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August 6, 2010, 08:00 PM
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#31
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Administwative Assistwant
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Today....Under the Wainbow , Tomorrow...Who Knows?
Posts: 4,927
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Tapley Flooring said
were gonna do it all We really want to get into tile and wood/laminate, but were not picky or proud i figure if your a flooring guy why not do it all???
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A suggestion, start with one disipline, get it mastered then move to another. If you take out a carpet one day and a vinyl the next, and tile the third day you will gain a wide variety of experience but it will take a long time to ever feel comfortable on a job.
Better to do ALL carpet for a while till you are comfortable and gain some speed at it in order to make a decent living. Then add another skill set on a gradual basis till you gain a comfort level/ speed with it.
You might even want to check around and find an old retired pro who would go with ya for a couple of days and mentor you. Enough compensation to buy some lube for the old tired joints would be nice for him too!
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August 6, 2010, 08:02 PM
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#32
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a Floor Pro
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Around the Texarkana area
Posts: 10
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To be honest with you after the fact I thought the same thing, I explained our situation clearly and told him our plans and he seemed fine with it, I can talk about anyone(including myself) into about anything
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August 6, 2010, 08:05 PM
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#33
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a Floor Pro
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Around the Texarkana area
Posts: 10
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I guess i figured the opposite. I wasnt sure if we could stay busy doing only one discipline
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August 6, 2010, 08:45 PM
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#34
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All over T's last nerve
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Walla Walla, Washington
Posts: 7,162
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Stay outta crapet, and vinyl is too sensitive to master in a short time. My suggestion is to focus yer efforts on tile, stone and prefinished hardwoods. And the best of luck to ya......
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August 7, 2010, 03:21 AM
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#35
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Old as dirt member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Sunny and warm Oregon coast
Posts: 6,371
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cproader said
Stay outta crapet, and vinyl is too sensitive to master in a short time. My suggestion is to focus yer efforts on tile, stone and prefinished hardwoods. And the best of luck to ya......
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Tapley Flooring said
I guess i figured the opposite. I wasnt sure if we could stay busy doing only one discipline
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If you want to do ceramic tile and stone, my advice is to pull up stakes and move to Walla Walla.
Before taking CP's advice.................... take into account the cost to you of a failed carpet installation to a failed tile or stone installation.
...........one is gonna set you back $1200 and the other is gonna set you back $12,000.
OK, now that said, CP is dead on.........carpet don't pay enough to pay for dog food let alone rent, electric and gas.
I don't do any tile, but if I was learning, I'd be asking first, questions about floor deflection and crack isolation products. Vinyl flooring and carpet can move............. tile and stone cannot............. it's far more then simply being able to cut and fit tile so it looks purdy.......it is supposed to last 50 years or more.
Good luck and welcome to the TFP site. It's nice to see the enthusiasm you have for this work.
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August 7, 2010, 04:29 AM
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#36
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That Kiwi
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 3,249
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hookknife said
Also dont be afraid to share jobs with a more knowledgeable installers if they are willing, you could learn alot.
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I reckon this is about the best advice you could get until you get your eye in
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August 7, 2010, 05:43 AM
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#37
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2nd generation
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Boston
Posts: 2,340
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Welcome and good luck
However as others have said DON'T think you can do ALL flooring. Trust me... most (even including all of the fine flooring artists here) cannot start out doing everything in the trade right off the bat. Take prefinished wood, IVC possibly and carpet to start out with IMO.
You know the old saying "jack of all trades, master at none". Most times if I get a gentlemen in my store asking for work and he tells me he does EVERYTHING I'm personally a bit wary. Not saying you can't, just think you are taking a big big plunge.
Be safe, be conservative
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August 7, 2010, 08:19 AM
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#38
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a Floor Pro
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 6,269
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I have to go along with the Hook. this is not a trade that you can learn from reading posts.
It takes years to become good at it .
Work along side a good mechanic for at least a year or more .
Cheaper they replacing floors and wrecking your rep.
I do wish you all the best .
Nick
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August 7, 2010, 09:50 AM
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#39
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jackreed
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Avon SD
Posts: 397
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Good luck with your new adventure. I've been in this trade for a little over 36 years worked for a very successful retailer 10 yrs being independent. Even thou I've lived in the same area all my life it took me a good five years to get a business going. It's still a stress every day. The economy don't help right now. When you work a job work it smat as possible. Not only know your product and installation procedures, but save your body as much as possible from the abuse this trade can do to you. Use carts as much as possible get extra help to move heavy rolls of flooring when you can't use the carts. Right now I am facing possible surgery because my thumbs and index fingers on both hands are numb. Also don't carry the damn stuff on your shoulders if you can help it.  I don't know your age but you don't need to impress anyone with your strength. 
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August 7, 2010, 05:40 PM
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#40
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Maybe Three
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: St. Hilaire, MN
Posts: 961
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My advice is to get all the phone numbers for the helplines for all the products that you may be installing(congoleum, armstrong, TEC, etc.) and CALL THEM with any questions. Some you will need to leave messages so you need to call a day early and they call you back. Get to know the reps in your area. Just remember, no one wants you to fail. They are trusting you with their product. Don't guess, don't ever guess!
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August 7, 2010, 05:44 PM
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#41
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The One and Only
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Davison,Mi
Posts: 5,675
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Do you have any experience at all of doing flooring?? Or is it just from watching someone else do it and say to yourself "I can do that!"
If thats the case that is what keeps us from going ahead.
Sorry if I'm wrong.
Daris
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August 7, 2010, 08:40 PM
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#42
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a Floor Pro
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Around the Texarkana area
Posts: 10
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Thanks twostars thats a good idea, yes I have some flooring work, but never day in day out, I was a cabinet and trim man for a couple of years then got in to remodeling work...Ive always been drawn to flooring work, mostly tile and wood..I think its a multi talented craft that involves a vast array of skills...
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August 7, 2010, 11:45 PM
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#43
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Administrator
Join Date: May 2006
Location: teh Ether
Posts: 6,633
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Sean Moore said
...Oh, by the way, I'm sort of a dick.
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Don't hold back, Sean, tell us how you really feel. 
I can understand the frustration, but please,  . Especially the part that says, " No personal attacks or abusive insults."
What he's doing is going on in communities all across the country. It's tough times and people are trying to do whatever it takes to support the family. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but he is doing something others like him have not done until now: he came to us for help.
Jim
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August 8, 2010, 10:19 AM
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#44
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Dirty, Dirty Rugger.
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Posts: 1,505
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oh well, it's why we've needed licensing for 20 years and now it's just too late.
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