Name: Andrew Matthews
Age: 48
Company: Formation Flooring
Job Title: Director
How did you get into the flooring industry?
My father was in the industry for 45 years, so when it was time for me to get a job I followed in his footsteps.
What’s been the biggest change in the industry over the past 10 years?
The increase in health and safety has largely changed the industry – there are a lot more rules and regulations to take into account when organising a flooring installation.
Looking forwards, what do you think will be the biggest change in the next 10 years?
I think manufacturers will develop more advanced methods for working with anhydrite screeds.
What’s the worst job you’ve been on?
It’s always tough when working with wood in a unconducive environment. There’ve been a few occasions where we’ve been working with expensive timber flooring in a cold, damp room and that’s very difficult.
And what’s the best?
The more experienced the site manager, the better the flooring installation will go. It’s great when you arrive on site and everything has been well organised and prepared for us.
Do you have a go-to product for certain jobs?
We always use F. Ball’s Stopgap P131 general purpose primer – it’s definitely one of the best primers out there.
What do you like best about the job?
I love the job satisfaction I get; it’s great to be able to look back on a flooring installation and see how far you’ve come since you arrived on site.
What is your least favourite thing about the job?
It’s never nice when contractors attempt to negotiate the cost of the job after it has been completed.