What Do Floor Layers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Floor Layers apply blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing, sound-deadening, or decorative coverings to floors. They also sweep, scrape, sand, or chip dirt and irregularities to clean base surfaces, correcting imperfections that may show through the covering.

Other tasks include:

• 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.
• Measure and mark guidelines on surfaces or foundations, using chalk lines and dividers.
• Cut covering and foundation materials, according to blueprints and sketches.

We asked Floor Layers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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63% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 56% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Floor Layers inspect surface to be covered to ensure that it is firm and dry. They trim excess covering materials, tack edges, and join sections of covering material to form tight joint.

A typical day for a Floor Layer will also include:

• Sweep, scrape, sand, or chip dirt and irregularities to clean base surfaces, correcting imperfections that may show through the covering.
• 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.
• Determine traffic areas and decide location of seams.
• Cut flooring material to fit around obstructions.
• Measure and mark guidelines on surfaces or foundations, using chalk lines and dividers.

We asked some Floor Layers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	40% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	42% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	99% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	31% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	53% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Floor Layers also remove excess cement to clean finished surface. They may also measure and mark guidelines on surfaces or foundations, using chalk lines and dividers.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Floor Layers Disconnect and remove appliances, light fixtures, and worn floor and wall covering from floors, walls, and cabinets. They might also 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.

In addition, they Sweep, scrape, sand, or chip dirt and irregularities to clean base surfaces, correcting imperfections that may show through the covering.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Heat and soften floor covering materials to patch cracks or fit floor coverings around irregular surfaces, using blowtorch.

To some Floor Layers, it is also their responsibility to 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.

Working life

Less than 40 hours per week

Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.

In a typical work week as a Floor Layer, you can expect to work less than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

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