How to protect your floor during renovation

Anyone who is going to paint, plaster, tile or replace a kitchen usually thinks mainly about the walls and the ceiling. But it is the floor that takes the most punishment during a renovation. Paint splashes, plaster, drilling dust, dropped tools and sand under your shoes can damage a wooden floor, laminate, vinyl or tiles. Covering the floor properly takes an hour and prevents annoying and expensive damage. In this blog you will read how to go about it.

👷 If a professional is doing the renovation, agree beforehand who will cover the floor. A good painter, plasterer or contractor includes this in their work. Calling in a professional is never superfluous, certainly not for big jobs or a valuable floor.

Why cover the floor?

• Paint and plaster: splashes of paint or plaster are hard to remove from wood and from tile joints.
• Scratches and dents: a dropped hammer or a ladder that shifts leaves marks.
• Dust and grit: fine dust and sand act like sandpaper under your shoes.
• Moisture: water from a bucket or a leaking paint pot can soak into the joints of wood and laminate.

Which material should you choose?

Masking paper

masking paper is strong, absorbs moisture and stays in place well. It is ideal for painting and light jobs on a hard floor. Because the paper breathes, no moisture stays trapped underneath.

Masking film

masking film and heavy-duty protective film keep out paint, plaster and water. Film is useful for wet work such as plastering or applying wall paint. Note: film can be slippery, and moisture that gets underneath dries slowly. So on a wooden floor, lay paper first and film on top.

Hard boards

For heavy work, such as demolishing a kitchen or moving heavy materials, a layer of hard boards over the paper protects the floor against dents and scratches.

What else do you need?

• blue painter's tape or professional masking tape to tape off the edges and joins.
• A utility knife to cut paper and film to size. Never cut directly on a wooden floor.
• A construction vacuum cleaner and a broom to clean the floor beforehand.
• A 12-litre bucket and a Raimondi floor sponge to clean the floor afterwards.
• A multifunctional scraper to carefully remove dried splashes, only on tiles and not on wood or vinyl.

Personal protective equipment

• knee pads if you spend a long time on your knees while taping.
• work gloves with nitrile coating against dirt and sharp edges.
• An FFP2 dust mask for dusty work such as sanding or demolition.
• safety goggles when drilling, sanding and working overhead.

Covering the floor step by step

1. Clean the floor. Vacuum and sweep the floor thoroughly. Grains of sand under the paper can otherwise still cause scratches.
2. Lay the covering. Roll out paper or film and let the strips overlap by at least ten centimetres.
3. Tape the joins. Tape the overlap shut so that no dust or paint can get between.
4. Finish the edges neatly. Tape the paper along the skirting board. If you are painting the skirting board itself, tape the floor along the skirting with a narrow strip of tape instead.
5. Create a walkway. Lay an extra layer or hard boards where people walk a lot, for example from the front door to the work area.
6. Protect stairs and thresholds too. Cover stair treads with paper and tape and put a clean runner at the entrance.

💡 Never stick tape directly onto a delicate floor, such as an oiled or freshly lacquered floor. Use a tape suitable for sensitive surfaces and remove it as soon as possible.

During the work

• Check every day that the covering is still in place and re-tape any loose edges.
• Remove coarse chunks and grit straight away so they do not press through the paper.
• Always stand buckets and paint tins on an extra piece of film or in a paint tray.
• Wear clean shoes or overshoes when you walk from the work area to the rest of the house.

⚠️ Film and paper can be slippery or start to slide, especially on stairs. Tape everything down well and never stand a ladder on loose covering material. Read more about working safely in our blog on safe working on the construction site.

Afterwards

1. First vacuum the dust on the covering, so it does not spread over the floor.
2. Fold the paper and film carefully inwards and dispose of it.
3. Pull the tape off slowly and at an angle, so no adhesive residue is left behind.
4. Clean the floor with a damp sponge and water, and check for any remaining splashes.

Read more about choosing the right tape and film in our blog on masking tape and protective film.

Common mistakes

• Using only film on a wooden floor, so moisture stays trapped underneath.
• Too little overlap between the strips, so dust and paint still get through.
• Leaving the tape on too long, so adhesive residue stays on the floor.
• Standing a ladder on loose film.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use an old blanket or sheet?

A cloth only partly stops paint and can slide around. Masking paper or film, taped down well, gives better protection.

How long can tape stay on the floor?

That depends on the tape. Always remove tape as soon as you can and follow the instructions on the packaging.

Do I need to cover a new floor if the renovation is almost finished?

Yes. A new floor is especially vulnerable. Preferably lay the floor last, otherwise cover it well until all the work is done.

What do I do about a paint splash on a wooden floor?

Remove wet paint straight away with a damp cloth. If the paint has dried and you are in doubt, leave it to a professional to avoid damaging the lacquer or oil.

Read also: How to paint a ceiling: step by step and How to paint a radiator

Where can you find everything for this job?

At Saniso, the online store for DIYers and professionals, you will find tools, materials and personal protective equipment for your job.

• Browse our construction tools and our workwear and safety.
• Create a customer account and order easily.
• Working on a bigger project or want to hand over the job? Request a project quote.
• Book a showroom visit, at least 24 hours in advance.
• Not sure which material suits your job? Get in touch with us.

In doubt about the approach? Feel free to call in a professional.

Saniso – Build your home with Saniso.

Read also: How to paint a wall: step-by-step DIY guide