Im sure most of you remember the old carpet fitter of the year comps? they went on to be floorlayer and eventually ended up in being held as European floorlayers competition that was a team of 3 fitters competing it out in Germany? Well, many people ask me if this will ever happen again? Well.......Maybe... Would you lot like it to return? would you fancy a go yourself? Biggest problem is funding the event. But we will see what your thoughts are on it coming back and maybe, just maybe we can come up with a plan! PS- coming back as U.K fitter of the year, not the European team of the year! Whats your thoughts on this?
That would be great! I remember when I first went to Harrogate I think they had something like that going on. Not sure if it was a comp tho? Can you not get funding by nicf or fita?
No funding mate from them. If we rewind to when it first started in the 80's (when Sid was in competing) it was funded and run by Duralay. That ended and then when Sid became president of the NICF in the 90's he brought it back to life as the NICF Floorlayer of the year, with money given by sponsors. Sid left the NICF and teh comp died also. NICF had another stab at getting teh comp back running in Germany but to be fair it was a joke how it was judged (this is when i was in it) . The judges all worked to different standards and methods so it was never going to be a fair judged compertition running like this. Anyway, the European comp was never the same as when it was "U.K" fitter of the year. I would love to bring it back and hope i will one day. When did you first go to Harrogate mate, That would of been me battling out when it was at Harrogate LOL
Yeah, I spose every country is use to fitting different products in a different way? First time I went to harrogate would of been around 2002-2004 not sure exactly. went a few years in a row. I remember some lad preping a bullnose and thinking what the hell is going on here. My old boss was saying we wouldnt get anything done if we did every job like that. I thought yeah definatly wouldnt get a whole house done in a day!
LOL, that is the wrong way to think tho (your gaffer at the time) . The bull nose i presume was being stitched and would take maybe a extra 30 mins to fit compared to a throw it on install. But what people seem to forget is that you can charge more for this sort of work and repeat wok you get from friends and family related will be a lot more than doing a crap job.
I charged £75 more to curve wood planks on a job in bay window last year. They paid it too even though they had a cheaper quote who said it couldn't be done :lol:
Yeah I agree, We still stiched the bullnose(well my mate did) but the prep wasnt as spot on as It was there. That was the worst thing about subin from a shop you get a h/s/l and you get a price, its hardly ever enough to cover taking up all the wrong prep, re doing it properly and then fit. Now I just work off having to prep from the start even if there is already gripper there. unless its a proper nasty little job :evil: How did you get on in Germany then?
Over the 3 years that i was in the team we finished 2nd, 2nd, 3rd. Italy won the first 2 years running.
That's a great idea Matt and it should certainly be encouraged for the younger guys in the trade - wherever they are!? Did'nt you have to have fitters of certain ages to be eligible for the team? If you need someone in the under 25 category put my name down!!!!
Basically you had to enter the U.k comp first. The winners of the U.K comp went through to represent the U.k. The team was made up of a Team Captain (me in the years i was in) that could be any age, one person on the team also had to be under 22 i think it was and the other person over 25 or something like that. (cant remember exactly) My team was very young, i think the 2 lads was around 21-22 and i would of been 27-28. Once we all traveled to Germany you was up against other teams from around Europe. So Germany, Italy, Holland etc etc. The comp was run over 3 days, you had to install different types of flooring + screed etc and come up with your own designs with what material you was given. It was filmed by German T.v and thousands of people came through to watch. I will dig out some pictures
o and to give you a idea of the size of the show. We are in hall 9. Hall 9 is actually split into two halfs. The whole show i think was 11 halls. Here is a picture of my van parked in Hall 9 (or the one half) , the comp is the other side of the black curtain ! Our U.k show (harogate) would fit in maybe one quarter of this hall.
