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Floor Sanders and Finishers Occupation Detailed Description

Floor Sanders and Finishers career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Floor Sanders and Finishers

The main tasks and work activities of Floor Sanders and Finishers are to inspect completed work to ensure proper installation, smooth surfaces with abrasive materials or tools, load materials into construction equipment, apply sealants or other protective coatings. In general, for the Floor Sanders and Finishers, active Listening, operation and Control and other -1 skills are required.
Floor Sanders and Finishers Job Description
EducationThese occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related ExperienceSome previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Floor Sanders and Finishers jobs. 83.56% of Floor Sanders and Finishers have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 0.80% of Floor Sanders and Finishers have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
15.32%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
83.56%
Post-Secondary Certificate
0.80%
Some College Courses
0.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
0.32%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
0.00%

Tasks and Work Activities of Floor Sanders and Finishers

  • Inspect floors for smoothness.
  • Scrape and sand floor edges and areas inaccessible to floor sanders, using scrapers, disk-type sanders, and sandpaper.
  • Guide sanding machines over surfaces of floors until surfaces are smooth.
  • Attach sandpaper to rollers of sanding machines.
  • Apply filler compound and coats of finish to floors to seal wood.
  • Remove excess glue from joints, using knives, scrapers, or wood chisels.
  • Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Selling or Influencing OthersConvincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
  • Processing InformationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or PeopleAssessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
  • Scheduling Work and ActivitiesScheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRunning, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Inspect completed work to ensure proper installation.
  • Smooth surfaces with abrasive materials or tools.
  • Load materials into construction equipment.
  • Apply sealants or other protective coatings.
  • Remove excess materials from finished construction projects.

Skills and Abilities for Floor Sanders and Finishers

  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Trunk StrengthThe ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Extent FlexibilityThe ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  • StaminaThe ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Paint brushese.g. Application brushes
  • Claw hammere.g. Claw hammers
  • Edgerse.g. Corner tools
  • Wood chiselse.g. Draw chisels
  • Drum sandere.g. Drum sanders
  • Masks or accessoriese.g. Dust masks
  • Sanding machinese.g. Edge sanders
  • Paint rollerse.g. Finish application rollers
  • Edging toolse.g. Finish edging tools
  • Floor polisherse.g. Floor buffers
  • Power sanderse.g. Floor sanders
  • Power sawse.g. Floor saws
  • Floor scraperse.g. Floor scraping tools
  • Floor scrubberse.g. Floor scrubbing machines
  • Floor scraperse.g. Floor strippers
  • Floor polisherse.g. Floor waxers
  • Utility knivese.g. Flooring utility knives
  • Personal computerse.g. Personal computers
  • Pneumatic sanding machinese.g. Pneumatic orbital sanders
  • Power sanderse.g. Portable belt sanders
  • MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Building and ConstructionKnowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.