Install and restore floors with precision
As a Floor Finisher, you prepare, install and restore a wide range of flooring materials that bring function and style to homes, businesses and public spaces. You measure areas, consult plans and estimate materials before preparing surfaces and removing trims. Your work involves cutting and fixing underlay, laying carpets, vinyl, linoleum, parquetry and cork tiles, and matching patterns with precision. You trim edges, secure coverings and fit doorway trims to create clean, professional finishes. In timber work, you sand, stain and apply protective coatings to achieve durable, high quality surfaces. You may also install coverings on walls, counters or benches. It’s a hands on trade that blends accuracy, craftsmanship and practical problem solving across a variety of environments.
For more information:
Australian Timber Flooring Association
Ph: 1300 361 693
Email: admin@atfa.com.au
Website: www.atfa.com.au

Master Builders Association of South Australia Inc
Ph: 1800 067 466 or (08) 8211 7466
Email: membership@mbasa.com.au
Website: www.mbasa.com.au

TAFE SA offers Certificate III in Flooring Technology relevant to this occupation.

For more details on apprenticeships, see Traineeship & Apprenticeship Services Website at http://www.skills.sa.gov.au/apprenticeships-traineeships or phone the Freecall number 1800 673 097.

Floor finishing is a medium sized occupation with good employment prospects. Opportunities exist for floor finishers and coverers set up their own businesses or work as subcontractors to retailers or floor covering firms. A few work for retail organisations and may combine the duties of retail sales and floor covering.

Employment opportunities are dependent on building industry demand, but this is less likely to affect qualified tradespeople.

Floor finishers work from plans and/or follow verbal instructions from clients and other industry tradespeople. You'll need to enjoy dealing with people as it's a job that involves contact with the public, as well as builders, retailers and other tradespeople. According to an industry representative this job requires regular lifting of heavy coverings and frequent kneeling, so being physically fit is advantageous. It is possible for floor finishers to specialise in installing a particular type of floor covering:

*Textile layers (also known as carpet layers) fasten edges and seams, then stretch carpet and secure it along walls and borders using gripper strips;

*Resilient layers specialise in laying and finishing vinyl, linoleum and rubber in either sheet or tile form. They may also use these materials to cover bench tops and walls; and

*Hard floor finishers lay and finish timber, cork and parquetry floors in mosaic and block patterns. They also sand, stain and apply finished coatings to timber floors.

Floor finishers generally work indoors in small teams. Conditions can be dusty and because the work requires a great deal of kneeling, twisting and lifting of heavy carpets and furniture, there is some risk of knee and back injury. You can prevent this however, if you take the time to lift objects in a way that prevents injury to your body. Typically, floor finishers work a 40 hour week, with some overtime required to meet construction deadlines. Evening and/or weekend work may be required when working at premises that may be in use during the day, such as retail or corporate businesses.

The majority of floor finishers work in the construction industry but there are also a number of positions in the retail trade. Many floor finishers set up their own business and work as sub contractors to retailers or floor covering businesses. Those working for retail organisations may combine the duties of retail sales and floor covering.