What Does Work Look Like As A Floor Layer?

If you’re thinking about a change of career or maybe are coming out of school and want to look at your options then becoming a floor layer might be on your list of job choices. But before you dive in, it’s only natural to want to know more about the job and so you’ve probably asked the question: what does work look like as a floor layer?

Being a floor layer involves a lot of different tasks each day which include but are not limited to measuring, ordering materials, removing old flooring, working with underlay and installing the final flooring products. 

People looking to get into this job may wonder what a day in the life of a floor layer looks like and what they might be able to earn. In this guide, we will be telling you everything you need to know. 

A Day In The Life Of A Floor Layer

Generally speaking, as a floor layer, you would go into commercial and residential buildings to lay floors as well as fixing problems with existing ones. It would depend on the type of job you were doing that day but on the whole, you might expect to prepare floors for installation, measure areas, cut and install all types of flooring including wood, vinyl and carpets. 

While there are people who specifically work as a carpet fitter, floor layers have a much greater responsibility in that they will prepare the area to be carpeted beforehand. Not only this but they have a much greater responsibility to the customer, speaking to them about the kind of floor they would like and offering advice surrounding what options they have as well as cost. 

You would also be responsible for measuring the area and estimating how much materials you would need as well as the cost of these. When all of this is complete, a floor layer would be responsible for moving furniture and other equipment out of the room as well as removing doors and any old flooring that may be present. 

You would then need to clean the floor surface and make sure it is level as well as sealing it. After this, you can move on to installing the new flooring and the way you do this would depend on the type of flooring you were working with. But it might include the following tasks:

• Cutting materials to the desired size
• Gluing or nailing floor coverings to the surface
• Stretching carpet over grip rods
• Applying protective coatings to floor coverings.

What Skills Do I Need?

To become a successful floor layer, there are certain skills that you will need to have. For example, you must be able to pay good attention to detail and do a thorough job. Moreover, floor layers may be required to work both as part of a team and on their own using their initiative.

Since you will be working closely with clients, you must have excellent customer service skills and good communication. You should also be able to remain calm when things get stressful and use your problem solving skills where needed. A good knowledge of maths and basic computer use is also helpful. 

As well as all of this, floor laying is a physically demanding job so you will need a good level of fitness and coordination. 

How Much Can I Earn As A Floor Layer?

The good thing about becoming a floor layer is that there is good scope to earn a comfortable wage. While you may start off on only around £17,000, most floor layers will go on to earn an average of £30,000 per year. Of course, this will depend on the area in which you live, your level of skill and whether you work for an employer or as a self-employed person. 

How Can I Become A Floor Layer

There are several ways that you can get your foot in the door to become a floor layer but most people will either take an apprenticeship or do on the job training. It’s important to explore your options and see which will work best for you.

It’s important to keep in mind that if you intend on working on a construction site, you may need to obtain a Construction Skills Certification Scheme which you can apply for online.

If you decide to attend college to earn your qualifications then you will need to start with either a Level 1 in Flooring Operation or Basic Construction Skills or you might choose an NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Floorcovering.

In order to do this, you will usually need at least 2 GCSEs in grades 3 to 1 or 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3.

If you don’t like the idea of spending a lot of time in the classroom, you could complete an apprenticeship. You will still have to attend college or a similar setting for a small part of the time but most of the work will be done on site. You’ll still need at least 2 grade 9 to 4 GCSEs and must be over the age of 16. 

Moreover, when doing an apprenticeship, you will be paid which is a great way to earn while you study. Especially since you will be required to complete at least 30 hours a week which takes up a lot of your time. 

Finally, it is possible to apply for a job as a floor layer and be given training by your employer. Some companies will also offer work experience which is unpaid but gives you exposure to the kind of work you’ll be doing, experience and something good to put on your CV. 

Related Article: What Goes Underneath Laminate Flooring

Conclusion

Being a floor layer requires something with a keen eye for detail and who is physically fit. You’ll be working with a variety of different flooring materials and may find yourself in both commercial and domestic settings. 

Getting into the job can be done through various routes including an apprenticeship, college or work experience. Once established, a good floor layer can stand to earn up to £30,000 a year.