Profession hardwood floor layer
Hardwood floor layers install floors made of solid wood. They prepare the surface, cut parquet or board elements to size, and lay them in a predetermined pattern, straight and flush.
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Personality Type
- Realistic / Enterprising
- Realistic / Conventional
Knowledge
- Wood cuts
Different ways of cutting wood, across the grain or parallel with it, and radial or tangential to the core. The behaviour of cuts of wood under different circumstances and the optimal cut for a given purpose. Influence of special attributes of the wood, like knots or defects.
- Types of wood
Types of wood, such as birch, pine, poplar, mahogany, maple and tulipwood.
Skills
- Work ergonomically
Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
- Use measurement instruments
Use different measurement instruments depending on the property to be measured. Utilise various instruments to measure length, area, volume, speed, energy, force, and others.
- Follow health and safety procedures in construction
Apply the relevant health and safety procedures in construction in order to prevent accidents, pollution and other risks.
- Monitor processing environment conditions
Verify that the overall conditions of the room where the process will take place, such as temperature or air humidity, meet the requirements, and adjust if necessary.
- Lacquer wood surfaces
Apply one or several layers of lacquer to a wood surface to coat it. Use a roller and a brush for larger surfaces. Load the roller or brush with lacquer and coat the surface evenly. Make sure no debris or brush hairs stay on the surface.
- Inspect construction supplies
Check construction supplies for damage, moisture, loss or other problems before using the material.
- Create floor plan template
Lay out the floor plan of the area to be covered on a suitable medium, such as strong paper. Follow any shapes, nooks and crannies of the floor.
- Pin parquet
Use air fired pins to pin parquet to the underfloor while the adhesive cures. Fill the resulting holes with putty.
- Wax wood surfaces
Treat wood surfaces with an appropriate wax, such as solid paste wax or liquid wax. Apply the wax to a wood surface and rub it in. Buff the surface to a shine using manual or electric equipment.
- Identify wood warp
Identify wood that has changed shape due to stresses, wear or incorrect installation. Recognise the different types of warp, like bow, twist, crook and cup. Identify possible causes and solutions to wood warp.
- Fill nail holes in wood planks
Fill holes left by nails in wood planks with wood putty. Remove excess material with a plastic trowel or putty knife.
- Interpret 3D plans
Interpret and understand plans and drawings in manufacturing processes which include representations in three dimensions.
- Install wood elements in structures
Install elements made of wood and wood-based composite materials, such as doors, stairs, plinths, and ceiling frames. Assemble and affix the elements, taking care to prevent gaps. Inspect the work and notify the responsible person in case of problems.
- Create smooth wood surface
Shave, plane and sand wood manually or automatically to produce a smooth surface.
- Lay underlayment
Lay an underlayment or pad on the surface before placing the top surface covering in order to protect the carpet from damage and wear. Tape or staple the underlayment to the floor and attach the edges to each other to prevent intrusion of water or other contaminants.
- Transport construction supplies
Bring construction materials, tools and equipment to the construction site and store them properly taking various aspects into account such as the workers' safety and protection from deterioration.
- Join wood elements
Bind wooden materials together using a variety of techniques and materials. Determine the optimal technique to join the elements, like stapling, nail, gluing or screwing. Determine the correct work order and make the joint.
- Interpret 2D plans
Interpret and understand plans and drawings in manufacturing processes which include representations in two dimensions.
- Clean wood surface
Use a variety of techniques on a wood surface to ensure it is free of dust, sawdust, grease, stains, and other contaminants.
- Prepare surface for hardwood floor laying
Make sure the base is properly prepared. Flatten out any uneven surface by applying thin strips of wood called firrings, sanding and refixing any loose or creaky boards.