Floor Sanders and Finishers

Buff and vacuum floors to ensure their cleanliness prior to the application of finish.
Scrape and sand floor edges and areas inaccessible to floor sanders, using scrapers, disk-type sanders, and sandpaper.
Inspect floors for smoothness.

Important Qualities

Color vision. Flooring installers and tile and stone setters often determine small color variations and must be able to distinguish among colors in patterns for the best looking finish.

Customer-service skills. Flooring installers and tile and stone setters must be courteous with and considerate of customers, especially while completing tasks in customers’ homes.

Detail oriented. Flooring installers and tile and stone setters need to be thorough and exacting to ensure that tile, wood, and carpet patterns are properly aligned.

Math skills. Flooring installers and tile and stone setters use math to measure an area to be covered and to calculate the amount of material needed to cover it.

Physical stamina. Flooring installers and tile and stone setters must be able to stand or kneel for many hours in order to spread adhesive quickly and place tiles before the adhesive hardens.

Physical strength. Flooring installers and tile and stone setters must be able to lift, carry, and set heavy pieces of flooring material into position.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		89%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		83%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		80%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		74%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		71%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		70%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		69%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		68%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		67%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		67%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		65%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		62%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
		59%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		59%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
		57%	Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		100%	Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		69%	Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
		66%	Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
		66%	Trunk Strength - The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
		66%	Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
		66%	Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
		56%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		56%	Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
		56%	Stamina - The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
		53%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		53%	Extent Flexibility - The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
		53%	Static Strength - The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Inspect completed work to ensure proper installation.

Smooth surfaces with abrasive materials or tools.

Load materials into construction equipment.

Apply sealants or other protective coatings.

Remove excess materials from finished construction projects.

Clean building walls or flooring.

Clean facilities or sites.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		98%	Exposed to Contaminants - How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
		97%	Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
		94%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		92%	Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body - How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
		89%	Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
		89%	Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling - How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
		89%	Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable - How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
		88%	Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
		86%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		85%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		84%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		84%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		81%	Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
		80%	Spend Time Walking and Running - How much does this job require walking and running?
		78%	Spend Time Standing - How much does this job require standing?
		76%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		75%	Exposed to Hazardous Equipment - How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
		75%	Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
		74%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		74%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		74%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		70%	Exposed to Whole Body Vibration - How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (e.g., operate a jackhammer)?
		67%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		64%	Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
		63%	Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection - How much does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
		63%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		60%	Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?
		56%	Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions - How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
		56%	Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
		54%	Exposed to Hazardous Conditions - How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
		53%	Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
		52%	Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment - How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
		54%	Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		83%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		83%	Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
		80%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		77%	Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
		77%	Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
		77%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		76%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		75%	Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
		73%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		69%	Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
		68%	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
		67%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		67%	Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment - Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
		67%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		65%	Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
		65%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		65%	Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
		62%	Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
		61%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		61%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		60%	Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
		60%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		59%	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
		57%	Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
		57%	Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
		57%	Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
		56%	Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
		55%	Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
		53%	Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
		52%	Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

What Flooring Installers and Tile and Stone Setters Do

Some tile and stone setters create intricate designs.

Flooring installers and tile and stone setters lay and finish carpet, wood, vinyl, and other materials, such as ceramic, glass, marble, and granite.

Duties

Flooring installers and tile and stone setters typically do the following:

Remove existing materials from floors, walls, or other surfaces
Clean and level the surface to be covered
Measure the area and cut material to fit
Arrange materials according to design plans
Place materials and secure with adhesives, nails, or staples
Fill joints with filler compound and remove excess compound
Trim excess carpet or linoleum
Apply finishes, such as sealants and stains

Flooring installers and tile and stone setters lay the materials that improve the look and feel of homes, offices, restaurants, and other buildings. Many of these workers install materials on floors. However, they also work on walls, ceilings, countertops, and showers.

Installing floors and tiles requires a smooth, even base of mortar or plywood. Flooring installers and tile and stone setters or other construction craftworkers lay this base. On remodeling jobs, workers may need to remove old flooring and smooth the surface before laying the base.

The following are examples of types of flooring installers and tile and stone setters:

Carpet installers lay carpet on new floors or over existing flooring. They use special tools, including “knee kickers” to position the carpet and power stretchers to pull the carpet snugly against walls. They also join carpet edges and seam edges by sewing or by using tape with glue and a heated carpet iron.

Carpet tile installers lay modular pieces of carpet that may be glued into place. Installing carpet tiles may be an option where standard carpet is impractical, such as in designing a pattern over an area.

Floor sanders and finishers scrape and smooth wood floors, often using power sanders. They then apply stains and sealants to preserve the wood. (For information on workers who install wood floors, see the profile on carpenters.)

Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles, install a variety of resilient flooring materials. Linoleum installers lay washable flooring material of the same name, cutting the linoleum to size and gluing it into place. Vinyl installers lay plastic-based flooring that includes vinyl ester, vinyl sheeting, and vinyl tile. Installers of laminate, manufactured wood, and wood tile floors are included in this category.

Tile and stone setters install pieces of ceramic, marble, granite, glass, or other materials. Tile installers, sometimes called tile setters, cut tiles using wet saws, tile scribes, or handheld tile cutters. They then use trowels of different sizes to spread mortar or a sticky paste, called mastic, evenly on the work surface before placing the tiles. Tile finishers apply grout between tiles after the tiles are set by using a rubber trowel, called a float, and then wipe the tiles clean after the grout dries. Stone setters may cut marble, granite, or other stone to a specified size with a wet saw. They use special adhesives to fasten the stone to the desired surface; in remodeling projects, they may first need to smooth the underlying surface after removing old materials.

Work Environment

Flooring installers and tile and stone setters held about 120,900 jobs in 2022. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up flooring installers and tile and stone setters was distributed as follows:

Tile and stone setters	59,400
Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles	30,200
Carpet installers	25,100
Floor sanders and finishers	6,200

The largest employers of flooring installers and tile and stone setters were as follows:

Specialty trade contractors	49%
Self-employed workers	30
Manufacturing	5
Construction of buildings	5

Installing flooring, tile, and stone is physically demanding, requiring workers to spend much of their time reaching, bending, and kneeling. Workers typically wear kneepads while kneeling; safety goggles when using grinders, saws, and sanders; and dust masks or respirator systems to prevent inhaling work-generated dust in enclosed areas with poor ventilation.

Injuries and Illnesses

Carpet installers and floor sanders and finishers have some of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations.

Work Schedules

Most flooring installers and tile and stone setters work full time, although schedules may vary. In commercial settings, they may need to work evenings and weekends to avoid disturbing regular business operations.

Getting Started

Education:

47%

Less than a High School Diploma

35%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

How to Become a Flooring Installer or Tile and Stone Setter

Most flooring installers and tile and stone setters learn on the job working with experienced installers.

Flooring installers and tile and stone setters typically need no formal educational credential. They learn their trade on the job, sometimes starting as a helper. Some learn through an apprenticeship.

Education

There are typically no formal education requirements for becoming a flooring installer or tile and stone setter, although candidates entering an apprenticeship program may need a high school diploma or equivalent.

Certain high school courses, such as art and math, may be helpful for flooring installers and tile and stone setters.

Training

Flooring installers and tile and stone setters typically learn on the job, working with experienced installers or starting as helpers.

New workers usually do simple tasks, such as moving materials. As they gain experience, they take on more complex tasks, such as cutting carpet. Some helpers work as tile finishers before becoming tile installers.

Some flooring installers and tile and stone setters learn their trade through a 2- to 4-year apprenticeship. For each year of a typical program, apprentices must complete a predetermined number of hours of technical instruction and paid on-the-job training. Technical instruction in the apprenticeship may include mathematics, building code requirements, safety and first-aid practices, and blueprint reading. After completing an apprenticeship program, flooring installers and tile and stone setters are considered journey workers and may perform duties on their own.

Certification

Several organizations offer certification for floor and tile installers. Although certification is not required, it demonstrates that a flooring installer and tile and stone setter has a specific mastery of skills to do a job.

The Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) offers the Certified Tile Installer (CTI) designation for workers with 2 or more years of experience as a tile installer. Applicants must pass a written test and a hands-on performance evaluation.

Several groups, including the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation, the International Masonry Institute (IMI), the International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers (IUBAC), the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), the Tile Contractors’ Association of America (TCAA), and the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) have created the Advanced Certifications for Tile Installers (ACT) program. To qualify for the program, applicants must have either completed a qualified apprenticeship program or earned the CTI certification. Requirements for certification include passing both an exam and a field test.

The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) offers optional certification for floor sanders and finishers. Sanders and finishers must have 2 years of experience and must have completed NWFA-approved training. Applicants are required to complete written and performance tests.

The International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association (CFI) offers certification for flooring and tile installers. Installers need 2 years of experience before they can take the written test and performance evaluation.

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 and covers all major types of flooring.

Job Outlook

Overall employment of flooring installers and tile and stone setters is projected to grow 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 9,800 openings for flooring installers and tile and stone setters are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Projected employment of flooring installers and tile and stone setters varies by occupation (see table). The construction of new homes and the renovation of existing units will be the primary source of flooring and tile and stone installation over the projections decade.

Vinyl and other resilient flooring products have become increasingly popular, especially in homes, which will lead to employment growth for floor layers. Tile and stone installation will continue to be common for bathrooms, restaurants, and other buildings, supporting demand for these workers.

Contacts for More Information

For details about apprenticeships, training, or other work opportunities in this trade, contact the offices of the state employment service, the state apprenticeship agency, local contractors or firms that employ flooring installers and tile and stone setters, or local union–management apprenticeship committees. Apprenticeship information is available from the U.S. Department of Labor's Apprenticeship program online or by phone at 877-872-5627. Visit Apprenticeship.gov to search for apprenticeship opportunities.

For more information about flooring installers and tile and stone setters, visit

Ceramic Tile Education Foundation

International Masonry Institute

International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers

Tile Contractors’ Association of America

The Tile Council of North America, Inc.

Home Builders Institute

For more information about training and certification of flooring installers and tile and stone setters, visit

International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association

Finishing Trades Institute International

International Standards & Training Alliance (INSTALL)

National Tile Contractors Association

National Wood Flooring Association

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of flooring installers and tile and stone setters.

Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Carpenters	Carpenters construct, repair, and install building frameworks and structures made from wood and other materials.	High school diploma or equivalent	$51,390
Masonry Workers	Masonry workers use bricks, concrete and concrete blocks, and natural and manmade stones to build structures.	See How to Become One	$49,490
Painters, Construction and Maintenance	Painters apply paint, stain, and coatings to walls and ceilings, buildings, large machinery and equipment, and bridges and other structures.	No formal educational credential	$46,090
Electricians	Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical power, communications, lighting, and control systems.	High school diploma or equivalent	$60,240
Glaziers	Glaziers install glass in windows, skylights, and other fixtures in buildings.	High school diploma or equivalent	$48,720
Grounds Maintenance Workers	Grounds maintenance workers install and maintain landscapes, prune trees or shrubs, and do other tasks to ensure that vegetation is attractive, orderly, and safe.	See How to Become One	$36,160
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers	Hazardous materials removal workers identify and dispose of harmful substances such as asbestos, lead, and radioactive waste.	High school diploma or equivalent	$46,690
Material Moving Machine Operators	Material moving machine operators use equipment to transport objects.	See How to Become One	$41,730
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters	Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters install and repair piping fixtures and systems.	High school diploma or equivalent	$60,090
Construction Laborers and Helpers	Construction laborers and helpers perform many tasks that require physical labor on construction sites.	See How to Become One	$39,520