Floorcovering Installer – National Occupational Analysis (NOA)

Table of Contents

• Occupational Analyses Series
• Products
• General Information
• Scope
• Occupational Observations
• Essential Skills Summary
• Acknowledgements

The Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA) recognizes this National Occupational Analysis (NOA) as the national standard for the occupation of Floorcovering Installer.

General Information

• NOA History
• Structure of Analysis
• Development and Validation of Analysis
• Safety

Scope

“Floorcovering Installer” is this trade’s official Red Seal occupational title approved by the CCDA. This analysis covers tasks performed by floorcovering installers whose occupational title has been identified by some provinces and territories of Canada under the following names:

Floorcovering installers install, replace and repair a variety of floorcoverings. They work with cushion, carpeting, vinyl, resilient tile, sheet flooring and seasonal carpet. In some jurisdictions, floorcovering installers may also install and repair pre-finished wood, unfinished wood, engineered wood, laminate and artificial turf. Floorcovering installers install and service floorcoverings in residential and industrial/commercial/institutional (ICI) settings.

In new building construction, floorcovering is one of the final procedures to be carried out. Floorcovering installers ideally begin their work after services (water, electricity, light, heat) are installed and walls are painted.

When replacing or repairing pre-existing floorcoverings, the work area must be cleared of furniture and appliances. Existing flooring, cushion and trim must often be removed. When repairing damaged areas, floorcovering installers perform tasks such as matching patterns and inserting pieces using specialty tools and equipment.

The preparation for floorcovering installation involves inspecting, measuring and cleaning surfaces onto which the floorcovering is to be installed. Preparation normally includes correcting surface imperfections such as cracks, chips and small holes, and sanding and filling wood substrates and/or underlayment panels.

Floorcovering installers may be responsible for site visits, planning, scheduling and estimating of jobs. They use blueprints, freehand drawings, scaled drawings, layout plans, shop drawings, work orders and finish schedules.

Self-employment is common in this trade. Some floorcovering installers are employed by flooring businesses (retail or wholesale), construction companies and contractors.

A growing number of floorcovering installers, especially those on the commercial side, work primarily in one area of specialization within the trade such as carpet or resilient flooring installation. Those working on the residential side need to know about a wide variety of flooring. Floorcovering installers may work closely with designers, engineers, architects and other tradespeople such as carpenters, painters, lathers (interior systems mechanics), drywallers and cabinetmakers.

Key attributes for people entering this trade are: good colour vision, hand-eye coordination, problem solving skills, mathematical skills, communication skills and organizational skills. Good physical condition is important because the work often requires considerable kneeling, stretching, twisting and lifting heavy, awkward loads.

Health and safety are important for these tradespeople as they are frequently in contact with chemical (e.g., paints, adhesives and other toxic materials) and physical (e.g., cutting tools, fastening tools and dust) hazards. Ongoing safety awareness and a good knowledge of safety standards and regulations are important.

With experience, journeypersons may move into supervisory, management and sales positions.

Occupational Observations

The increased awareness of the physical impacts of the work has resulted in the use of more effective tools such as mini-stretchers and power stretchers, as well as improved personal protective equipment (PPE) such as knee pads and back braces.

Upgrading courses, manufacturers’ seminars and professional education courses are being offered for floorcovering installers to stay current with new trends and product innovations. The trade has also seen the need for new specialty skills such as rubber and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) welding and artificial turf installation. Intricate layouts are becoming common requiring skills for blueprint reading and design.

Environmental concerns and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines are pushing the trend towards environmentally friendly, energy efficient and naturally sustainable products. Cork and linoleum products, for example, are becoming increasingly popular due to their natural sound-deadening, insulating and antimicrobial characteristics. Bamboo and exotic floors are used as alternatives to domestic hardwood floors. Recycled products such as reclaimed wood flooring made from large beams and lumber taken from buildings slated for demolition, or rubber floor products made from recycled rubber are also gaining popularity in the industry. Carpets are being made from recycled materials such as plastic bottles and old carpeting, and sustainable products such as corn. Renewable materials such as wool are regaining popularity. Low or no volatile organic compounds (VOC) finishes and adhesives are becoming the industry standard for health and environmental reasons.

Continuous learning skills are required of floorcovering installers to adapt to these new tools, techniques and products.

Essential Skills Summary

Essential skills are needed for work, learning and life. They provide the foundation for learning all other skills and enable people to evolve with their jobs and adapt to workplace change.

Through extensive research, the Government of Canada and other national and international agencies have identified and validated nine essential skills. These skills are used in nearly every occupation and throughout daily life in different ways.

A series of CCDA-endorsed tools have been developed to support apprentices in their training and to be better prepared for a career in the trades. The tools can be used independently or with the assistance of a tradesperson, trainer, employer, teacher or mentor to:

• understand how essential skills are used in the trades;
• learn about individual essential skills strengths and areas for improvement; and
• improve essential skills and increase success in an apprenticeship program.

Tools are available online or for order.

The essential skills profile for the floorcovering installer trade indicates that the most important essential skills are document use, numeracy and oral communication.

The application of these skills may be described throughout this document within the competency statements which support each subtask of the trade. The following are summaries of the requirements in each of the essential skills, taken from the essential skills profile.

• Reading

  Floorcovering installers read a variety of texts. They read notes from contractors or supervisors on issues ranging from noise restrictions to special floor preparation requirements, or from architects and designers on topics such as product substitutions and timeline adjustments. They also read warranty procedures, cleaning instructions, product information sheets, material safety data sheets (MSDS) and equipment installation manuals.

• Document Use

  Floorcovering installers read signs, labels and lists. They complete various forms such as estimate forms to calculate labour and material costs, and they locate data on completed forms such as work orders to confirm locations and details of work to be completed. They also review specifications to identify sizes and shapes of floor spaces, types of flooring to be installed and installation procedures to be followed. Floorcovering installers interpret scale drawings such as blueprints or maps and take measurements from these drawings. They also draw to scale and make sketches.

• Writing

  Floorcovering installers write notes on work orders and floor layout plans to indicate additional services provided or to record mistakes and the use of substitute materials. They may also write notes to co-workers, customers or other tradespeople.

• Numeracy

  The math skills involved in the floorcovering installer trade include handling money, scheduling, budgeting and accounting, measurement and calculation, data analysis, and estimation.

  Floorcovering installers may prepare and verify invoices by itemizing prices and costs of materials and calculating labour charges and applicable taxes. They create work schedules based on project size, availability of workers and materials, and clients’ timelines. They take measurements using a variety of tools such as floor length and width using tapes and rulers, or moisture content of concrete floors using hygrometers. They also calculate the area of rooms and determine the quantity of carpet, vinyl, tiles or hardwood required. They use geometric construction methods to lay out lines and to create patterns. They also estimate amounts of products required, sizes of rooms and time required to complete an installation.

• Oral Communication

  Floorcovering installers discuss ongoing work with co-workers, contractors and other tradespeople to review task sequences and project timelines and to confirm flooring substitutions or changes to specifications. They may provide direction to apprentices or new employees. They may also speak to customers to suggest changes in flooring designs and product options, or to explain warranties and proper maintenance of installed flooring.

• Thinking Skills

  Floorcovering installers use their problem solving skills to resolve issues such as missing materials, faulty tools, delays created by other trades or incorrect drawings and specifications. They may plan sequence of staging, order new supplies, adjust their work schedules or ask for direction from supervisors.

  They use decision making skills to select equipment, materials and installation methods, sequences and layouts to complete various flooring installations. They also use critical thinking skills to assess the suitability of materials and products selected. For example, when laying hardwood floors, they visually check each board for defects and they inspect the sub-floors for flaws to ensure that the quality of the finished installation is not compromised. They also consider factors such as manufacturers’ specifications, traffic flow patterns and exposure to extreme temperatures, high moisture levels and direct sunlight.

• Working with Others

  Floorcovering installers coordinate tasks with small crews and other trades to ensure efficient use of time and to meet installation timelines. They may work with apprentices and they may participate in supervisory or leadership activities.

• Computer Use

  Floorcovering installers may use the Internet to search suppliers’ or manufacturers’ websites for information on flooring tools, products and specifications. They may also use computer programs for business applications such as invoicing and estimating.

• Continuous Learning

  Floorcovering installers learn on the job and through their daily interactions with co-workers. They may attend courses offered by product manufacturers. They also read manufacturers’ product manuals, information sheets and trade magazines to stay current on technological advancements in the trade.

Acknowledgements

The CCDA and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) wish to express sincere appreciation for the contribution of the many tradespersons, industrial establishments, professional associations, labour organizations, provincial and territorial government departments and agencies, and all others who contributed to this publication.

Special acknowledgement is extended by HRSDC and the CCDA to the following representatives from the trade.

• Chris Gallucci – Ontario, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners
• Marc Gaudet – Québec
• Brad Holmes – Manitoba
• Cory Horne – Nova Scotia
• Wade Kalnicki – Alberta
• John Loupelle – National Floor Covering Association of Canada
• Douglas Morton – Yukon
• Braydon Puffalt – British Columbia, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners
• Terry Whitall – National Floor Covering Association of Canada