Carpet fitter or floor layer
Go into people's homes and offices to lay and fix floors. Prepare the floors and measure, cut and fix carpets, vinyl tiles and wooden floors.
About the job
What it's like
You would go into people’s homes and to commercial buildings to lay and fix the floors. Depending on your job, you’d prepare the floors and measure, cut and fix carpets, vinyl tiles and wooden floors.
Carpet fitters install the floor coverings. Floor layers prepare or fit the floor base and sometimes install the coverings.
You would go to people’s homes, speak with them about what kind of floor they’d like to have. You’d advise them about the best options and how much it will cost.
You’d measure the space and estimate the quantity of materials you’ll need for the project, whether it’s carpet, vinyl tiles or sheet lino, laminate flooring or solid timber.
You would:
Move the furniture out of the room and take off doors
Remove the old flooring
Clean, level and seal the bare floor, using compound if required
Depending on what type of floor you are fitting you would:
Cut it to the required size and shape
Glue or nail floor coverings into place
Stretch carpet over spiked gripper rods and tape or heat-seal it
Spray or wax the floor covering to give it a protective coating
Once you’d finished you’d move the furniture back into the room. You might also need to cut a strip off the doors so they fit over the new floor before you re-hang them.
If you do commercial work, you’d normally fit larger floor areas. You’d work in places like shops, offices, hotels, pubs, schools and hospitals. You’d use a range of materials including specialist materials like welded sheet or safety flooring.
You’d co-ordinate your work with the manager or the main contractor for the project and you would need to work alongside other people on the site.
You would:
Remove old flooring
Clean, level and prepare the subfloor, using smoothing compounds if required
Glue or nail floor coverings into place
Lay large areas of carpet, making sure it is fully fixed
Use fast-track flooring systems such as resin or concrete, to quickly install floors
You might use different products together at the same location to create walkways and features on the floor.
Hours
You would normally work between 35 and 40 hours a week. As a commercial fitter. you may have to work evenings and weekends to limit the disruption to a client's business.
Environment
The job is physically demanding, and you would spend much of your time kneeling down, lifting and carrying heavy flooring materials, and moving furniture.You may come into contact with chemical adhesives and sprays, which must be handled safely.
Travel
You could be working at several different locations every week.
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Top skills
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It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- time management
- managing resources
- implementing ideas
- developing a plan
- attention to detail
- observation
- working with numbers
- verbal communication
Your skills are important
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Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Practical Craft Skills
Entry is through a Modern Apprenticeship leading to relevant work-based experience and qualifications such as a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Floorcovering Occupations (SVQ Level 2/3) or industry accreditation from the Flooring Industry Training Association (FITA).
There are no formal qualifications required to enter this apprenticeship but some employers may ask for qualifications at SCQF level 4/5.
You usually need to pass an aptitude test to enter this role.
Qualifications that show an understanding of the industry and practical ability such as Skills for Work Construction (SCQF level 4/5).
A driving licence can be useful.
You must hold a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to work and train on construction sites. You will also need to pass a health and safety test and have an Scottish Vocational Certificate.
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