A floor layer or carpet fitter puts down floor coverings such as carpet, wood or laminate in domestic and commercial buildings, such as offices, shops and people's homes.
The Work
You could be:
studying the plan of the floor and working out how much material you need
helping to load and unload rolls of vinyl or carpet in and out a van into the premises
moving furniture out of the room, removing the old floor covering and cleaning the floor
spreading the floor with a substance (called levelling compound) to prepare it for laying the new floor
deciding how to cut the floor covering and where to make the joins, making sure the pattern fits, and to reduce waste
measuring and cutting the floor covering to fit
laying it on the floor and fixing it, either by stretching the material over spiked grippers, or by pushing it under stair rods, or by stitching, taping, heat-sealing or gluing
replacing furniture and doors once you have finished laying the floor.
Pay
The figures below are only a guide. Pay rates vary, depending on:
where you work
the size of your company
the demand for the job.
As of June 2023 the Building and Allied Trades Joint Industrial Council (BATJIC) recommends the following rates for a 4-year apprenticeship based on a 39-hour week are:
Year 1 – £237.46 (£6.09 an hour)
Year 2 – £316.02 (£8.10 an hour)
Year 3 – £396.38 (£10.16 an hour)
Year 4 – £396.38 (£10.16 an hour) (without SCQF Level 6)
Year 4 – £419.27 (£10.75 an hour) (with SCQF Level 6).
Please note these rates may vary if the Apprentice is 21 years old or over and has completed the first year of their apprenticeship. National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) will apply.
Qualified floor layers or carpet fitters earn around £15.00 an hour. With more experience you can earn around £18.00 an hour. or more. If you are self-employed, you could earn more than this.
Conditions
You work indoors in buildings already in use or under construction.
You would work up to 40 hours week, but might need to work evenings or weekends to finish a job off.
You do a lot of kneeling, crouching and heavy lifting.
You would wear knee pads to protect your knees, and a mask because of the dusty atmosphere and the strong fumes of the adhesive.
You may have to buy your own tools and equipment.
You travel from site to site.
You might have to work for a period away from home.
You would usually enter through a Modern Apprenticeship in Construction: Building.
You do not always need formal qualifications, but some employers may ask for subjects at National 4 or 5 including English, Maths and a technological subject.
You may have to sit an aptitude test as part of the application process.
You could study the Foundation Apprenticeship in Construction (SCQF Level 4 or 5) in S3-S6, which can help to get into a relevant Modern Apprenticeship.
You will need to hold a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to work on site. You may also need to pass a health and safety test.
A driving licence is usually needed. Some employers may ask you to provide your own transport.
You should be fit enough to lift heavy items and do a physical job.
Floor layers or carpet fitters usually work for shops, warehouses or specialist flooring contractors but often in a self-employed capacity.
Training during a Modern Apprenticeship is mainly on the job with off the job training. You would work towards the SVQ Floorcovering (Construction) at SCQF Level 6 and PDA Floorcovering.
2024
