Maybe you’re remodeling your kitchen. Maybe you’re overseeing an entire construction project. Whatever your reasons for needing protective floor covers, it’s important that you only buy high-quality products that can get the job done. You don’t want the process of building something new to damage what’s already beneath your feet!
But what if you aren’t sure what to look for in a protective floor covering? What if you don’t know where to shop or what to buy? How can you be sure that you’re getting a good deal?
Here are just a few things to look for in protective floor coverings. While this isn’t an exhaustive list, it should be enough to get you thinking in the right direction about your options.
1. Material Type
Protective floor covers are made from many different types of materials. For example, the cheapest might be plastic tarps while the more expensive kind have padded foam layers over well-insulated vinyl. If you need a specific kind of strength, durability or performance from your floor covering, take a good look at its craftsmanship. If you don’t feel confident that it can hold up to the clomping of work boots, don’t buy it. You want to be fully comfortable with your purchase.
2. Waterproofing
Some floor coverings are completely waterproof. Others are only “water-resistant.” Some have been double- and triple-stitched to prevent leaks of all kinds; some actually come with drainage holes or other openings to let water out. There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to the amount of waterproofing that you should look for in your floor covers; it all depends on your personal preferences and project type. Some construction or industrial tasks might require heavier protection than others.
3. Safety
Accidents can happen at any time, so don’t skimp on the safety features of your potential floor cover. Go ahead and splurge on something like the Aqua Shield. It’s flame-retardant, so it won’t catch fire even if other things are going up in a blaze around it, and it’s slip-resistant so that no one will take a tumble while walking over it. It’s also available at Grainger.com and many other retailers, so it’s not hard to track down for your next renovation project. Even if you’re knocking down walls this weekend, you can have floor protection ready!
These are just a few things to consider if you’re in the market for protective floor coverings. Again, the specifics of size, shape and color don’t really matter. What you should be concerned about is the quality of your floor protection, so check and double-check that you’re making the right decision with your purchase.
