A terrazzo setter supervisor is a highly skilled professional who oversees and manages the installation and finishing of terrazzo flooring and surfaces. Terrazzo is a decorative material made of marble, glass, or other aggregates combined with a binder, often used in commercial and residential buildings. The supervisor plays a crucial role in coordinating and leading a team of terrazzo setters, ensuring the proper installation and finishing of terrazzo surfaces according to design specifications and quality standards.
Here are the typical duties of a terrazzo setter supervisor:
Plan and schedule terrazzo installation projects, considering design requirements, project timelines, and available resources.
Coordinate with architects, designers, and project managers to understand project specifications, including design patterns, color schemes, and surface finishes.
Interpret blueprints, drawings, and specifications to guide terrazzo installation and ensure compliance with project requirements.
Supervise and direct a team of terrazzo setters, assigning tasks, providing guidance, and ensuring work is completed accurately and efficiently.
Inspect surfaces and substrates to assess their condition and suitability for terrazzo installation, identifying and addressing any issues or required repairs.
Prepare surfaces by cleaning, leveling, and applying appropriate primers or underlayment materials to ensure proper adhesion of the terrazzo.
Mix and pour terrazzo materials, including aggregates and binders, ensuring the correct proportions and consistency for optimal results.
Install and set terrazzo materials, following design layouts and patterns, and applying proper techniques for embedding aggregates and achieving desired finishes.
Use hand tools and power equipment, such as grinders and polishers, to shape, smooth, and finish terrazzo surfaces, creating a polished and seamless appearance.
Apply protective sealants and finishes to enhance the durability and aesthetics of the terrazzo surfaces.
Monitor and inspect terrazzo work to ensure quality craftsmanship, adherence to specifications, and compliance with safety standards.
Collaborate with other tradespeople, such as carpenters and plumbers, to coordinate workflow and ensure proper integration of terrazzo with other building elements.
Procure and manage materials, tools, and equipment required for terrazzo installation, ensuring availability and proper utilization.
Maintain a safe and organized work environment, enforcing safety regulations and implementing measures to prevent accidents and injuries.
Train and mentor terrazzo setters, providing guidance on techniques, troubleshooting, and best practices to enhance their skills and productivity.
Address any issues or concerns raised by the terrazzo setting team and provide effective solutions in a timely manner.
Maintain accurate records of project activities, including material usage, time logs, and equipment maintenance.
Terrazzo setter supervisors work primarily on construction sites, both indoors and outdoors, depending on the project requirements. The work involves physical labor, including lifting heavy materials, bending, kneeling, and standing for extended periods. They may be exposed to dust, fumes, and chemical substances used in terrazzo installation and finishing processes. Safety precautions, such as wearing protective gear, are necessary to minimize risks. The role may require working in tight spaces, at heights, or in environments with limited ventilation. Terrazzo setter supervisors often work during regular business hours, but they may need to adjust their schedules to meet project deadlines or address emergencies.
The educational and professional requirements for a terrazzo setter supervisor can vary based on the employer and the complexity of the projects. Typically, a high school diploma or equivalent is required. Extensive experience as a terrazzo setter, with a proven track record of successful installations, is necessary to develop the skills and expertise needed for supervision. Completion of a terrazzo apprenticeship program or vocational training in terrazzo installation is highly desirable. In some cases, additional certifications or specialized training in terrazzo techniques and materials may be preferred. Strong knowledge of design principles, color matching, and surface finishing techniques is essential.
ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:
the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.
Terrazzo setter supervisor is a Skill level 3 occupation.
These occupations require some skills and knowledge of terrazzo setter supervisor. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of terrazzo setter supervisor with a significant experience and/or extensive training.
Design floor: Plan a floor to be created from different types of materials, like wood, stone or carpet. Take into account the intended use, space, durability, sound, temperature and moisture concerns, environmental properties and aesthetics.
Check compatibility of materials: Make sure the materials are fit to be used together, and if there are any foreseeable interferences.
Manage health and safety standards: Oversee all personnel and processes to comply with health, safety and hygiene standards. Communicate and support alignment of these requirements with the company’s health and safety programmes.
Monitor stock level: Evaluate how much stock is used and determine what should be ordered.
Work in a construction team: Work as part of a team in a construction project. Communicate efficiently, sharing information with team members and reporting to supervisors. Follow instructions and adapt to changes in a flexible manner.
Inspect construction supplies: Check construction supplies for damage, moisture, loss or other problems before using the material.
Evaluate employees work: Evaluate the need for labour for the work ahead. Evaluate the performance of the team of workers and inform superiors. Encourage and support the employees in learning, teach them techniques and check the application to ensure product quality and labour productivity.
Supervise staff: Oversee the selection, training, performance and motivation of staff.
Order construction supplies: Order required materials for the construction project, taking care to purchase the most suitable material for a good price.
Process incoming construction supplies: Receive incoming construction supplies, handle the transaction and enter the supplies into any internal administration system.
Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
Liaise with managers: Liaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of terrazzo setter supervisor. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Construction product regulation: Regulations on construction products quality standards applied throughout the European Union.
Types of membranes: The materials used for the drumhead of membranophone musical instruments include animal skin, plastic and synthetic fibers such as aramid fibers.
Cost management: The process of planning, monitoring and adjusting the expenses and revenues of a business in order to achieve cost efficiency and capability.
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of terrazzo setter supervisor. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Work ergonomically: Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
Apply proofing membranes: Apply specialised membranes to prevent penetration of a structure by dampness or water. Securely seal any perforation to preserve the damp-proof or waterproof properties of the membrane. Make sure any membranes overlap top over bottom to prevent water from seeping in. Check the compatibility of multiple membranes used together.
Maintain terrazzo: Treat old terrazzo replacing missing granules or mosaics, using chemicals to obtain the desired colour, sanding and polishing to give the surface a new lustrous look.
Provide first aid: Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid in order to provide help to a sick or injured person until they receive more complete medical treatment.
Lay terrazzo divider strips: Lay strips of various materials to separate different coloured sections of terrazzo flooring. Interpret the plan to determine the correct positions. Mark the positions and attach the strips to the floor.
Grind terrazzo: Grind the poured and cured terrazzo layer in several steps, from rough to fine, using a grinding machine.
Prevent premature drying: Take the precautionary steps to avoid a product or a surface from drying to quickly, for example by covering it with a protective film or by humidifying it regularly.
Recruit employees: Hire new employees by scoping the job role, advertising, performing interviews and selecting staff in line with company policy and legislation.
Prepare floor for terrazzo: Make sure the floor is ready to receive a terrazzo layer. Remove any previous floor coverings, dirt, grease, other impurities and moisture. Rough the surface with a shot blaster if required.
Install insulation material: Place insulation material, often shaped into rolls, in order to insulate a structure from thermical or acoustic influences and to prevent fire. Attach the material using face staples, inset staples, or rely on friction to keep the material in place.
Pour terrazzo: Pour the prepared terrazzo mixture on the planned floor section. Pour the right amount of terrazzo and use a screed to make sure the surface is even.
Manage contracts: Negotiate the terms, conditions, costs and other specifications of a contract while making sure they comply with legal requirements and are legally enforceable. Oversee the execution of the contract, agree on and document any changes.
Mix terrazzo material: Create a mix of stone fragments and cement in consistent proportions. Add colouring if called for.
Use measurement instruments: Use different measurement instruments depending on the property to be measured. Utilise various instruments to measure length, area, volume, speed, energy, force, and others.
Mix construction grouts: Mix construction materials with water and other materials based on the appropriate recipe. Mix thoroughly to prevent lumps. Avoid contamination, which will adversely affect the properties of the mixture.
Use safety equipment in construction: Use elements of protective clothing such as steel-tipped shoes, and gear such as protective goggles, in order to minimise risk of accidents in construction and to mitigate any injury if an accident does occur.
Provide technical expertise: Provide expert knowledge in a particular field, especially concerning mechanical or scientific subjects, to decision makers, engineers, technical staff or journalists.
Negotiate supplier arrangements: Reach an agreement with the supplier upon technical, quantity, quality, price, conditions, storage, packaging, send-back and other requirements related to the purchasing and delivering process.
Screed concrete: Smooth the surface of freshly poured concrete using a screed.
Blast surface: Blast a surface with sand, metal shot, dry ice or other blasting material to remove impurities or rough up a smooth surface.
Train employees: Lead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the performance of individuals and groups in organisational settings.
Grout terrazzo: Cover any small holes in the terrazzo surface with a grout mixture of the appropriate colour after it has been roughly ground.
