Hi guys just introducing to be fair, been in the game for almost 20 years now fitting commercially for the bulk of it! Done work in the likes of Odeons, Marks and Spencer's, many many schools, night clubs, the evil Inland a Revenue and Job centres! The list could go on for ever but the reason I've joined this forum is for a little advice really, I'm almost 36 and every few months my knee explodes! and I'm realising my career is going to have to slow down or I'll end a cripple (must have glass knees as I know this shouldn't happen so much) so I'm considering looking into becoming an assessor or teacher of this fine trade. Actually found this forum via a training provider. Anyway I was wondering what is needed to become an assessor and how do I go about finding said jobs. I'm NVQ level two at the moment if that helps with suggestions, I just feel after giving this trade so many years it'll be daft to just walk away when experience should be shared! Anyway thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope some of you can help! Duncan.
I fit carpets and vinyls both flat lay and coved most on a fully stuck method, I tend to use good quality gel knee pads these days, I did try the orthopaedic pads but I just couldn't get on with them, felt like I was perched on stilts! I just think the problem is getting to regular and a change in direction may be needed. But hey I'm open to suggestions to save me from this pain!!
Have you considered sale's (they think they know our job any way) or as an estimater, it'll get you of your knees yet not be as "locked down" as in sales in a shop, as you'll still be putting your experience to good use and showing sales persons (p.c.) how it should be done.
Get redbacks give them a week and youll never go back, just make sure you wear a belt as they are a bit heavy, had knee problems myself up until I changed over to them, the trick is that they spread the weight over a bigger area so less strain on your knees. I believe you need nvq3 to be a trainer im sure I was told a while back when I did my nvq2.
Redbacks don't work properly in snickers they slip down the knee pockets because there so heavy but they do work in work zone trousers !
Cheers for that guys, I'll give those redbacks a go until I decide what I'm going to do. I don't think sales is for me, I did think of contracts managing but the way those guys never seem to be off work and most are either single or in the middle of a divorce is astounding! But seriously cheers for the advise so far!
I bought a pair of Alpro knee pads a few months back and they are absolutely amazing...A right pain in the ar!e to get used to but once it clicks, it clicks... Plus I get to feel like a transformer (yea, a robot in disguise not a piece of electrical equipment) at the same time
Those are the ones I just couldn't get on with a few years back but I must give them another go, they'll be in the lockup somewhere, time to start digging, well actually I need a skip as I never throw anything so they will be next to the 10 year old F3 ;-)
Trust me Dunc, they're worth the fight...For the cost and the p!ssing about with them, I was gutted at first but stuck with them and can now see why they're so good...You've got to retrain yourself My knees don't sweat up now (as much ). One thing I've noticed over time is that the load is spread across a larger area (think some-one else mentioned that) including the upper shin when in an upright kneeling position, which takes so much pressure off the knee cap. I'm also slightly further off the ground which greatly improves posture, helping the lower back, and my feet are in a much more comfortable position (My ankles used to ache like crazy). Lastly, they seem to have retained there shock value due to the material and the design, unlike other knee pads that just go hard..As you'll know very well... Didn't mean to turn this into a review lol...Anyway, as mentioned, I'm about 2 months in and am well happy!
