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We’ve all been in the position of having to bring in a new person with little-to-no experience, to help out on a job at short notice. You’ve probably also had a bumpy ride in getting them up to speed FAST so they're actually helpful from day one, rather than just getting in the way all day while they learn the ropes.

We wrote this article to help you turn your new assistant into a master of their craft (well, a master helper at least) as quickly as possible. Cut down the uh… “learning phase” so you can make the most of your jobs together with less stress and headaches, and have them prepared and ready to go.

Preparation for Day 1 (What to Bring)

WORST CASE SCENARIO is your new labourer showing up empty-handed on their first day. Imagine how their soft little knees will feel without knee pads! While some of this stuff will be common sense to you, don’t expect them to know or bring anything without you specifically telling them.

Gear up buddy. Let’s cover the basics of protection so that they show up on the second day, rather than call in sick and sore after the first.

A sturdy pair of work boots and high quality knee pads are a must. Dust mask, and safety glasses if you can’t supply them. Is a Polo shirt required, long or short sleeves - spell it all out so they know what you expect. If you’re using uniforms, give them in advance so they’re prepped and ready for their first day.

Tools of flooring installation trade: A good utility knife, tape measure, level, and a hammer are essential flooring installation tools, so tell your apprentice/labourer in advance so they can organise them (unless you plan on supplying it all). Be very specific if they also need to bring any specialty tools like a jigsaw or tile cutter. If you’re going to supply all that, tell them NOT to bring them to avoid unnecessary clutter.

Settle down, settle in (What to tell)

Remember how you felt on your very first day as a flooring installer? Your apprentice/labourer is probably a little nervous too, even if they’re trying to act cool about it. Let’s help him or her settle in quickly so they’re not embarrassing themselves through nerves and lack of confidence.

Welcome: A warm greeting goes a long way to help your new flooring apprentice/labourer calm down a bit and feel at ease. Engage in small talk, ask if they’ve brought everything you asked, or if they’re feeling ready for the first day. Just let them know you’re happy to have them there and ease the pressure a little.

Pre-work safety briefing: It might seem like common sense, but a quick safety briefing can go a long way to prevent accidents. Talk about proper lifting technique, power tool safety, keeping cords away from blades, and any other potential hazards. You’re the resident pro, and you want your apprentice or labourer to feel confident by your side so they can focus on learning without bumbling around with some very sharp and very heavy objects!

Setting expectations: Setting expectations from the start is key to a smooth working relationship. Be clear, set up communication guidelines, and share the timelines.

  1. Flooring Project Scope

    Briefly explain to your flooring apprentice or labourer the scope of the project. He needs to grasp the overall size (the square footage of the floor being installed), the complexities involved (e.g working on multi-layered floors and around curved areas, herringbone and other patterns to make sure their cuts are 100% precise). If they’ve come in half-way through to replace someone else, discuss what stage of the project you’re in (old flooring removal, subfloor preparation, tile layering, etc.).

  2. Flooring Project Timelines

    Give your flooring apprentice a breakdown of the project timeline, like the number of days or weeks to complete it. If it's a large project, try dividing it into milestones – subfloor preparation takes 3 days, while laying down the flooring materials will take 8 days, etc.

  3. Apprentice’s Scope of Work

    Set clear guidelines on what are their tasks, and what are yours. If you’re laying the tile, they need to know it’s their job to ensure you have at least 3 cut tiles at the ready, right behind you at all times. Discuss some goals for the day too - today we need to finish the subfloor and have X metres of tiles cut in prep for tomorrow, because we’re going to lay them faster than you can cut them. Map out the work as you go and don’t expect them to know what they should be doing. E.g “You can help me with the thinset application and keeping a steady supply of tiles right here, because I can’t be walking back to the main pile all the time. Afterwards, you’ll do the tile levelling and tile adhesion checks with a rubber mallet.”

  4. Questions? I’ve got questions.

    Talk openly about communication – you want them to feel comfortable asking questions when something is unclear. You don't want to assume they understand what you say when they don't, only realising this once they’ve completely buggered it up for you. Think of it as a two-way street – clear communication from you keeps you both on the same page, and clear communication from them means you’ll have confidence in what they’re doing.

Yes, We Talk Flooring.

If you’re about to onboard someone new, you'll love our FREE Day 1 Checklist for new labourers. Print it out, check the boxes on what they need to bring and give it to your apprentice/labourer before their first day. Easy.

Sign up for the WTF? Insider Club to receive your copy immediately.

Getting Hands-On (How to train)

Here comes the fun part – getting their hands dirty and doing some grunt work to take the load off your shoulders. Not immediately… but soon enough.

Show, don't just tell: When you’re asking them to cut tiles for the corners, demonstrate it first. Then, let your apprentice or labourer try under your watch. Learning by doing is best, but it’s too soon to leave them to their own devices. Provide constructive feedback as the day progresses, rather than swearing under your breath and hoping they get it right next time.

Break it down: If for example you need to do a diagonal tile layout with cuts around the perimeter, break down the task first into small steps – (1) create the diagonal reference line, (2) dry-lay a sample row with scrap tiles for the pattern then cut through mark lines, (3) lay diagonal tiles one-by-one following the reference line, (4) use spacers for even spacing. None of this is second nature to your assistant yet so chunk it down into easy to follow instructions.

Conquer Flooring Challenges: Teach how to troubleshoot common issues that may arise during installation, such as uneven subflooring or damaged flooring materials. Encourage creative problem-solving whenever the opportunity arises, even if it means they’re sharing a terrible idea. You can guide your apprentice back to the right way to do it. After all, the ability to adapt to unexpected challenges on the job is what makes a flooring installer great!

Embrace questions: The more they ask, the faster they’ll grasp the concepts. You might even find knowledge gaps you weren't aware of. When you’re bloody busy, this is hard. You want to get on with it and your labourer is just yapping away about this and that. Seriously though, embrace the questions, as it means they are eager to learn.

Field-Tested Tips (Seasoned Flooring Installers Wisdom)

Everyone learns differently – what worked for you when you were the newbie might not be the best approach for your new flooring installation assistant. Don’t become the same rough, narcissistic bastard that your old boss was 30 years ago just because you ‘endured’ it back then! These younger types are soft these days…

  • Patience is key. Remember, everyone starts somewhere. Be patient with your new flooring apprentice, especially if at first, he's having a hard time adjusting. Encourage him to push on, keep track of his progress and feed it back to him for added motivation. Celebrate his small wins as it will drive him to learn more, and learn fast.
  • Focus on the details. High quality work is valued within the flooring industry. That's why instilling a keen eye for detail from the beginning is crucial. Highlight the importance of clean cuts, straight lines, and a flawless finish, as this greatly affects the quality and aesthetics once the flooring project is finished.
  • Lead by example. Your work ethic and professionalism will rub off on your new flooring apprentice. Expect that when you’re training someone totally new to the flooring trade, he’ll first mimic you like how a child mimics what the parents do. So set a positive example and demonstrate the work ethic you want to pass on.
  • Continued learning: Even after he’s done training under your wing, encourage him to stay curious and keep learning. Nobody has learned everything in the field no matter the years spent in, because he won’t be experiencing everything. So push him to stay current by attending workshops, reading industry publications, or watching online tutorials.
  • Keep the answer. Tell him to keep a notepad with him so during breaktime they can write down things they learn and different preferences as to how things are done. He can use his phone too, just make sure he’s recording the answer so he doesn’t ask you the same question over and over because he didn’t take time to keep the answer handy.

Alrighty, that’s a wrap on how to prep, set and forget your new flooring installation noob in just a week. Remember that a well-trained, motivated flooring assistant isn't just a benefit in your current project – you're making an investment in your future expansion.