Carpet fitter

Carpet fitters visit homes, offices and shops to prepare floors and put down floor coverings such as carpets, vinyls and laminates.

Also known as:

• Flooring and carpet fitter

Work activities

As well as fitting carpets and underlay in people’s homes, carpet fitters also fit vinyl, carpet tiles, laminates and other sorts of floor coverings in shops, offices, schools, hotels, sports centres and other buildings. The working day starts at the warehouse or shop, where the carpet fitters collect the floor coverings that the customer has ordered and load up the van. When they arrive at the customer’s premises or home, they might first have to move furniture so that the floor space is clear. Then they might have to remove old floor coverings and prepare the surface of the floor. They may fit a rubber or flame-resistant underlay, often using a special type of glue. Once this has been done, the new floor covering can be measured and cut – any patterns have to be carefully matched.

The coverings are cut and laid carefully so that they fit rooms exactly. Carpet fitters use glue, tapes, tacks, gripper rods (spiked edging to hold the carpet securely) and special tools to fit the coverings. If separate pieces of carpet need to be cut, carpet fitters must join them together carefully so that the edges do not show. Sometimes they have to remove, trim and rehang doors so that they open and close over the new carpet. Some fitters, especially those who are self-employed or working for a small carpet retailer, help customers choose suitable floor coverings, measure the floor space and estimate the amount of floor covering needed. With larger outlets, this is often done by an estimator or salesperson. Domestic carpet fitters usually work on their own or with one other person.

Being able to read, write and speak Welsh may be an advantage when you’re looking for work in Wales.

Personal qualities and skills

As a carpet fitter, you will need to be:

• Fit and strong, and able to kneel, bend and lift.
• Able to work without supervision.
• Good with your hands and able to use tools for cutting and fitting.
• Able to pay attention to detail and work carefully and accurately.

You should have:

• A polite and pleasant manner when dealing with customers.
• Number skills for measuring and estimating the amount of floor covering needed.
• A driving licence. This is essential if you may have to work alone.

This role may not be suitable if you have any skin conditions or allergies that would prevent you from working with different textiles. Because the work involves the use of adhesives, it may also be unsuitable for people with breathing difficulties.

Pay and opportunities

The pay rates given are approximate. Salaries for carpet fitters are in the range of £17,000 - £30,000 per year.

Carpet fitters usually work a long 45-47-hour week. This often includes evening and weekend working.

Employers are specialist flooring contractors and carpet retailers. Opportunities for carpet fitters occur in towns and cities throughout the UK.

Self-employment opportunities occur for carpet fitters to work independently as self-employed fitters.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in local newspapers, and on the Government’s Find a Job service.

Entry routes and training

You can enter this career by applying directly for trainee posts with specialist flooring contractors and carpet retailers. You will be trained on-the-job, working alongside an experienced carpet fitter.

You could also enter this career by completing a level 2 (intermediate) apprenticeship in the role of floorlayer.

Some employers send staff on short courses run by the Flooring Industry Training Association (FITA). Such courses are likely to be part of an apprenticeship programme. The FITA Basic Carpet Fitting course is aimed at newcomers to the trade. This course focuses on various aspects of the job, including:

• Health and safety.
• Preparation of surfaces.
• Carpet construction.
• Methods of fitting.
• Tools of the trade.
• Customer relations.

Even if you don’t do an apprenticeship, it may be possible to work towards a level 1 certificate in floorcovering and a level 2 diploma in floorcovering occupations. The National Institute of Carpet and Floorlayers offers membership grades, including a master fitter grade is for fitter members who can pass a practical demonstration of their fitting skills.

Carpet fitters could progress to team leader or manager posts. Many carpet fitters become self-employed.

Qualifications

You may not need any academic qualifications to get into this job. However, you will need to have English and maths skills. GCSEs in both these subjects could be useful. You will need GCSEs in English and maths to get onto an intermediate apprenticeship scheme. Alternative qualifications could include a BTEC Level 2 First qualification.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Some entrants have developed relevant skills in, for example, woodworking or tiling.

Related careers

• Floor layer
• Furniture remover
• Shopfitter
• Upholsterer