Here is your chance to tell us what sort of course you would like to go on! What would you like to cover etc?
I would like to do a course that covers all the types of sub floors you can come across and how they should be preped, prior to installing wood flooring starting with testing, then what tools, products are best to use on them. I had a few in the last couple of months, floated chipboard, anhydrite screed, battens set in screed?
So a subfloor moister testing course along with prep then. I guess we can cover that in a 2 day course with some hands on plywooding screeding/ dpm etc along with reading moister and and checking airflow under houses + lots of other stuff. It might be a bit of a boring course tho as alot of it will be classroom based. Maybe we could add something more exciting with install of wood or LVT etc? More hands on basically. What else would you like included in your course? Would you prefer a short course or a more intense longer course (maybe 5 days) covering a large range of product + methods of install? The longer your with us the more hands on we can have and the less classroom time.
I was thinking wood floor with installation of a few different types and methods aswell. I have done the Amtico course and that did teach about taking moisture readings, ply and feather, latexing and dpm. That was a 5 day course which is a bit of a killer when your self employed, thing is can you fit this type of course in less?
don't take me wrong here, but how many of you have your other half working in the business too? Often they do a lot on admin and customer care etc, leaving you to get on with things. Would they be interested in a course that relates to this - practical tips on "running the business"?
Well the more time your with a trainer the more your going to learn. Also it depends on how advanced the people are on the course. For instance if you came on a LVT course learning how to bend boarders etc you are going to have a lot more idea of whats going compared tto the chap that has never fitted a lvt diagonal before. You get alot of people that will come on a advanced course that have been fitting for years and find it 'too' advanced for them. They would of been better on a beginners course and vise versa.
I think that in a lighthearted way then we should all get together and just discuss an all rounder type flooring project to include all ideas because me n Ted are running out of time ynaw.
I should get on some courses - been installing all sorts for 25 years or so, only course I've been on was pergo one and that was years ago when they first got into the laminate flooring market in the UK. It seems that as time goes on qualifications / certificates are becoming more important, sometimes just for customers peace of mind, although having proof that you know what you're doing can win you a job as well as help you if you get a problem.
Very true, at the end of the day if you was to have a new kitchen fitted and you got 3 quotes- 1st quote - no certificates(courses etc) or qualification (nvq etc) 2nd quote- He has a NVQ maybe 3rd quote- all singing and dancing! this chap has enough NVQ's and certificates to decorate your lounge! Well who would you have fit your kitchen? And before someone says i would use a mate of someone recommened. Alot of people dont have a mate in the trade or a friend that can recommened someone. o and lets say all 3 quotes are within a few quid of each other. Yes we could ask for a reference but most of these are written by a 'mate'. Trust me i have to check out references every day and there are alot of bullcrap home made references floating around! Getting back to the point also, alot of peoplek have been in the trade for years so dont need training? But people seem to forget that new products come out each week and unless you are shown how to use new products or even told about them you may get stuck in the past grafting hard than you should be etc.
here is another new idea for you all! how would you lot like to come on a "forum show your skills day" Maybe we get a bunch of you lot together at a training center and we show each other different methods of how we do things? You all must have a certain way you do certain things that you dont see other fitters doing? would you like to swap knowledge between yourselves? This would not be a training course that shows you "this is how we want you to fit to the standards" but a i do it like this and you get to show everyone how you fit a winder etc? Maybe followed up with some demos of how some of our "NICF master fitters do it" after all we have a few master fitters on here that im sure i could get to come along and show me and you a few tricks? End of the day the standards are written by fitters that come up with good ideas that work! You never know but your way of fitting may become the 'NEW' way to fit a winder for example. Just a idea !
Dont see why not, maybe we could come and rip your HSL up all have a go at refitting it for you LOL. Dont suppose you want to come and pick us all up do you?
Thats a good idea Matt and can i take you all back home afterwards.After all seeing as its in my own village its the least i can do.
show me how to fit the stairs from the bottom, iv been fitting stair from the top for 35 years im i wrong! very old Steve.
Dont worry Steve,a lot of modern homes have a "living area" on the first floor so how are you (upstairs) these days?.
