What You'll Do

  • Join edges of carpet and seam edges where necessary, by sewing or by using tape with glue and heated carpet iron.
  • Cut and trim carpet to fit along wall edges, openings, and projections, finishing the edges with a wall trimmer.
  • Inspect the surface to be covered to determine its condition, and correct any imperfections that might show through carpet or cause carpet to wear unevenly.
  • Roll out, measure, mark, and cut carpeting to size with a carpet knife, following floor sketches and allowing extra carpet for final fitting.
  • Plan the layout of the carpet, allowing for expected traffic patterns and placing seams for best appearance and longest wear.
  • Stretch carpet to align with walls and ensure a smooth surface, and press carpet in place over tack strips or use staples, tape, tacks or glue to hold carpet in place.
  • Take measurements and study floor sketches to calculate the area to be carpeted and the amount of material needed.
  • Cut carpet padding to size and install padding, following prescribed method.
  • Install carpet on some floors using adhesive, following prescribed method.
  • Nail tack strips around area to be carpeted or use old strips to attach edges of new carpet.

Essential Skills

Monitoring 3.12/5
Coordination 3.12/5
Mathematics 3.0/5
Critical Thinking 3.0/5
Quality Control Analysis 3.0/5
Time Management 3.0/5
Active Listening 2.88/5
Speaking 2.88/5
Social Perceptiveness 2.88/5
Judgment and Decision Making 2.88/5
Complex Problem Solving 2.75/5
Reading Comprehension 2.62/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Artist: Creating original work and expressing ideas feels natural.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Dependability, Integrity, Cooperation, Independence

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Problem Sensitivity 3.62/5
Trunk Strength 3.62/5
Extent Flexibility 3.62/5
Static Strength 3.5/5
Near Vision 3.5/5
Visualization 3.25/5
Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.25/5
Manual Dexterity 3.25/5

Technologies & Tools

Autodesk AutoCAD Aya Associates Comp-U-Floor Carpet Dealer Management System CDMS eTakeoff FIRST Flooring FloorCOST Estimator for Excel Flooring Technologies QFloors Focus Floor Covering Software Measure Square FloorEstimate Pro Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Word Pacific Solutions FloorRight RFMS Schedule Pro Textile Management Systems RollMaster

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.65/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.5/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.14/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 4.13/5)
  • Independence (High importance: 3.99/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Carpet Cleaning Tech (Carpet Cleaning Technician) Carpet Installation Specialist Carpet Installer Carpet Layer Carpet Mechanic Carpet Technician Carpet Tile Layer Commercial Carpet Installer Commercial Floor Covering Installer Floor Coverer Floor Coverer Installer Floor Covering Installer Floor Installation Mechanic Floor Technician Flooring Installer Installer Residential Carpet Installer Rug Layer Subcontractor Installer Wall-to-Wall Carpet Installer