Temporary Floor Protection: A Product Guide

Your floors need special protection when undergoing remodeling, during new construction, when moving furniture or heavy equipment, and for events beyond daily use. Protecting floors makes sense and saves money. A paint spill, a hammer drop, a scratch from heavy furniture can cost thousands of dollars in replacement and repair costs. This article outlines surface protection products for floors so that you can make informed decisions about the best product to use for your needs.

Types of protective packaging:

Floor protection products are commonly packaged as:

(1) Roll products: Includes common adhesive films, roll paper products, and roll textile protection. Backing materials purchased by the roll are commonly measured in thickness per mil (for example, 2.5 mils thick up to 48 mils thick).

(2) Sheet products: These include corrugated plastic, masonite, and other rigid protection. Protective materials purchased by the sheet are commonly measured in thickness per inch (for example, 1/4 inch thick) and typically come in 4 feet by 8 feet.

Floor protection type:

paper

Paper liner is suitable for all hard surfaces and resilient surfaces, but it doesn’t work well for rugs, as it can tear when flexed under steps. Paper products are breathable, so vapors from glue and cement curing can escape. One downside to paper products is that they require tape to secure them to the floor, and tape can often leave an adhesive residue behind when removed. Common paper protection products include:

Ramboard™ A 38 mils thick coated compressed paper board that is breathable, water resistant and made from recycled paper.

Kraft paper is a light brown paper that is inexpensive but offers no impact protection and can tear easily.

· Mesh paper can incorporate coatings or reinforcements to make it waterproof, as well as mesh yarns to reinforce the paper and prevent it from tearing. These improved papers are more durable than regular Kraft paper or rosin paper; however, they are also too thin to offer much impact protection.

Rosin paper is thicker than Kraft paper and very low cost. Rosin paper is recycled felt paper that ranges from 9.0 to 11.5 mils thick. The big drawback to using Rosin paper is that it can cause a permanent stain if the paper gets wet. Rosin paper can also tear easily, so its use is not normally recommended.

Corrugated cardboard rolls or sheets can also be used to protect the floor. Corrugation provides impact protection; however, it is not coated with a water resistant finish and must be kept dry at all times to prevent disintegration. Carton products are also available as single, double and triple wall corrugated cardboard sheets or as a fan-folded stack.

polyethylene film

Polyethylene (PE) films are sold as self-adhesive laminated films ranging from 2.0 to 3.5 mils in thickness. They prevent moisture from escaping, so they should not be used on any floor that is curing. Two of the great benefits of polyethylene films are that the films will flex and mold so they can be used on carpet and hard surfaces. These films do not offer any impact protection and are typically rated for short term use of 30-90 days only. Polyethylene films are designed for single use and do not use recycled materials, making them a poor choice for sustainable protection. Release films are available in a variety of “tackiness” of adhesion. Hard surface protection films will have lower adhesion and color than carpet protection, which requires a more aggressive glue to successfully adhere to carpet fibers.

wood products

Plywood and Masonite are commonly used for padding in commercial projects with a lot of foot traffic. Masonite is a wood product made from wood fibers as opposed to plywood which is an actual sheet of thin wood. Both plywood and Masonite are sold in the standard 4-foot by 8-foot size and are more expensive per square foot than paper or polyethylene products. Masonite is commonly 1/8 or 1/4 inch thick. Plywood is commonly 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch thick. Both products provide impact protection on a variety of floor types and provide adequate protection against heavy equipment use or furniture movement. Both plywood and Masonite are breathable and reusable, however they are bulky to transport and store. These wood sheets should be used on top of softer protection, such as rolled fabric, as they easily scratch the floor. These sheets work well to protect carpet by preventing wrinkles when heavy loads are rolled across the carpet. Plywood and Masonite offer no moisture protection and can be more difficult to cut than other types of protection.

Textile products

Textile products are commonly made from recycled fabric. Additionally, these rolled protection products often have additional benefits, such as non-slip backings or breathable plastic linings. For wooden floors, these specialty textile rolls are highly recommended as they are breathable, non-slip, reusable, often leak-proof, and easy to cut.

• Clean & Safe™ is a textile product made from recycled fabric scraps that has a leak-proof liner on the back. It is used on existing floors only because it does not breathe. This rolled product is reusable and can be used under plywood and masonite to prevent scratching.

• Surface Pro™ is made from the same manufacturer as Clean and Safe, but it’s the breathable version. It is a thick 40 mil textile product that also has slip resistance. White in color, it is often used as a wood floor protection in model homes.

• Surface Liner Vapor™ is the newest textile product on the market and is breathable and leak proof. Microscopic pores in the plastic lining allow steam to escape, but are too small for ordinary liquids to penetrate. This rolled product is also easy to keep clean as the plastic top can be swept daily to keep it looking good.

• EZ Cover™ is manufactured to protect cement or decorative cement slabs during curing. It has a soft felt bottom and a compressed paper backing that allows the floor to breathe. EZ Cover is commonly used in commercial and residential applications and is easy to cut as needed.

Application of surface protection

To obtain the full benefits of using surface protection, proper application is essential. The floors must be clean (vacuumed or swept) before covering them with the protection products. Proper protection must be chosen so that moisture is not trapped in floors that are still curing. Trapped moisture can cause total product failure and will void the hardwood flooring manufacturer’s warranty. For heavy traffic or loads, multiple layers of protection may be required.

In short, there are many temporary floor protection options available today. When choosing a protection product, it is advisable to consider the cost, the necessary duration, the breathability and the possibility of reusability of the product. Successful floor protection also includes proper floor installation and preparation. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for use to avoid the possibility of adhesive transfer. Protecting valuable floors is a wise investment of time and money. Surface protection experts are also available to help you choose the best floor protection for your needs.