finishers and coverers may perform the following tasks: Installing Hardwood Floor

  • make sure floors are firm, dry and clean, and repair minor defects before laying coverings
  • measure areas to be covered, and estimate and order quantities of floor coverings
  • fix underlays of hardboard sheets, rubber or felt
  • lay covering materials over the floor, match patterns, cut shapes around fixtures and trim edges
  • fix floor coverings and fit edge trims in doorways
  • preparing surfaces for covering and removing baseboard trims
  • laying, fitting and securing coverings, such as carpets, linoleum, parquetry blocks, cork tiles and other flooring materials
  • sanding, staining and applying finishing coatings to timber floors
  • may also install wall, ceiling, counter and bench coverings.

Working conditions

Floor finishers generally work indoors in small teams. The majority of these tradespeople are employed in the construction industry. A number of positions exist in the retail trade; however, a large number are self-employed and work as sub-contractors. Typically, floor finishers work a 40-hour week with some overtime required to meet construction deadlines.

Conditions can be dusty and because the work requires a great deal of kneeling, twisting and lifting of heavy carpets and furniture, there is some risk of knee and back injury. Risks can be significantly reduced through the use of correct lifting techniques.

Tools and technologies

Depending on the specific task or specialist area, floor finishers will use a variety of tools and technologies, such as sanders, abraders, staplers, hammers, knives, knee kickers, seaming cutters, seam irons, wall trimmers, safety glasses, knee pads and hammer tackers.

Education and training/entrance requirements

To become a floor finisher, you usually need to complete an apprenticeship. The floorcovering apprenticeship takes 36 months to complete and is available as a school-based apprenticeship.

Refinishing floor

 

Did You Know?

Australian Carpet Classification Scheme (ACCS)

ACCS


The yellow and blue labels identify carpets that have been graded for residential use. Residential ratings can have a maximum of six
stars.

The gold and black labels identify carpets graded for contract or commercial use. Contract ratings can have a maximum of four stars.


Some carpets will carry both Residential and Contract gradings.


ACCS


Be sure to look for the numbered ACCS label – these carpets have been tested by NATA accredited laboratories and assessed
by the ACCS Panel of carpet experts.

(Source: Carpet Institute of Australia)

 

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