Ingenious Techniques to Protect Your Floor During Construction

Whether you're a seasoned house flipper or a first-time homeowner with a grand restoration plan, the floors are probably one of the most important aspects of the home you're remodeling. Your vision of an amazing floor includes gorgeous hardwood floors for durability and endurance, and many are still waiting to be uncovered behind layers of linoleum or carpet.



However, while the floors may be in good condition and only require sanding, staining, and polishing, the rest of the project remains unfinished. This entails a constant bombardment of heavy boots, power tools, dust, grime, and chemicals, all of which have the potential to damage your beautiful floors.



So, with that in mind, here are five strategies for keeping your flooring safe during construction, ranging from scratch and spill protection to heavy-duty impact protection.





Clean up while you go

The greatest way to protect against unforeseen accidents is to eliminate the things that can cause them. Cleaning up after each step of demolition or remodeling is an effective technique to remove all clutter and debris that could harm your floor.



If you can get each tradesman to pick up after themselves once their contribution is complete, the construction site will be a lot cleaner overall, and the possibilities of your floor being accidentally harmed will be significantly decreased.





Have a demolition pathway

Whether you're in the demolition or remodeling phase, try to follow the same paths through any mess you make. This will keep dirt tracked in underfoot contained to certain locations where you can cover your flooring with tarps or other coverings.



Also, position your skip bin as close to the door as possible. If it needs to be out on the street or in a parking lot, put something down, such as wood chips, to reduce the quantity of muck and dirt tracked back into the area.





Protect against scratches



Scratching your floors is one of the most common methods to cause damage to them. Fine scratches can occur from a variety of sources, including the material you choose to protect your flooring if it is not appropriate for the job.



One of the most common sources of scratching is dust particles, which are everywhere during a restoration process, so clean up periodically and ensure the work space is properly ventilated.





Protect against stains

Some contractors use red rosin paper (a heavy-duty recycled felt paper) to protect floors from scratches and spills. However, if this material is exposed to sunshine or moisture, it will discolor hardwood floors. So, unless you can ensure a dark, dry work environment, it may be best to choose something else.



A number of chemicals are also utilized in remodeling work, so whatever covering you use on your flooring must be absorbent enough to keep liquid from seeping through and causing a stain.





Protect against impacts

One of the most serious threats to your hardwood floors is contractors and tradesmen accidently dropping tools on them, with hammers, screwdrivers, power tools, and nail guns being the most frequently dropped items.



The best defense against this is impact-absorbing mats. Protective matting with great impact resistance and durability will provide the finest protection against high-impact activities that will leave lumps on your beautiful floor.



Arlington Coal & Lumber is your best partner for keeping your hardwood floor in top shape. We have everything you'll need to make your vision a reality, including red rosin paper, synthetic floor protection, and ram board. Please do not hesitate to contact our friendly team for assistance! Let's make your floors the best feature of your ideal home.