Floorlayer

This is not the latest approved version of this apprenticeship. View the latest version

This apprenticeship has been retired

Key information

  1. Status: Retired
  2. Reference: ST0504
  3. Version: 1.2
  4. Level: 2
  5. Options: textile and resilient floorcoverings, wood- based floorcoverings
  6. Typical duration to gateway: 30 months
  7. Typical EPA period: 3 months
  8. Route: Construction and the built environment
  9. Maximum funding: £17000
  10. Date updated: 23/06/2025
  11. Lars code: 372
  12. EQA provider: Ofqual
  13. Review: this apprenticeship will be reviewed in accordance with our change request policy.

This apprenticeship has options. This document is currently showing the following option:

Contents

Content loading...

Details of the occupational standard

Occupation summary

This occupation is found in large and small employers in all types of buildings within a diverse range of commercial and domestic environments. Buildings may be existing or new and part of a construction site, such as residential dwellings, new build developments, education, retail, healthcare, leisure, hospitality, fit-out and industrial buildings.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to work in an efficient and safe manner to ensure a high level of customer care whether working alone or within a team. The type of installations will vary from basic to advanced, working with a diverse range of materials and designs. As one of the finishing trades, a Floorlayer will significantly contribute to the ‘look and feel’ of a building which can provide great personal satisfaction.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with colleagues, clients and associated trades e.g. plumbers, electricians, painters. They will interpret drawings and extract relevant information to complete the installation of the flooring, but be flexible, in adapting their approach and techniques when faced with unexpected site conditions. 

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for as a trained professional with the installation of textile products such as carpet and carpet tiles, Resilient products such as luxury vinyl tiles and planks, vinyl, linoleum, rubber (sheet or tile) or timber such as laminate and wood (engineered and solid) flooring.

This apprenticeship consists of a core and options and apprentices are required to select one option depending upon their job role. The occupations covered by this standard are:

• textile & resilient floorlayer – prepares subfloors and installs textile and resilient floorcoverings in various formats.

• wood floorlayer – prepares subfloors and installs timber flooring in various formats.

Completion of the apprenticeship will allow individuals to meet the requirements of the Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) and therefore obtain a Skilled Worker card.

 

Typical job titles include:

Textile & resilient floorlayer Wood floorlayer

Core occupation duties

Duty KSBs

Duty 1 Work in compliance with occupational health, safety and environmental requirements to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of self and others at all times. Report in a timely manner any non-compliances to the appropriate person.

K1 K2 K3 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K16 K19 K22 K23 K25 K26 K27 K54 K55

S1 S2 S7 S8 S9 S10 S13 S14 S15 S36

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5

Duty 2 Carry out their work conforming to all current and relevant building regulations, manufacturer guidelines, quality standards and work instructions

K1 K2 K3 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K16 K18 K19 K21 K22 K24 K25 K55

S1 S2 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S13 S14 S15 S36

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B7

Duty 3 Work to the installation programme, adapting to changes in schedule and requirements where necessary

K5 K6 K9 K10 K11 K15 K17 K18 K19 K21 K24

S1 S5 S9 S10 S11

B1 B4 B5 B7

Duty 4 Use correct materials and appropriate tools and equipment for the project.

K2 K6 K7 K9 K11 K12 K13 K15 K16 K18 K19 K21 K22 K25 K55

S1 S2 S5 S7 S9 S10 S13 S14 S15 S36

B1 B5

Duty 5 Prepare the work site including, acclimatisation or materials, setting out the work, and preparing of the subfloor

K1 K6 K7 K11 K15 K19 K23 K24 K54

S5 S8 S9 S10

B1 B5

Duty 6 Plan, measure, cut, and install floorcoverings to the project drawing and specification.

K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K15 K18 K21 K55

S5 S9 S10 S11 S16

B1 B5 B7

Duty 7 Preparation and mixing of materials as per manufacturers guidelines

K2 K3 K7 K11 K19 K24 K55

S1 S2 S9 S10

B1 B5

Duty 8 Collaborate with colleagues, clients, sites and other construction trades

K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K13 K15 K17 K22 K24 K27

S3 S4 S8 S11 S14 S15

B1 B2 B4 B5 B6 B7

Duty 9 Maintain a clear and safe working environment at all times, disposing of waste appropriately using a sustainable approach

K1 K2 K11 K12 K13 K16 K19 K21 K25 K54

S1 S2 S7 S8 S9 S10 S13 S15

B1 B3 B5

Duty 10 Carry out continuous professional development to maintain knowledge of current and future developments affecting the role

K4 K9 K11 K12 K13 K14 K22 K24

S3 S15

B1 B4 B5 B6

Option duties

textile and resilient floorcoverings duties

Duty KSBs

Duty 11 Use the appropriate tools, materials and equipment to carry out the installation of textile and resilient floorcoverings

K35 K39

S6 S12 S17 S22

B1 B5

Duty 12 Identify textile and resilient underlayments and use the correct installation method

K20 K28 K29 K32 K35 K39

S12 S18 S20 S34

B5

Duty 13 Identify textile and resilient floorcoverings and use the correct installation method

K20 K31 K34 K35 K36 K38 K39

S12 S18 S19 S21 S34

B5

Duty 14 Install textile sheet and tile floorcoverings in contract and domestic settings

K20 K30 K31 K33 K35 K36 K39

S12 S17 S19 S22 S34

B5

Duty 15 Install resilient sheet and tile floorcoverings in contract and domestic settings

K20 K30 K35 K36 K37 K38 K39

S12 S17 S19 S21 S34

B5

Duty 16 Install appropriate ancillary products to textile and resilient floorcoverings in contract and domestic settings

K35 K39

S12 S23

B5

wood- based floorcoverings duties

Duty KSBs

Duty 17 Use the appropriate tools, materials and equipment to carry out the installation of wood-based floorcoverings

K40 K41 K42 K53

S24 S25 S26 S35

B1 B5

Duty 18 Identify timber floorcoverings and select correct installation method for the specification

K43 K44 K45 K46 K47 K48 K49 K53

S27 S28 S29 S30 S35 S37

B5

Duty 19 Install solid wood floorcoverings in contract and domestic settings

K42 K44 K45 K46 K47 K48 K49 K53

S27 S28 S29 S30 S35 S37

B5

Duty 20 Install engineered wood and laminate floorcoverings in contract and domestic settings

K44 K45 K46 K47 K48 K49 K53

S27 S28 S29 S30 S35 S37

B5

Duty 21 Install appropriate ancillary products to timber floorcoverings in contract and domestic settings

K51 K53

S33 S35

B5

Duty 22 Sand and finish solid and engineered wood floorcoverings in contract and domestic settings

K42 K50 K52

S31 S32

B5

KSBs

Knowledge

K1: Awareness of health and safety regulations, relevance to the occupation and the operative's responsibilities. Health and Safety at Work Act (HASAWA). Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). Provisional use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER). Manual handling. Occupational Health. Safe Systems of Work. Working at height. Working in confined spaces. Situational awareness. Isolation and emergency stop procedures. Emergency evacuation procedures. Slips, trips and falls. Safety equipment: guards, signage, fire extinguishers Back to Duty

K2: Safety Control equipment and how to use personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory protective equipment (RPE). Back to Duty

K3: Standards and regulations associated with floorlaying activities: British standards. Building regulations. manufacturer guidelines. Back to Duty

K4: Employment and contract types: pay, tax, pension, national insurance, fixed term contract, full time contract, part time contract, zero hour contract. Back to Duty

K5: Adaptations of flooring installations to meet the needs of vulnerable people: light reflection value (LRV), ramps, colours, slip resistance, double stick, low level access. Back to Duty

K6: Flooring installations in traditional, heritage, historic and listed buildings. Back to Duty

K7: Floorlaying materials and techniques in different industry sectors: residential dwellings, new build developments, education, retail, healthcare, leisure, hospitality, fit-out and industrial buildings. Back to Duty

K8: Methods of interpreting and extracting relevant information from drawings, specifications and work instructions. Back to Duty

K9: Principles of digital design, modelling systems and digital platforms. Back to Duty

K10: Written and digital communication techniques within the flooring industry. Back to Duty

K11: Verbal communication techniques and flooring terminology. Back to Duty

K12: Safe handling and moving of flooring materials and equipment: manually, mechanical aids, lifting equipment. Back to Duty

K13: Storage of flooring materials and equipment: Floorcoverings, hand tools, power tools, plant. Back to Duty

K14: Assessment and testing all flooring surface conditions: temperature, relative humidity, moisture content, ambient and environment conditions, surface regularity and subfloor condition including presence of underfloor heating. Back to Duty

K15: Planning methods for flooring installation: phasing work and acclimatisation of materials before laying; type of contract and other works being undertaken. Back to Duty

K16: Methods to remove and dispose new or existing flooring. Back to Duty

K17: Time and task management techniques. Back to Duty

K18: Resource calculation techniques: type of contract, manufacturers guidelines and site conditions. Back to Duty

K19: Characteristics and correct uses of preparation methods for different sub-floor surfaces: mixing and application of repair and smoothing compounds and damp proof membranes, installation of fabricated underlayments and sheet membranes. Back to Duty

K20: Methods of remedial works in flooring: textile and resilient products. Back to Duty

K21: Methods used in measuring, marking and setting out for installing floorcoverings. Back to Duty

K22: Equipment pre-user checks, safe use, maintenance, defect or fault escalation. Back to Duty

K23: Timber subflooring: structure and repair techniques. Back to Duty

K24: Problem solving techniques: subfloor preparation and flooring installation. Back to Duty

K25: Considerations of the environment and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance: carbon footprint, recycling, safe use and disposal of products and waste. Back to Duty

K26: Wellbeing: mental and physical health considerations and how to access support. Back to Duty

K27: Equity, diversity and inclusion, and its impact on built environment solutions. Back to Duty

K28: Textile floorcovering: woven and secondary backed or broadloom sheet. Back to Duty

K29: Flooring underlayments: textile. Back to Duty

K30: Methods of setting out horizontal, inclined, stepped and shaped and coved surfaces; patterned and non-patterned materials. Back to Duty

K31: Textile floorcovering joins, pile direction and pattern matching techniques. Back to Duty

K32: Methods of installing underlayment: fixed, bonded and loose lay. Back to Duty

K33: Textile floorcovering installation techniques bonded, stretch fit and loose lay. Back to Duty

K34: Resilient floorcovering: heterogenous (luxury vinyl tile (LVT), cushion floor) and homogeneous (linoleum, rubber) in sheet and tile forms. Back to Duty

K35: Principles of contract and domestic resilient and textile installations. Back to Duty

K36: Batch numbers, shuffling, direction, tessellation and their effects on colour variation. Back to Duty

K37: Accessory installation techniques: thresholds, skirtings, profiles, stair nosings and trims. Back to Duty

K38: Resilient installation techniques: tiled, flat fit, site formed - cap and cove, joining of resilient materials. Back to Duty

K39: Tools and equipment used for textile and resilient flooring, their purpose, operation and maintenance. Back to Duty

K40: Wood floorlaying hand tools, their purpose, operation and maintenance. Back to Duty

K41: Power tools, their purpose, operation and maintenance: jigsaw, circular saw, drill, mitre saw, multitool. Back to Duty

K42: Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) use and purpose. Back to Duty

K43: Characteristics of wood-based floorcoverings products: solid wood, engineered wood, grain direction and grading. Back to Duty

K44: Wood-based floorcoverings installation methods: nail down, glue down and floating. Back to Duty

K45: Wood-based floorcovering installation techniques: setting out, cutting, matching and fitting. Back to Duty

K46: Wood-based floorcoverings expansion gaps: temperature, relative humidity (RH), manufacturer guidelines, area and wood type. Back to Duty

K47: Underlayment for wood-based floorcovering; foam, acoustic and rubber. Back to Duty

K48: Principles of sprung floor installation: cradle and batten, matting and clip systems. Back to Duty

K49: Laying techniques: long strip pattern, plank, diagonal, herringbone, basket weave, chevron and decorative panel. Back to Duty

K50: Principles of sanding newly installed or refurbished wood-based floorcoverings. Back to Duty

K51: Accessory installation techniques: thresholds, skirtings, profiles, stair nosings and trims. Back to Duty

K52: Wood-based floorcoverings finishing techniques: hard wax, oil, stains and sealants. Back to Duty

K53: Methods of remedial work in wood-based floorcoverings. Back to Duty

K54: Techniques for isolating and protecting surrounding flooring. Back to Duty

K55: Methods of calculating flooring materials and resources. Back to Duty

Skills

S1: Comply with health and safety regulations, standard and guidance. Back to Duty

S2: Select and safety control equipment, use personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory protective equipment (RPE). Back to Duty

S3: Verbally communicate with others: For example, employers, colleagues, clients, other trades. Back to Duty

S4: Use written or digital methods to communicate with others. Back to Duty

S5: Calculate material quantities, qualities and select required resources. Back to Duty

S6: Select and use textile and resilient floorcovering tools and equipment. Back to Duty

S7: Remove and dispose of existing floorcovering. Back to Duty

S8: Isolate, protect and prepare the work area. Back to Duty

S9: Test the subfloor condition prior to the application of the smoothing compound and fabricated underlayment: for example, remove surface contaminants and laitance, mix and apply moisture control systems, apply of primers. Back to Duty

S10: Prepare the sub floor for the floorcovering: for example, installation of fabricated underlayments, mixing and application of smoothing compounds, installation of sheet membranes. Back to Duty

S11: Interpret and use information from drawings, specifications, work instructions. Back to Duty

S12: Carry out remedial works on textile and resilient flooring. Back to Duty

S13: Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal. Back to Duty

S14: Carry out pre-user checks, use and maintain plant and equipment. Escalate defects or faults. Back to Duty

S15: Store tools, materials and equipment. Back to Duty

S16: Measures, marks and sets out floorcoverings. Back to Duty

S17: Use of tools and equipment required for the preparation and installation of resilient and textile floorcovering including setting out, stretching, cutting, adhesives, joining and finishing. Back to Duty

S18: Determine correct textile pile direction for the installation area. Back to Duty

S19: Carry out pattern matching for textile or resilient floorcovering. Back to Duty

S20: Apply installation techniques for underlayments for textile floorcoverings. Back to Duty

S21: Applies installation technique for resilient sheet for example tiled, flat fit, site formed (cap and cove) and joins. Back to Duty

S22: Applies installation techniques for textile floorcovering, for example woven secondary backed, broadloom sheet. Back to Duty

S23: Applies installation techniques for finishing accessories for example, thresholds, skirtings, profiles, stair nosings and trims. Back to Duty

S24: Use and maintenance of hand tools used in the preparation and installation of wood-based floorcoverings. Back to Duty

S25: Use wood-based floorcovering power tools and equipment. Back to Duty

S26: Use local exhaust ventilation (LEV) equipment. Back to Duty

S27: Determine correct expansion gaps in wood-based floorcoverings considering; temperature, relative humidity (RH), manufacturer guidelines, area and wood type. Back to Duty

S28: Apply installation techniques for underlayments for wood-based floorcoverings. Back to Duty

S29: Apply techniques for setting out, cutting, and matching wood-based floorcoverings. Back to Duty

S30: Select fixing method for the wood-based floorcovering installation for example nail down, glue down, floating. Back to Duty

S31: Use sanding equipment on installed or refurbished wood-based floorcovering. Back to Duty

S32: Use finishing techniques and products for example: hard wax, oil, stains and sealants. Back to Duty

S33: Apply installation techniques for finishing accessories for example, thresholds, skirtings, profiles, stair nosings and trims. Back to Duty

S34: Set out horizontal, inclined, stepped and shaped or coved surface, patterned and non-patterned materials. Back to Duty

S35: Carry out remedial work on wood-based floorcoverings. Back to Duty

S36: Resolves problems with timber subflooring prior to a flooring installation. Back to Duty

S37: Apply installation techniques for floating and fixed wood-based floorcoverings. Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: Demonstrate commitment to workplace health, safety and wellbeing. Back to Duty

B2: Collaborate and communicate effectively as part of a team. Back to Duty

B3: Take personal responsibility for sustainable outcomes when carrying out duties, using environmental good practices. Back to Duty

B4: Contribute to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Back to Duty

B5: Take ownership of own workload. Back to Duty

B6: Seek learning and development opportunities to enhance personal competence. Back to Duty

B7: Adapt to new and changing situations with colleagues, clients and other construction trades. Back to Duty

Qualifications

English and Maths

English and maths qualifications must be completed in line with the apprenticeship funding rules.

Content loading...

Version log

Version Change detail Earliest start date Latest start date
1.3 Occupational standard and end-point assessment plan revised. 16/06/2025 Not set
1.2 Occupational standard, end-point assessment plan and funding band revised 05/08/2024 15/06/2025
1.1 End-point assessment plan revised 07/11/2023 04/08/2024
1.0 Approved for delivery 08/11/2018 06/11/2023
Employers involved in creating the standard: A G Flooring Ltd, cfa assessments, Chief assessments, cpa assessments, Designer Contracts, FITA and Contract Flooring Association (CFA), Floorskills, Floortrain, RJB Building Contractors, Westcotes Flooring

Crown copyright © 2025. You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. Visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence

Is this webpage useful?

Thank you for your feedback

Tell us about your experience