Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles

Apply blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing, sound-deadening, or decorative coverings to floors.

Sample of reported job titles:
Floor Covering Contractor, Floor Coverings Installer, Floor Layer, Flooring Installer, Flooring Mechanic, Tile Installer, Tile Setter, Vinyl Installer

Occupation-Specific Information

Tasks

  • Sweep, scrape, sand, or chip dirt and irregularities to clean base surfaces, correcting imperfections that may show through the covering.
  • Cut flooring material to fit around obstructions.
  • Inspect surface to be covered to ensure that it is firm and dry.
  • Trim excess covering materials, tack edges, and join sections of covering material to form tight joint.
  • Form a smooth foundation by stapling plywood or Masonite over the floor or by brushing waterproof compound onto surface and filling cracks with plaster, putty, or grout to seal pores.

Technology Skills

  • Computer aided design CAD software:Project visualization software
  • Data base user interface and query software:Aya Associates Comp-U-Floor
    ,
    Flooring Technologies QFloors
    ,
    Focus Floor Covering Software
    ,
    Textile Management Systems RollMaster
  • Internet browser software:Web browser software
  • Inventory management software:Radio frequency identification RFID software
  • Office suite software:Microsoft Office

Occupational Requirements

Work Activities

  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Getting Information:Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems:Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Scheduling Work and Activities:Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
  • Processing Information:Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Apply adhesives to construction materials.
  • Apply decorative or textured finishes or coverings.
  • Apply material to fill gaps in surfaces.
  • Clean surfaces in preparation for work activities.
  • Collect data about project sites.

Work Context

  • Face-to-Face Discussions:99% responded"Every day"
  • Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls:89% responded"Continually or almost continually"
  • Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling:76% responded"Continually or almost continually"
  • Contact With Others:65% responded"Constant contact with others"
  • Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions:65% responded"Once a week or more but not every day"

Worker Requirements

Skills

  • Active Listening:Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Speaking:Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Knowledge

  • Building and Construction:Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
  • Customer and Personal Service:Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Mathematics:Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Mechanical:Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • Production and Processing:Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Education

How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:
  • 90%
    High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Worker Characteristics

Abilities

  • Extent Flexibility:The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  • Near Vision:The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness:The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Oral Comprehension:The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Finger Dexterity:The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

Interests

  • Realistic:Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
  • Conventional:Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Work Values

  • Support:Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
  • Independence:Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
  • Working Conditions:Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Work Styles

  • Dependability:Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
  • Attention to Detail:Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
  • Cooperation:Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
  • Independence:Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
  • Integrity:Job requires being honest and ethical.
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