Floor Layer (except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles)

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

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Floor Covering Contractor; Floor Coverings Installer; Floor Installer; Floor Layer; Flooring Installer; Flooring Mechanic; Tile Installer; Tile Setter; Vinyl Installer; Vinyl Mechanic

Tasks

• Cut covering and foundation materials, according to blueprints and sketches.
• Trim excess covering materials, tack edges, and join sections of covering material to form tight joint.
• Cut flooring material to fit around obstructions.
• Roll and press sheet wall and floor covering into cement base to smooth and finish surface, using hand roller.
• Lay out, position, and apply shock-absorbing, sound-deadening, or decorative coverings to floors, walls, and cabinets, following guidelines to keep courses straight and create designs.
• Sweep, scrape, sand, or chip dirt and irregularities to clean base surfaces, correcting imperfections that may show through the covering.
• Measure and mark guidelines on surfaces or foundations, using chalk lines and dividers.
• Inspect surface to be covered to ensure that it is firm and dry.
• 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.
• Apply adhesive cement to floor or wall material to join and adhere foundation material.
• Determine traffic areas and decide location of seams.
• Remove excess cement to clean finished surface.
• Heat and soften floor covering materials to patch cracks or fit floor coverings around irregular surfaces, using blowtorch.
• Disconnect and remove appliances, light fixtures, and worn floor and wall covering from floors, walls, and cabinets.

Knowledge

• Customer and Personal Service
• Building and Construction
• Mathematics
• Mechanical
• Production and Processing
• Design

Skills

• Active Listening
• Speaking

Abilities

• Extent Flexibility
• Near Vision
• Oral Comprehension
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Oral Expression
• Problem Sensitivity
• Manual Dexterity
• Finger Dexterity
• Static Strength
• Deductive Reasoning
• Information Ordering
• Speech Clarity