Floor Layers with Intertech

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Career Profile
Floor installers and floor layers lay floor coverings such as laminate, linoleum, vinyl, cork, and rubber for decorative purposes, or to deaden sounds, absorb shocks, or create air-tight environments. They also may install carpet, wood or tile. Before installing the floor, floor layers inspect the surface to be covered and, if necessary, correct any deficiencies, such as a rotted or unleveled sub-floor, in order to start with a sturdy, smooth, clean foundation. They measure and cut floor covering materials. During tile and marble installations they may apply these materials to floors, walls, ceilings, countertops, patios, and roof decks. Tile and marble are durable, impervious to water, and easy to clean, making them a popular building material in bathrooms, kitchens, hospitals, and commercial buildings.

Carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers usually work indoors and have regular daytime hours. By the time workers install carpets, flooring, or tile in a new structure, most construction has been completed and the work area is relatively clean and uncluttered. Workers spend much of their time bending, kneeling, and reaching—activities that require endurance. The work can be very hard on workers’ knees and back. Carpet installers frequently lift heavy rolls of carpet and may move heavy furniture, which requires strength and can be physically exhausting. Safety regulations may require that they wear kneepads or safety goggles when using certain tools.

Career Outlook

Employment of carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers is expected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations., however, tile and marble setters, the largest specialty, will experience faster than average job growth because population and business growth will result in more construction of shopping malls, hospitals, schools, restaurants, and other structures in which tile is used extensively. Tiles, including those made of glass, slate, and mosaic, and other less traditional materials, are also becoming more popular, particularly in the growing number of more expensive homes.

Floor Layers with Intertech

Training Details

The apprenticeship program at Intertech is a three-year program that is approved by the U.S. Department of Labor and certified by Austin Community College.  Apprentices must be at least 18 years of age, in good physical condition and drug free, and have a high school or GED diploma.  Essentially the way the program works is Intertech will hire an inexperienced individual for a full time flooring installer position. His full time status satisfies the DOL requirement that his OJT (on the job training), hours be at least 2000 hours annually. In addition he is required to attend a minimum of 133 classroom hours per year. The class room training is conducted by senior Intertech installers and Project Managers. Our program standards also require that we start the individual out at, at least $10.00 per hour depending on his prior experience. Each six months the apprentice is evaluated, if their punctuality, skill set and attendance is progressing satisfactorily for that particular training section they are entitled to a $1 per hour pay adjustment. This continues until they complete the class. Upon completion of the class they receive a certificate from the Department of Labor certifying them as a “Journeyman Floor Layer”