Floor and Carpet Layers

Career summary

#match with wois 4276, checked 2/24/15 lh

Floor and carpet layers install different products. Their methods are different but they share many similar tasks. Floor and carpet layers first measure the room and plan the layout. They consider traffic patterns and where to place seams. They inspect the surface of the floor. If it has imperfections that might show through, they patch holes or replace worn subflooring.

The next step is to cut and install either carpet padding or foundation material. These materials provide cushioning and soundproofing. They also prevent excessive wear to the floor covering. Floor and carpet layers roll out, measure, and mark the floor covering. They cut the floor covering, allowing a few extra inches for the final fitting.

Floor and carpet layers have several tasks that are unique to the floor covering they install.

Carpet layers

Carpet layers nail tack strips to hold the carpet in place near walls and thresholds. They join carpet seams by sewing, or by using heat-tape and a carpet iron. Carpet layers stretch the carpet with a knee kicker tool and cut off the excess. They use a power stretcher to hook the carpet to the tack strips along walls and thresholds. They finish the carpet edges with a wall trimmer. They also install metal treads or thresholds at doorways. In special areas, such as stairways, carpet layers may use staples or other methods to install carpet. In commercial buildings, they often use special glues.

Floor layers

Floor layers install floor coverings such as linoleum, rubber, or soft tile. They measure and mark chalk lines on floor surfaces so they can align the pattern of the floor covering with the room's walls. Floor layers apply cement to the floor. They roll and press the sheet floor covering into the cement so the surface is smooth. They join sections of flooring by overlapping it and cutting through both sections to form tight joints. They remove the excess cement and clean finished surfaces.

Related careers

This career is part of the Architecture and Construction cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Bricklayers and Stonemasons
• Carpenters
• Cement Masons
• Construction Helpers
• Drywall Installers
• Floor Sanding Machine Operators
• General Construction Workers
• Glaziers
• Tile Setters
• Welders and Solderers

Military careers

• Construction Specialists

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to floor and carpet layers.

• Move furniture or appliances and remove old floor covering.
• Inspect floor surface and correct imperfections that might show through covering.
• Measure area and plan layout, considering traffic patterns and seam placement.
• Cut and install padding or foundation material, using staples or adhesives.
• Roll out, measure, and mark floor covering.
• Cut floor covering, allowing a few inches extra for final fitting.
• Nail tack strips to hold carpet in place near walls and thresholds.
• Join carpet seams by sewing or using heat-tape and carpet iron.
• Use “knee kicker” to stretch carpet. Use power stretcher to hook carpet to tack strips.
• Finish carpet edges with wall trimmer and fasten metal treads at doorways.
• May use staples to attach carpets to stairs. May use glue in commercial buildings.
• Measure and mark guidelines on floor surfaces to align floor-covering patterns.
• Apply cement, then roll and press sheet floor covering into cement base to finish surface.
• Join sections by overlapping material and cutting through both sections to form tight joints.
• Remove excess cement to clean finished surface.

Common work activities

Floor and carpet layers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Handle and move objects
• Get information needed to do the job
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Schedule work and activities
• Process information
• Think creatively
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Control machines and processes
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Perform for or work with the public
• Coordinate the work and activities of others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, floor and carpet layers:

Interpersonal relationships

• Communicate daily by telephone and in-person.
• Have a medium level of social contact. They deal directly with customers when installing flooring but often are by themselves for long periods of time.
• Are responsible for the work done by assistants.
• Are somewhat responsible for the health and safety of others, especially during installation.
• Often work as part of a team of installers.

Physical work conditions

• Nearly always work indoors. Depending on the location, the temperature may not be controlled.
• Are often exposed to contaminants, such as adhesives.
• Are sometimes exposed to hazardous equipment and situations that may produce minor cuts.
• Are sometimes exposed to cramped work spaces that require getting into awkward positions.
• Travel to and from work sites in a vehicle such as a truck or van.
• Work physically close to other installers.
• May be exposed to loud or distracting sounds or noise levels when using equipment.
• May wear safety equipment, such as masks.

Work performance

• Must be sure that all details are done and their work is exact. Errors could cost the company money in wasted materials.
• Make decisions that affect the final appearance of flooring on a daily basis. They rarely consult another before deciding a course of action.
• Set most of their daily tasks and goals without talking to a supervisor first.
• Repeat the same physical activities.
• Must meet strict daily and weekly deadlines.

Hours/travel

• Usually work regular business hours. Overtime may be necessary for especially difficult jobs.
• May work evenings and weekends when laying floors in stores or offices.

Physical demands

Floor and carpet layers frequently:

• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Kneel, stoop, crouch, or crawl.
• Bend or twist their body.
• Repeat the same movements.

It is important for floor and carpet layers to be able to:

• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Understand the speech of another person.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for floor and carpet layers to be able to:

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Move arms and legs quickly.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.

Skills and abilities

Floor and carpet layers need to:

Communicate

• Understand spoken information.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Listen to others and ask questions.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.

Work with people

• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.

Perceive and visualize

• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Apprenticeship Programs
• Construction Trades

Other programs of study to consider

• Building Construction Technology
• Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations

Training

To work as a floor and carpet layer, you typically need to:

• complete on-the-job training.

Education after high school

No formal education is required for this job. However, many employers prefer that you have a high school diploma or its equivalent.

On-the-job training

Most floor and carpet layers receive informal on-the-job training from an experienced worker. During training, you learn simple tasks, such as tacking down strips. As you gain experience, you learn to measure and cut floor coverings. On-the-job training may last up to one month for carpet layers. Training may last up to one year for floor layers.

Washington apprenticeships

In Washington, although there are no formal educational requirements for this occupation, about 75 percent of the jobs require a three-year apprenticeship training. Entry requirements vary, but most apprentices must:

• be at least 18 years old;
• have a high school diploma or equivalent equivalent;
• be able to read, write, and speak English;
• have the physical strength to do the job;
• have a valid state driver's license; and
• reliable transportation to job sites.

Most workers are subject to random drug tests.

For further information on apprenticeships in Washington, contact:

Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
Apprenticeship Program 
PO Box 44530
Olympia, WA 98504-4530
360.902.5320

#Checked apprenticeship info 4/19/16, 4/2/18 cj. 2/26/19 lh

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Blueprint Reading
• Carpentry
• Construction
• Driver Education
• Physical Education

Many floor and carpet layers are self-employed. If you want to run your own business some day, you should consider taking these courses as well:

• Accounting
• Entrepreneurship
• Introduction to Business

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers prefer to hire helpers or apprentices who are at least 18 years old. They should also have good manual dexterity and be in good physical condition. Many employers prefer applicants who have a high school diploma or equivalent. Some employers require a driver's license and a criminal background check. Math skills and shop experience are also helpful.

Some employers prefer applicants to have their own set of hand tools.

Tips

Floor and carpet layers should keep up to date on new products and installation methods. A neat physical appearance and pleasant manner are important for working in clients' homes. Getting into an approved apprenticeship program is important.

Costs to workers

Workers may have to supply their own tools and transportation. Workers who join a union must pay an initiation fee and quarterly dues.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Carpet Installers 
• Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

The minimum wage for Washington State as of January 1, 2020 is $13.50 per hour. Some areas of the state may have a higher minimum wage.

Apprentices and other trainees usually start out earning about half of what an experienced worker earns. Their wages increase as they advance through the training program.

Carpet layers are paid either by the hour or by the number of yards of carpet they install. Wages vary depending on the area of the country. Wages also vary based on whether the floor and carpet layer is a member of a union. Union workers usually receive higher wages.

Full-time floor and carpet layers may receive benefits. These include paid vacation, sick leave, and health insurance. Self-employed layers must provide their own insurance.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

About 28% of floor and carpet layers are self-employed.

Major employers:

• Floor and carpet installation contractors
• Home furnishing stores
• Home and office construction companies

National outlook

Demand for this occupation is growing as fast as average as the construction industry continues to grow. Because floors and carpets do not wear out quickly, most of the demand for these workers is related to new construction. Currently, interest in home remodeling is growing and contributing to the demand for floor and carpet layers.

Job openings will occur as current workers leave this occupation. The demanding physical nature of this occupation keeps many people from entering it. As a result, job opportunities for floor and carpet layers should be good since there will be few applicants for new jobs.

Other resources

Certified Floor Covering Installers 
12201 West 88th Street
Lenexa, KS 66215
816.231.4646

Finishing Trades Institute Northwest 

North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU) 
815 16th ST, NW, Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20006

Resilient Floor Covering Institute 
115 Broad Street, Suite 201
LaGrange, GA 30240
706.882.3833

The Carpet and Rug Institute 
100 South Hamilton Street
Dalton, GA 30720
706.278.3176

Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council 
906 Columbia Street SW, Suite 107
Olympia, WA 98501
360.357.6778

References

Career cluster

• Architecture and Construction

Career path

• Realistic (Technical)

O*Net  occupations

• Carpet Installers (47-2041.00) 
• Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles (47-2042.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed.

DOT occupations

• Carpet Layer (864.381-010) 
• Floor Layer (864.481-010) 
• Floor-covering Layer (622.381-026) 
• Floor-layer Apprentice (864.481-014) 
• Soft-tile Setter (861.381-034) 

Holland occupational clusters

• Realistic/Conventional/Investigative
• Realistic/Enterprising/Conventional

COPSystem

• Technology Skilled