If you lot have ever damaged a floor during a renovation project, you will know that it is an embarrassing and frequently expensive lesson to learn. Accidents can set your project dorsum, ruin your conviction and the boosted cost of repair, particularly for solid hardwood floor, can ruin your budget.

Laying down acceptable floor protection before any work begins is a necessity for whatever professional tradesman but too oft it's something that ends up being a last-minute consideration for anyone tackling the project themselves.

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Depending on the scale, abode renovation work often requires more than just a well-placed dust sheet and then it'south important to take responsibility for the grooming yourself and organise some quality floor protection in advance.

Prep' like a pro

For lighter renovation projects there are some splendid protective films on the market, available from both trade and retail suppliers. These vary in thickness and durability, depending on how long your project will run for, the kind of flooring you lot are looking to protect and the numbers of people or equipment y'all might be involving.

Cheaper, cocky-adhesive protection films can be used finer to quickly lay down a waterproof bulwark and tin work very well on carpeted areas that may not see too much footfall. These by and large practise not crave additional taping, although it is ofttimes best to tape connecting edges or around doorframes. Plastic films are light and can be speedily fitted with easy removal. Nearly also apply low-tack backing to ensure no residue gets left behind after the work is completed, although not all include anti-sideslip coatings. Heavier, polypropylene mesh sheeting is much more durable and too comes in rolls upwardly to 4 metres wide for easily roofing larger areas.

A make-life-easier tip: Areas of heavy pes traffic in particular, such equally effectually exterior doorways or stairs, are critical to get protected and so consider these first.

For more pregnant renovation piece of work something more than robust is often needed, particularly if information technology is going to be down for long periods. Whether yous are undertaking a renovation project yourself or employing professionals, approaching it in the correct way is critical to achieving a smooth outcome that is completed on time and on budget. If you think like a professional, you volition accept a much amend adventure of achieving professional results. Plan ahead and if you know that y'all are going to exist moving big items around the area make sure door frames are protected with foam door protectors, use dirt trap mats at doorways, rigid plastic protectors on stairs and steps, and fifty-fifty heavy duty ram boards to protect key areas.

A make-life-easier tip: If you need to tape downward plastic coverings, tape applicators salve a lot of time and frustration.

Information technology is worth taking the time to budget for floor coverings as part of your overall project costs. Many cheaper floor films can exist difficult to lay correctly or can go out mucilaginous residues on surfaces when removed. Polythene sheeting is nifty every bit a low-cost or covering for a quick job but it will not allow the surfaces below to breathe. More than expensive covers have permeable membranes and are also flexible and made from rip-resistant material. Bulwark sheets are a durable simply cheap solution and work well on carpeted or vinyl surfaces, while likewise offering a proficient, stable footing for ladders. They are tailored for the different surfaces and offer both sturdy and waterproof protection and frequently include not-abrasive, anti-skid surfaces. This is specially important for covering vinyl flooring, where a cheaper solution could even slide underneath and create creases and trip hazards.

For more sensitive surfaces such as stone and tile, laminate, engineered forest or timber floorboards, consider using corrugated plastic sheeting or high density anti-slip coverings  for increased peace of heed. If newly laid, they volition besides demand a permeable membrane, allowing the floor to breathe if it needs drying or curing time. This also means that the floor is still protected from whatsoever spillage but allows you to become on with the rest of the project without needing to wait. Information technology goes without saying that if you are going to be using whatever heavy wheeled traffic or lifts, durable protection is essential.

A make-life-easier tip: A freshly laid wooden floor must take breathable protection that will also protect information technology from scratches and scuff marks.

Don't underestimate drywall grit. If you are planning to remove whatever interior walls, anticipate the dust created in accelerate and cover the areas of floor that will likely be affected. Apart from the health and rubber attribute, it is crucial to protect your carpets in particular from whatsoever drywall dust. While it is not particularly dissentious to surfaces in itself, information technology has a tendency to travel widely across the site and sticks to almost every surface. Fine dust in particular enters every scissure, dramatically increasing the clean-up time.

Whether you lot are undertaking the project yourself or securing a contractor to do the work, it is worth taking steps to lay adequate protective flooring. Getting it right first time saves time and potential headaches.

Bio: This post was written past Lou at Floorsave, a company that specialise in woods floor and carpeting; with over 29 years' experience in the industry the team at Floorsave know their floor.