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Flooring installers are responsible for the structures you walk on inside a building.

Flooring is a general term for the permanent covering of a floor, or for the work of installing such a floor covering, while floor covering is a term that describes any finish material applied over a floor to provide a walking surface. Although the terms are used interchangeably, floor covering typically refers to loose-laid materials.

The floor under the flooring is the subfloor, which provides support for the flooring. Below-ground subfloors are typically concrete, while above-ground subfloors are more often made of plywood.

Flooring materials may include carpeting, wood, laminate, ceramic, glass, stone, slate, marble, polished concrete, vinyl, linoleum, seamless polymer, or others.

Construction or building trades involved in flooring may include flooring installers, tile setters, marble setters, or carpet layers.

Egyptians created stone and brick floors about 5,000 years ago. Initially utilitarian, many of these floors became works of art over time, featuring tile mosaic patterns. Wood flooring was created by North American colonists who cut old-growth forests into rough planks that were nailed to floor joists. Later, tongue-in-groove and parquet wood flooring were developed. The power loom in the early 18th century enabled carpeting, which was originally hand-sewn from strips and tacked down along the edges of a room. Wall-to-wall carpeting dates back to the late 19th century.

Flooring installers and tile and marble setters lay and finish carpet, wood, vinyl, and tile floors. The work can be physically demanding, as it involves reaching, bending, and kneeling.

There are no specific education requirements for someone to become a flooring installer or tile and marble setter. For those entering an apprenticeship program, a high school diploma or equivalent may be required, and high school art, math, and vocational courses may be helpful.

Flooring installers and tile and marble setters typically learn their duties through on-the-job training, working with experienced installers. Although workers may enter training directly, many start out as helpers. New employees typically start with simple tasks, such as moving materials. As they gain experience, they are given more complex tasks, such as cutting carpet. Some tile installer helpers become tile finishers before becoming tile installers.

While not as prevalent as in some of the other trades, some flooring installers and tile and marble setters learn their trade through a 2-4-year apprenticeship. This instruction may include mathematics, building code requirements, safety practices, and blueprint reading.

Upon completion of an apprenticeship program, floor installers are considered journey workers and can perform duties on their own.

Although certification or licensure is not typically required, several organizations and groups offer certifications for floor and tile installers.

The Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) offers the Certified Tile Installer (CTI) certification to installers with two or more years of experience. Applicants must complete a written test and a hands-on performance evaluation.

Several groups, including the CTEF, the International Masonry Institute (IMI), the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC), the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), and the Tile Contractors' Association of America (TCNA), have created the Advanced Certifications for Tile Installers (ACT) program. Applicants must pass both an exam and a field test and either have completed a qualified apprenticeship program or earned the CTI certification to qualify for testing.

The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) offers a voluntary certification for floor sanders and finishers, which requires two years of experience, completion of NWFA-approved training, and the completion of written and performance tests.

The International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association (CFI) offers certification for flooring and tile installers. Their program requires two years of experience in order to qualify for the written test and performance evaluation. Additionally, the International Standards & Training Alliance (INSTALL) offers a comprehensive flooring certification program for flooring and tile installers. INSTALL certification requires both classroom and hands-on training covering all major types of flooring.

Flooring installers and tile and marble setters can belong to the BAC or the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT).

 

 

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