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Last updated: 2 January 2025
How to upskill with carpet fitting training
As trends have changed, a shortage of carpet fitters has emerged, so now’s a good time to consider carpet fitting courses to join an in-demand trade profession. For everything you need to know about the skills you need and where to find carpet fitting training, read on.
Carpet fitting is always an in-demand trade. Trade professionals with the right carpet fitting training should find plenty of work opportunities.
For example, in 2024, there wereover 131,000 job searches for carpet fitting on the Checkatrade website.* Fancy a slice of that interest?
It’s a profitable trade business to consider. The average annual salary for a carpet fitter will also depend on your skill level. With more experience, you'll be able to earn and charge more.
Carpet fitting courses can also cover more than just carpets. Training can often cover other flooring types including:
Carpets
Vinyl and lino
Wood
Laminates
Once trained, you could earn more working for yourself. Perhaps use the skills you learn from a carpet fitting course to start your own carpet fitting business.
How to set up a carpet fitting business
Want to know how to set up your own carpet fitting business? Great. You could have the freedom to choose your working hours, maximise your earnings, and have control of your career. You could be currently working for a carpet fitting firm or coming to the end of your apprenticeship. If you are, you
Skills needed to become a carpet fitter
Carpet fitting courses provide the technical training to make you a professional. You’ll also need other skills to be really good at your work.
If you’re thinking of starting a carpet fitting business, these business skills are essential:
Excellent customer service
Carpets can be expensive items for homeowners. You’ll need to make sure they are happy throughout the process.
You could be taking carpet samples to customers and helping them to choose. It helps if you can advise customers on types of carpets, colours and thickness.
Good communication skills
You’ll probably also need to work closely with other tradespeople. In particular, plumbers, electricians and painters if you’re working on a new or refurbished property.
Also, you might need to discuss exact orders with carpet suppliers.
Attention to detail
You've got to get it right the first time with carpet fitting. That's why it is highly skilled work. Mistakes can be hard - and expensive - to put right afterwards
You've done the training, now find the work
We'll help find carpet fitting leads for your business
Patience
A lot of carpet fitting is meticulous. You could be under time requirements, so make sure you can work well under pressure.
Maths and problem-solving skills
This includes working out the best way to cut and lay carpets. After all, many rooms are unusually shaped. Then there are sums to do. You'll need a head of figures to provide quotes and invoices.
Don’t worry if preparing quotes and invoices isn’t your forte. We can help – Checkatrade members get access to use our free quoting and invoicing tool.
Our quoting and invoicing tool - saves time on your admin
With tradespeople estimated to spend around 2.5 hours every week on quoting and invoicing customers, our tool is designed to help streamline your job processes. It's easy to use, and generates both quotes and invoices at the touch of a button. > “Our members often tell us that quoting is a pain
Good level of fitness and dexterity
Carpets aren’t light! There could be a lot of manual handling involved. You’ll also need good dexterity for cutting carpets to the correct size. The laying and finishing can be fiddly. You could also work in confined areas and on your hands and knees.
Other important aspects include:
Driving licence
Health and safety awareness
Manual lifting
Using adhesives, solvents and other chemicals
Using equipment, including sharp instruments and powerful staplers
What to look for in carpet fitting courses
We’ve looked at the personal skills you’ll need as a carpet fitter. Now, let’s see what technical skills the role requires. Here are some of the expertise that carpet fitting training should provide:
Measuring up
Learn the art of measuring spaces for carpets and floor coverings
Preparation work
Removing old carpet and coverings
Cleaning surfaces
Levelling floor spaces ready to fit carpets
Cutting carpets
Using specialised tools for cutting
Making carpets the right shape to fit round obstacles, like fireplaces
Cutting for angled areas and doorways
Laying
Putting down underlay
Stretching and tucking carpets
Using specialised tools for joining sections of carpets and trimming excess areas
Finishing off the job
Rehanging doors if you have to remove them to fit the carpet
Sorting out any imperfections in carpets once they have been laid
Ready to take your carpet fitting to the next level?
Checkatrade can help your business get there
Finding the right carpet fitting courses
It will take time to complete a carpet fitting course. So, it’s best to look locally.
That’s why tradespeople usually start off by asking: “Are there carpet fitting courses near me?”
Carpet fitting apprenticeships
The basics for this trade are available in a carpet fitting apprenticeship. Apprenticeships provide on-the-job training, so you’ll probably want one near you.
You've done the training, now find the work
We'll help find carpet fitting leads for your business
Professional carpet fitting courses
The Contract Flooring Association (CFA) supports trade businesses that supply and install commercial floors. Its training guide is a useful place to find out about the skills you need.
Remember, too, that many residential and commercial spaces feature non-carpet alternatives. For example, to use more sustainable and environmentally-friendly materials for flooring.
Between them, the CFA and the National Institute of Carpet Floorlayers set up the Flooring Industry Training Association (FITA). This is the training organisation where you’ll find carpet fitting courses.
Flooring Industry Training Association carpet fitting courses
For domestic and commercial interiors, the Flooring Industry Training Association (FITA) offers a range of carpet fitting courses. NVQs are available for floor covering operations.
FITA runs carpet fitting courses for:
Domestic installers
Commercial installers
Take your carpet fitting business to the next level
With professional carpet fitting training under your belt, you’ll be ready to look for job opportunities. Checkatrade members receive our help with new enquiries.
There are lots of other benefits of Checkatrade membership too.
They include:
Dedicated membership advice team
Work guarantee up to £1,000 (T&Cs apply)
Exclusive offers and discounts
Reduced cost of workwear and branding
Use of the dedicated members app for job management and invoicing
Savings on other business essentials such as vans, fuel and materials
What do you need to become Checkatrade approved?
Becoming a Checkatrade member comes with a whole host of benefits, but the biggest has to be gaining our seal of approval. Homeowners tend to expect a commitment to quality when it comes to the Checkatrade tick, which can help you to win more business. Here are the checks you'll need to pass to join our directory.
Key takeaways
Carpet fitting skills can be applied to other types of flooring, such as wood, vinyl and lino
As well as carpet fitting training, you'll also need good business skills like being a good communicator, working with others, manual dexterity and maths knowledge
Carpet fitting courses teach you about measuring up spaces, preparing them, cutting and laying
Carpet fitting courses are available from trade associations and trade businesses, that offer apprenticeship and NVQ qualifications
Ready to take your carpet fitting to the next level?
Checkatrade can help your business get there
* Internal search data from consumers using the Checkatrade.com website in 2024
