Floor Covering Installer

Tasks & duties

Floor covering installers may do some or all of the following:

Specialisations

Floor covering installers may choose to specialise in certain products, such as vinyl, carpet or timber overlay, or processes such as floor preparation or sanding.

Skills & knowledge

Floor covering installers need to have:

• knowledge of different types of flooring materials and how to cut and fit them 
• technical skills such as knowing how to measure a floor's moisture content
• knowledge of how to prepare floors for covering 
• organisational and problem-solving skills 
• knowledge of how to use specialised equipment such as floor sanding tools
• customer service and communication skills – especially if they run their own business 
• knowledge of health and safety requirements and first aid skills 
• knowledge of correct lifting techniques 
• basic maths skills for measuring and calculating quantities

Floor covering installers who run their own businesses also need to have business and staff management skills.

Entry requirements

To become a floor covering installer you need to complete an apprenticeship and gain a National Certificate in Flooring. This involves on-the-job training and attending block courses at the National Flooring School.

Secondary education

School Certificate or NCEA equivalent English, maths and workshop technology are useful subjects.

Training on the job

Skills are gained on the job while working alongside experienced floor covering installers.

Useful experience

Useful experience for floor covering installers includes:

• work as a flooring salesperson
• work in a carpet factory
• building work

Experience in joinery or woodworking is useful for floor covering installers who work with wooden floors.

Related courses

Floor Coverings

For more information, please refer to Career Services.