Tim Green explains the importance of continual learning and development in order for flooring contractors to remain competitive and how to access the industry’s best free training provisions
TRAINING has always been integral to ensuring the highest standards of professionalism in the flooring industry.
Basic training should cover subfloor preparation, including the identification of different subfloor types and how they should be prepared, the use of repair and floor smoothing compounds to create a smooth base ready for the receipt of new floorcoverings, and selecting adhesives based on compatibility with different floorcoverings. It also needs to include instruction on how to avoid common causes of floor failure, chief of which is still unmanaged subfloor moisture.
Advancements in technology
As well as gaining a good grounding in subfloor preparation and floorcovering installation, flooring professionals should strive to continuously improve and develop their knowledge throughout their careers. This has become particularly necessary as advances in technology have accelerated the development of subfloor preparation products and adhesives with advanced properties and applications.
For example, advancements in adhesive technology have enabled F Ball to create a specialist, solvent-free, high-temperature vinyl adhesive with pressure sensitive characteristics, which can hold floorcoverings in place over a wide range of temperatures.
Similarly, combinations of new, fast-drying smoothing compounds, waterproof surface membranes and adhesives mean that contractors can now install floorcoverings in as little as one day whereas it would have once taken up to three days. Armed with knowledge of these new fast-track products, contractors are better equipped to deal with increasingly demanding time constraints.
Choosing the optimum product
Having a good knowledge of the range of new products available will also help contractors choose the optimum product for a particular job and avoid compromising the finished appearance of an installation.
For example, particular vinyl adhesives are recommended to avoid visible trowel serrations showing through thin vinyl floorcoverings. There are also smoothing compounds that are designed especially to withstand heavy loads and high foot traffic and others designed to accommodate movements in subfloors of metal and wood.
Changes affecting the industry
Contractors need to keep abreast of wider changes affecting the flooring industry too. For instance, calcium sulphate screeds are increasingly common in new builds and require specific treatment to ensure against floor failure. In such cases, a calcium sulphate-based smoothing underlayment will provide optimum compatibility, although cement-based products can also be used providing certain conditions are met.
The move to standards-based apprenticeships has also brought new training requirements. One hour of ‘off the job’ training must be completed for every four hours spent working by flooring apprentices, which more companies should consider giving opportunities to as a way to tackle their skills shortages.
Accessing training
Fortunately, there is no shortage of excellent training available to flooring contractors at little or no cost. Flooring industry training centres, such as Flooring Industry Training Association (FITA) training centre in Loughborough, offer a wide range of training courses, covering everything from subfloor preparation to estimating costs and quoting. Thanks to the apprenticeships levy, many flooring companies enrolling apprentices on training courses such as these can claim back up to 95% of the cost.
As a market leader in flooring preparation products and adhesives, F Ball believes it has a responsibility to promote industry standards and best practice and, by extension, the positive reputation of the flooring industry. This is why flooring contractors of any skill level can take part in training courses at the F Ball Centre of Excellence for free.
Inspiring excellence
Experience shows people get the most from practical instruction, and they are sometimes put off by the thought that training will involve sitting in a classroom all day. For this reason, courses at the F Ball Centre of Excellence have been developed to allow participants hands-on experience using a range of F Ball products in a controlled environment.
Training programmes, which run year-round, are led by experts from within the company, cover subfloor preparation, moisture management and control and adhesive selection. These include specialist courses for apprentices and seasoned professionals, a three-day course on achieving optimum results when installing LVTs, and a three-day sheet vinyl course.
For more information about the F Ball Centre of Excellence and to book a place on a course, use the details below.
01538 361633
www.f-ball.com/training
Tim Green is head of training at F Ball and Co
