We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Roles

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What does a Floor Layer do?

By D. Jeffress
Updated: Mar 02, 2024

A floor layer is a professional construction worker who measures, cuts, and installs flooring materials in homes and businesses. Most floor layers specialize by working with a certain type of product, such as linoleum, hardwood, vinyl, tile, or carpet. The duties of floor layers vary by specialty, though most professionals are required to have a keen eye for detail, understand math and measurements, and possess the ability to create attractive, functional floors.

When a new house or business is erected, professional floor layers acquire and deliver materials to the site. Experts inspect and level the surface on which the new floor covering will go, take precise measurements of room sizes, and carefully cut materials to specifications. A floor layer must be prepared for long hours and frequent lifting, stretching, and bending. The size and shape of rooms, the kind of flooring, and the number of available workers determines how long a job will take, which could be anywhere from a couple of hours to several days.

Depending on the type of flooring material, layers might use a number of different tools and techniques in their work. Carpet layers rely on adhesives, knives, stretching tools, and staples to ensure a proper fit, while tile layers employ specialized cutting tools, grout applicators, and sanders to perform custom jobs. Individuals who specialize in linoleum and laminate floor coverings often install moisture-tight insulation, coat the area with a special glue, lay down flooring material, and use putty knives and levels to remove dents and bubbles. A hardwood floor layer typically uses a number of different carpentry tools and wood glue to fit wooden slats together.

The majority of floor layers are union workers who are employed by construction companies and private contractors. Retail flooring stores that offer installation and repair services commonly hire layers to help home and business owners through the process. Some experienced, successful floor layers choose to open their own businesses, where they perform additional duties such as hiring workers, providing customer service, advertising, and ordering supplies from distributors.

There are generally no strict educational requirements to become a floor layer, though some professionals choose to attend classroom training programs at vocational schools and community colleges. Most workers learn the trade through on-the-job training and assisting experienced floor layers. New workers typically perform duties such as carrying tools and materials to and from a site, cutting pieces according to measurements, laying materials into place, and cleaning up after a job. After a new floor layer has proven his or her competency for the job, he or she may be granted the opportunity to perform more difficult or delicate tasks.

Practical Adult Insights is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.