There are many ways to protect your home during a renovation project, but while most people know about furniture sheets and door hangings, they aren’t familiar with floor coverings. Floor coverings come in all shapes and sizes, and they can be extremely helpful in preventing stains, spills and scuff marks.
But what if you’ve never purchased floor protection before? What do you need to know about your options? What criteria should you be using before you make your final selection?
Here are just a few tips for buying floor protection. While this isn’t an exhaustive list by any means, it might provide a general idea of what you should be thinking about and looking for in a coverage product.
1. Material Type
Floor covers can be made of everything from plastic to cardboard. Each material type has its pros and cons, especially when it comes to price, so you’ll need to do some research to figure out which kind is right for you. Maybe the cheap tarp is good enough for your purposes; maybe you won’t feel confident in your selection unless it’s made of expensive foam. It’s entirely up to you.
2. Ease of Application
How do you lay down your floor covering? Do you just toss some padded mats on the ground, or do you secure them with tape or straps so that they don’t move around? What about the removal process? Is it just as easy as the initial attaching? Think about both the beginning and end of an application job before you invest in a particular kind of covering.
3. Breathability
This is especially important if you’re looking for a floor cover that won’t interrupt the curing process. Generally speaking, you’ll want lightweight floor protection here; anything heavy-duty won’t allow your floors to breathe and dry underneath them. The good news is that there are plenty of lightweight options on the market if you’re willing to look for them. You’ll just have to choose things like size and shape.
4. Protective Measures
You might be surprised at the range of protective features available from modern floor covers. For example, some of them are completely waterproof. They don’t allow any kind of water, paint, mud, snow or chemicals to breach them. Others are flame-retardant or leak-resistant; whether there’s a fire or flood, your floors won’t suffer any damage. Make sure to compare and contrast these features before you make your final decision. You want to know all of your options.
If you’re serious about protecting your floor during a home construction project, you’ll need some kind of cover to keep it from getting scratched or stained. Consider these points and find a product that works for you.
