Floor Layer

Floor layers work with many different flooring materials such as textile carpets, waterproof vinyls and timber flooring. It is important to choose the right material for the job. Floor layers might put hardwearing carpet in an office entrance or tough rubber covering in an industrial area, or use coverings that someone else has chosen. They:

• first prepare the surface, ensuring it is clean, level and dry
• secure the chosen floor covering into position and cut using specialist scissors or knives, or use saws for timber flooring
• usually follow a plan, diagram or written instructions to lay the covering correctly
• need to measure the area carefully to avoid wasting expensive materials.

They can specialise in one area, such as carpet laying, or work with a wider range of materials and on different projects.

Floor layers usually work the standard number of hours, Monday to Friday, with overtime at weekends or in the evenings. They usually work indoors in homes, offices, shops, hospitals and other buildings. A lot of time is spent bending, kneeling or crouching, and the work can involve carrying heavy or awkward materials. The work can also involve a lot of travelling.

Salaries may range from around £10,000 to £12,500 when starting out. This could rise to £30,000 a year with experience.

Floor layers need:

• good hand skills for cutting and laying coverings
• a careful, methodical and accurate approach
• to be interested in interior design.

There are currently around 44,000 people employed in the floor laying industry. Flooring contractors are usually small businesses, but there are some larger firms employing greater numbers of staff.

It is possible to find work as a trainee floor layer straight from school. Young people can train through an Apprenticeship in construction for which it may be useful to have some GCSEs, particularly in maths, English, a science and design and technology. The Diploma in construction and the built environment may also be relevant for this area of work.

Most training is on the job under the supervision of an experienced floor layer. There may be opportunities to work towards NVQs in floor covering. Apprenticeships offer a structured training programme and the Flooring Industry Training Association runs short courses in the laying of specific materials.

Floor layers can progress to supervisory levels or contract management positions. They can also move into more specialised areas of work, such as estimating. With experience, it is possible to become self-employed. There may also be opportunities to work abroad on contract.

Further details