Occupation

Floor Sanders and Finishers

Human Advantage 62%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Low Risk
2.9 / 10

This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.

Scrape and sand wooden floors to smooth surfaces using floor scraper and floor sanding machine, and apply coats of finish.

Also Known As: Bowling Alley Refinisher, Finisher, Floor Finisher, Floor Mechanic, Floor Refinisher, Floor Renovator, Floor Sander, Floor Sander and Finisher +14 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Buff and vacuum floors to ensure their cleanliness prior to the application of finish.
  2. Scrape and sand floor edges and areas inaccessible to floor sanders, using scrapers, disk-type sanders, and sandpaper.
  3. Inspect floors for smoothness.
  4. Attach sandpaper to rollers of sanding machines.
  5. Guide sanding machines over surfaces of floors until surfaces are smooth.
  6. Apply filler compound and coats of finish to floors to seal wood.
  7. Remove excess glue from joints, using knives, scrapers, or wood chisels.

Education & Training

Job Zone 1 Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed
Education: Some of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.
Experience: Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Less than a High School Diploma
47%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
35%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
16%
Some College Courses
2%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Microsoft Excel

Software (8)

  • Computer aided design CAD software
  • Floor planning software
  • FloorCOST Estimator for Excel
  • Flooring Technologies QFloors
  • Measure Square
  • Pacific Solutions FloorRight
  • Vimeo

Tools & Equipment (27)

  • Application brushes
  • Claw hammers
  • Corner tools
  • Draw chisels
  • Drum sanders
  • Dust masks
  • Edge sanders
  • Finish application rollers
  • Finish edging tools
  • Floor buffers
  • Floor sanders
  • Floor saws
  • Floor scraping tools
  • Floor scrubbing machines
  • Floor strippers
  • Floor waxers
  • Flooring utility knives
  • Personal computers
  • Pneumatic orbital sanders
  • Portable belt sanders
  • Protective ear muffs
  • Protective eyewear
  • Rotary sanders
  • Sanding blocks
  • Shop vacuums
  • Tablet computers
  • Tack cloths

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Skilled Trades Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 1
Floor Sanders and Finishers You are here
Zone 2
Carpet Installers 94% match
Zone 3
Electricians 77% match

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Related Occupations

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Real Talk

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