Name: Jerry Petit
Age: 53
Company: D. W. Arundell & Co. Ltd.
Job Title: Contracts Director
How did you get into the flooring industry?
When I left school at the age of 15, I had no idea what I wanted to do, so my careers teacher suggested I undertake work experience in the flooring sector, which I ended up really enjoying. I haven’t looked back since.
What’s been the biggest change in the industry over the past 10 years?
Levelling compounds and adhesives have become more specialised. You used to have just one adhesive or levelling compound for everything. Now you have products designed for maximum compatibility with calcium sulphate screeds, old adhesive residue and flexible subfloors. Another big change has been the rapid growth of the Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) market.
Looking forwards, what do you think will be the biggest change in the next 10 years?
I think resin floors will become more popular. There will certainly be advancements in technology that we will have to keep up with and will require us to constantly keep learning. As a flooring contractor you can’t afford to fall behind with these as they enable us to work more quickly and keep up with customer expectations.
What’s the worst job you’ve been on?
Well, I can tell you about the most frightening job I’ve been on. I was refurbishing floors in a lighthouse and had to be dropped in by helicopter. I am absolutely terrified of heights!
And what’s the best?
There’s the moment at the end of any job when you stand back and take a look at the finished result. Recently, we installed a variety of floorcoverings, in different colours and textures, in a learning disabilities centre. That was particularly satisfying.
Do you have a go-to product for certain jobs?
We use lots of F. Ball products: Stopgap 700 Superflex, over flexible subfloors, Stopgap 1200 Pro, over old adhesive residues, Styccobond F41 for carpet tiles, and all of F. Ball’s primers.
What do you like best about the job?
The variety. Every job is unique, and every day is different in this trade. When we were called on to install floorcoverings in the airport departure lounge in Guernsey for example, we worked at all times of the day and night, while people were coming and going.
What is your least favourite thing about the job?
Tight timescales and time constraints. Flooring contractors have to always be on time. Even whilst working alongside other trades, who are allowed to be six months behind, you are still expected to work quickly and to a high standard. I don’t think that will ever change.