If you have a particular fondness for hardwood floors, perhaps you want to transition that into a career. Become a hardwood flooring contractor and earn a living doing what you love. The job typically involves installing, finishing, and repairing hardwood flooring. That may sound simple, but this job requires the right amount of technical knowledge of the flooring requirements and a lot of physical labor. It is a very physically demanding job, as you are stooping and kneeling for hours, installing floors in houses with large floor areas. You are also working with sharp tools, so you need to know how to handle them to avoid any injury.
Educational Requirements
Those who are interested in the job can learn basic skills through carpentry classes in high school. For further studies, general woodworking and math classes can also be beneficial for future flooring contractors. If you need more lessons, you can also take additional coursework from vocational schools, usually on general construction or a specialized carpentry program.
What’s game-changing for those interested in this career is an apprenticeship program. An on-the-job training boosts your knowledge and gives you real woodworking experience. You will also gain contacts within the industry, from fellow contractors, suppliers, and even potential clients. You can apply for an apprenticeship from unions, trade associations, or your local government. An apprenticeship can last somewhere between a couple of projects to three years, with a mix of classroom instruction and hands-on field training with a real contractor.
You’ll learn everything from installation, wood finishing, repairs, and even blueprint reading. The time spent in the apprenticeship program is crucial because it prepares you for the actual job when you are on your own and working on your projects.
Become a Licensed Contractor
To become a hardwood flooring contractor Salt Lake, UT residents can trust, you need to get licensed to operate in the state. You can get licensing opportunities from state agencies and trade associations in your area. It’s hard to start your career as a contractor without a license since that’s what your clients would be looking for first. Typically, the requirements for a contracting license include passing a criminal background check, having liability insurance, filing as an individual proprietor, taking an exam, and of course, paying the licensing fee. You can go directly to your state’s labor department or check the website of the trade association for more details about these.
Becoming a Member of a Trade Association
If you’re interested, you can also join a trade association in your area. This will help you with establishing connections in the country, as well as staying on top of regulatory updates, laws, and more. Even when there’s no formal education required to become a hardwood flooring contractor, there are still a lot of things that you need to learn to be successful in the field. After all, this is a career that potentially pays well, with a median wage of $42,000 for carpenters and contractors.