FLOOR COVERING INSTALLERS California Occupational Guide Number 383 Interest Area 5-B 1995
THE JOB
FLOOR COVERING INSTALLERS replace, repair, and install carpet and resilient flooring, such as soft tile, linoleum, and sheet vinyl. They fit and bond these materials to wood, concrete, metal and ceramic tile floors, and also to counter tops and walls. Most installers specialize in either carpet or resilient floor coverings; however, some known as Combination Mechanics install both.
Before laying any type of floor covering, installers sweep the floor and inspect it to be sure it is firm, dry and smooth. If necessary, they fill cracks or holes and sand uneven spots until the surface is level. A very uneven floor may be resurfaced with plywood, particle board, fiberboard, latex underlayment, or other material.
Installers then measure the room and make a pattern or detailed sketch from which the floor covering is cut. To ensure a correct fit, the covering must be accurately measured and carefully cut, particularly at door openings, along irregular walls, and around fixtures.
How the floor covering is installed depends on the material used. Square tile is set by hand. Sheet flooring is laid out and rolled with a roller in a fashion similar to that of rolling out dough.
For wall-to-wall carpet, a "tackless" strip (a thin piece of wood with inset nails pointing upwards) is nailed around the border of the room close to the wall. Padding is cut, placed in the inside frame of the tackless strip, and stapled or cemented down. The rough-cut carpet is placed approximately in position, then stretched, hooked over the nails in the tackless strip, trimmed, and packed neatly between the outside edge of the strip and the wall. To stretch carpet on stairs or in confined spaces, installers must use a "knee kicker"; however, in larger spaces, they generally use a manually operated power stretcher. In large rooms, carpet sections must be joined at the seams. Installers may hand sew seams with a needle and thread or heat-tape them using an iron. Far less time consuming is the installation of "direct glue-down" carpet. Mainly used in office buildings and other commercial structures, it requires no stretching, padding, or strip.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Floor Covering Installers work indoors at installation sites. Surroundings may vary from an old and dusty Victorian era home or a large apartment building being remodeled to a new office building still under construction. Installers often work alone or with an apprentice or helper on small residential jobs; on large commercial jobs, they are usually part of a crew.
Installers must work very carefully but quickly, to keep within cost estimates. The work is also physically demanding. Much of their work day is spent kneeling and squatting as they stretch, hold, and hammer the materials on the floor. Although equipment or manual assistance is available for lifting very heavy loads, installers often move furniture and carry rolls of floor covering weighing several hundred pounds. As a result, back problems may develop. Knee ailments caused by striking the "knee kicker" and long contact with cold, hard floors are another potential problem. Materials such as adhesives, solvents, and seaming tapes may be hazardous or toxic if not properly used.
Installers provide their own hand tools. A full set, including carpet and resilient flooring tools, may cost $800 and higher. Many installers belong either to the Carpet, Linoleum, and Soft Tile Workers Union, affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades, or the Resilient Floor & Decorative Covering Workers affiliated with the AFL-CIO.
Journey-level installers may be held responsible for the quality of their work for six months to a year after installation. If faulty workmanship causes valid complaints within that period, installers may have to repair or replace the floor covering on their own time.
EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK
The California Projections of Employment, published by the Labor Market Information Division, projects an increase of over 1,900 new jobs. Combined with an estimated 2,700 workers leaving the labor force for retirement and other reasons, this will result in nearly 4,600 net job openings in California by the year 2005.
Job opportunities for installers depend on new residential and commercial building construction and remodeling. The sale of floor coverings or replacement and redecoration is an increasingly significant factor as businesses such as shopping centers, offices, hotels, and motels consider covering concrete floors with carpeting. New fibers have been developed which are more durable, stain resistant, and come in a greater variety of colors and textures. It is expected that the demand for installers will increase as fast as the average growth rate for all occupations through the year 2005.
The work of Floor Covering Installers can almost be classified as seasonal. Employers have indicated that there is a lull in the work sometimes as early as December, however, the shortage of work is usual during the first three months of the year. Many firms keep a small crew of their best installers working for most of the year, however, when business is slow due to weather or other conditions, they may only work two or three days of the week.
Because work involving the replacement of floor coverings in existing homes and commercial buildings is less affected by changes in the economy, employment generally remains fairly stable even when new construction activity declines.
WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS
Under current union contracts, the basic hourly wage for journey-level installers ranges from approximately $16.00 to $22.00 an hour. Apprentices enrolled in a formal, state-approved training program start from 25% to 45% of the journey-level worker's wages. The training period for apprentices varies in different areas. Some apprentices will train for 36 months, while others train for a period of 48 months.
Wages for non-union Floor Covering Installers vary as some companies pay their workers by the amount of yardage installed. Many of them are classified as self-employed contractors or subcontractors. They furnish their own trucks, insurance and pay the wages for helpers.
The pay for journey-level non-union workers who are paid by the hour, ranges between $9.00 and $20.00 an hour. For helpers, the pay ranges from $5.00 to $7.00 an hour.
When work is available, installers work four or five days a week for eight hours a day. Overtime is paid at time and one-half or double the regular rate.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING
Floor Covering Installers need above-average physical stamina and strength, manual dexterity, and mechanical skill. Good eyesight, including normal color vision, is required. Accurate perception of space and form is essential; installers must be able to reproduce designs and patterns shown in sketches or scale drawings. They should be able to do basic arithmetic calculations quickly and correctly, to reason, and to make judgments. Helpful high school courses include mathematics (through geometry), wood and metal shop, mechanical drawing, and blueprint reading.
Some Floor Covering Installers learn the trade informally on the job by working as helpers for experienced installers. However, most authorities recommend formal apprenticeship training jointly sponsored by employers and the unions, such as the Carpet, Linoleum, and Soft Tile Layers Union or the Resilient Floor & Decorative Covering Union.
Apprenticeship programs couple on-the-job training with related classroom instruction. Classes, held once or twice a week at special floor covering training centers, usually cover both carpet and resilient floor installation. Such training enables apprentices to graduate as fully trained workers, thus greatly increasing their employability. Applicants for apprenticeship training must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or the equivalent. A written aptitude and math test and an oral interview may also be required. Qualified candidates are placed on an eligible list and dispatched to employers as openings occur. In some locations, candidates are allowed to solicit their own jobs from a list of approved employers. Most programs are three years in length.
ADVANCEMENT
Journey-level installers keep their skills up-to-date by attending classes at floor covering training centers and those offered by manufacturers of floor covering materials and supplies. Some experienced installers become supervisors or estimators. Others go into business for themselves as licensed contractors.
FINDING THE JOB
Journey-level installers can register with the union or apply directly to floor covering retailers and installation contractors. Applicants for apprenticeship should contact the union in their area or the Division of Apprenticeship Standards of the California Department of Industrial Relations. Applicants may also contact the California Employment Development Department Job Service offices in their areas.
RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES
Tile Setters No. 103 Glaziers No. 104 Painters & Paperhangers No. 148 Plasterer & Stucco Masons No. 249
OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES
DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th ed., Rev. 1) Carpet Layer 864.381-010 Floor Layer 864.481-010
OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) System Carpet, Floor Installers 876000
Source: State of California, Employment Development Department,
Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
(916) 262-2162.
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