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Cold, Hard Fact
If we didn't have floor finishers to cut, install, finish and repair soft, resilient and hard floor coverings, most of us would still be walking around on cold, hard cement at home and at work. And we wouldn't have much use for the wide range of luxurious carpets, practical vinyl or linoleum, and trendy cork and timber floor finishes that are now available to us.
A floor finisher's duties involve inspecting and preparing what's known as the sub floor before it can be covered. This needs to be measured and an estimation drawn up, so that an order can be placed for the correct amount of floor covering.
As part of the preparation process, floor finishers usually install underlays of hardboard sheets, rubber or felt. This helps to ensure the durability of a floor covering. But, more importantly, it pads out floor coverings, such as carpet, making it feel nice to walk on. Once these preparatory measures have been taken care of, the floor coverings can be laid.
Unfortunately for floor finishers, not every room is the perfect open space. They may need to cut around objects such as stairs or pot belly stoves, ensuring a floor covering is the perfect fit. Securing floor coverings, fitting edge trims in doorways as well as sanding, staining and finishing timber floors are some of a floor finisher's other tasks. They may also be required to repair baseboard moulding and damaged floor covers.
Floor finishers work from plans and/or follow verbal instructions from clients and other industry tradespeople.
''You'll need to enjoy dealing with people as it's a job that involves contact with the public, as well as builders, retailers and other tradespeople,'' according to an industry representative.
It is possible for floor finishers to specialise in installing a particular type of floor covering:
*Textile layers (also known as carpet layers) fasten edges and seams, then stretch carpet and secure it along walls and borders using gripper strips;
*Resilient layers specialise in laying and finishing vinyl, linoleum and rubber in either sheet or tile form. They may also use these materials to cover bench tops and walls; and
*Hard floor finishers lay and finish timber, cork and parquetry floors in mosaic and block patterns. They also sand, stain and apply finished coatings to timber floors.
Either way, this job requires regular lifting of heavy coverings and frequent kneeling, so being physically fit is advantageous.
Be Kind To Your Body
Floor finishers generally work indoors in small teams. Conditions can be dusty and, because the work requires a great deal of kneeling, twisting and lifting of heavy carpets and furniture, there is some risk of knee and back injury. You can prevent this, however, if you take the time to lift objects in a way that prevents injury to your body.
Typically, floor finishers work a 40 hour week, with some overtime required to meet construction deadlines. Evening and/or weekend work may be required when working at premises that may be in use during the day, such as retail or corporate businesses.
The majority of floor finishers work in the construction industry but there are also a number of positions in the retail trade. Many floor finishers set up their own business and work as sub contractors to retailers or floor covering businesses. Those working for retail organisations may combine the duties of retail sales and floor covering.
Demand for floor finishers increases as people choose to renovate and redecorate their homes. New home buyers, however, sometimes choose to delay installing floor coverings until they are in a better financial position.
This is also a relatively small-sized occupation where there continues to be an increased use of technology, which can limit employment prospects. However, there has been consistent activity in the building and construction industry, which reflects positively on the demand for floor finishers.
Qualified floor finishers earn approximately $30,000 per year when they first venture out into the workforce and this may go higher than $35,000. Those floor finishers who opt to run their own business can earn in excess of $65,000 per year.
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