60-second interview: Jack Bradbury
Quick-fire questions with Jack Bradbury, owner and flooring installer at Jack Bradbury Flooring.
How did you get into the flooring industry?
As a 15-year-old lad, I was thinking about the future, and I had an image in my head of being stuck in an office and it definitely wasn’t the way I wanted to go.
As it happens, my next-door neighbour owned a flooring company and I quite liked the idea of going to different sites, working with different people and different materials. So, I knocked on his door, looking for a job and what was supposed to be two weeks’ work experience turned into 11 years working for him!
Later, I went out on my own as a fitter having struck a deal with my employer to pick up some private work often via recommendations.
Six years ago, I went for it, becoming self-employed on a full-time basis but I’ve since returned to subcontracting full time as I was getting a mortgage and so it was a needs must situation.
What’s been the biggest change in the industry over the years?
The lack of floor fitters coming in is a massive issue – I think we’re a bit of a forgotten trade. People seem surprised when they realise you need fitters and that houses don’t just come with carpet ready-installed.
Also, the trend of customers purchasing flooring directly, which can bring some issues.
I think everyone knows how much LVT is out there now; it’s exploded. Lots of different products, brands, manufacturers bringing out their own brands. At least it will help to serve the herringbone trend, that’s for sure.
Looking forward, what do you think will be the biggest change in the next five years?
It will be interesting to see how manufacturers move forward with their sales strategy, what with some talking about selling in some high street retailers, such as the bigger ones typically found on retail parks. Maybe it will be the case that fitters will just be installing if customers can buy the floorcoverings direct?
I think LVT will continue to skyrocket. It used to be a hallway here and there and now it seems to be the choice for every job for the downstairs of a house.
What’s the best job you’ve been on?
Two weeks ago, I knocked on the front door of a home for a residential job and it turned out the customer was my former deputy head teacher from school. We shook hands spent much time chatting about where our lives had gone. I’ve set up a business and he too has started a woodwork company. It felt weird being with him and not being a teenager in trouble.
And what’s the worst?
Any with a difficult uplift, such as the working men’s club where we spent the best part of two days ripping up the floors someone had laid 20-odd years ago. It was like the floorcoverings were welded to the floor and we couldn’t catch a break.
I’ve also had some horrible jobs where customers have refused to clean up after their pets and others where someone has died in the room and the floor needs replacing. You just have to take it in your stride.
Do you have a go-to product for certain jobs?
Probably F. Ball’s air fresheners, I’ve got about 15 in the van!
Styccobond F58 PLUS is my go-to adhesive. It’s absolutely brilliant. I can work on it straight away, or it’s got the working time, if needed.
Stopgap Micro Rapid is my favourite floor finishing compound. I like that there’s little to mix, dries quickly and is so smooth.
Stopgap 1200 is my smoothing compound. It’s just really versatile. Spot on.
What do you like best about the job?
My favourite part is pulling up to a customer’s house, or a site, and knowing you’ll be completely changing a room and that it will last for at least a decade. I get a real sense of accomplishment and achievement signing off a room in the knowledge of the difference it will make.
What is your least favourite thing?
Often being the last trade in on site, being under pressure from a site or project manager who is usually at the end of their tether having dealt with all the other trades.
Also drying time in the winter is always a tricky one to navigate. If you start in the evening, you’re not going to be going in to install first thing the next morning.
