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Floor Finisher Make IT - Qualifications

Occupation Description

Floor finishers and coverers install and repair floor coverings such as carpet, vinyl, rubber, cork, parquetry and timber flooring in domestic, commercial and industrial buildings.

A floor finisher and coverer may…

ensure that 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

sand, stain and finish a variety of timber floors

Floor finishers and coverers may specialise as…

Hard Floor-Timber Finishers who lay and finish timber, cork and parquetry floors in mosaic and block patterns. They also sand, stain and apply finished coatings to timber floors.

Resilient Layers who lay and finish vinyl, linoleum and rubber in either sheet or tile form. They may lay these materials on bench tops and walls as well as floors.

Textile Layer (also known as Carpet Layer) who fasten the edges and seams of the carpet, then stretch and fix it along walls and borders, using gripper strips.

Many floor finishers and coverers set up their own businesses and work as subcontractors to retailers or floor covering firms.

Personal Requirements

You should

Be physically fit

enjoy practical work

have good hand-eye coordination

possess normal colour vision

not be allergic to certain solvents and other chemicals used

Environment

Floor finishers and coverers usually work in small teams. Conditions can be dusty, and the work involves a lot of bending, stretching, kneeling and carrying. Floor finishers and coverers have a high level of contact with the public, retailers, builders and other tradespeople. Some experienced floor finishers and coverers establish their own businesses. Business success in floor finishing and covering , like all enterprises, depends as much on sales skills and customer service as on craft skills, and therefore some business skills training might be of benefit. There can also be considerable costs involved.

Training

You can sometimes work as a floor finishing and covering worker without undertaking any formal training or qualifications however some employers will prefer that you do. To work as a floor finishing and covering worker you will usually require a Certificate II in Floor Covering and Finishing.

With experience, and possibly some further training, floor finishing and covering worker s can become a floor covering and finishing tradesperson. This will usually require a Certificate III in Floor Covering and Finishing.

Of course you can work at even higher levels within this occupation and sector, and with further training and experience you can continue to progress along a career pathway that could see you move into occupations such as design or production supervisor ( Certificate IV in Furnishing Technology or a Diploma of Furnishing Technology ) and even end up in a senior management position.

Certificate II in Floor Covering and Finishing
Certificate III in Floor Covering and Finishing

Earnings, Job and Employment Prospects

For detailed information about earnings, job and employment prospects for this occupation, go to the Australian JobSearch Careers page and click on Job Outlook .

Printed Resources

The INFOSHEET PDFs provide information about the Manufacturing Industry and its various sectors and occupations. To view and print these documents click RESOURCES (you will need to have Adobe Reader ® installed).

Where Can I Go From This Job?

To find out more about potential Manufacturing career possibilities click PATHWAYS.



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