Covering Your Floors
Make no mistake, decorating can be a messy job. Your floors can be bombarded with old wet wallpaper scraped from the walls, sanding dust from the walls and woodwork, water from cleaning the walls, paint splashes, and wallpaper paste for your new paper. It is not just the mess that you need to contend with, it is also the need to protect your floors. Dropping tools and moving ladders can easily damage an unprotected floor.
So what should you use to cover the floor? There are several options offering a difference in quality and price. Therefore, you need to decide how often you will use floor protectors when considering which product to purchase?
Heavy Paper Rolls
Paper rolls are an inexpensive option and make the process of covering the floor quite easy. They are also easy to tape to the skirting boards to keep them in place. On the downside they very easily absorb moisture and paint, which makes them prone to tearing. Whilst you will only get one use out of each roll you lay, if you are looking for an environmentally friendly option they are certainly a good choice.
Plastic Drop Cloths
Plastic drop cloths are available in a variety of thicknesses, with the thickest being the heaviest and stiffest making them a good option for covering floors. The thinner sheets whilst not as strong are usually used for covering furniture. A note of caution is that plastic drop cloths are slippery and therefore should not be used on stairs. They can be used multiple times over.
Plastic Tarps
Plastic tarps are heavier than plastic drop cloths. They provide excellent protection as they are not absorbent, so paint or liquid can’t seep through to the flooring underneath. This quality however, means any spills need to be soaked up with rags and the tarp wiped dry. They are not suitable for cleaning in a washing machine. Some tarps are available with a fabric backing making them less slippery.
Canvas Drop Cloths
Canvas drop cloths can be used repeatedly, simply cleaning in the washing machine after each use. These advantages make them one of the more expensive options for protecting your floors. The main disadvantage is that they are quite absorbent, so a significant spill of paint or other liquid could seep through onto the floor.
Some manufacturers offer a chemically treated version that is water resistant or alternatively a cloth with a rubber type backing, making them waterproof and slip-proof.
Felt Floor Protectors
Felt floor protectors typically consist of two layers, a textile material on the top surface and an anti-slip layer on the back. This combination offers great floor protection. You will find them available in different sizes and strengths.
Now that you’ve done an excellent job making space, if you’re installing wallpaper, we suggest using WallpaperBuddy™ as it will make the process much easier.
WallpaperBuddy™ makes wallpapering easy. No need for a second pair of hands to help, the WallpaperBuddy™ tool holds the paper away from the wall at an ideal angle for aligning and smoothing, and helps to reduce bubbles and creases. WallpaperBuddy’s telescopic design allows you to progress down the wall at a pace that is perfect for you, working with both hands free the entire time. At a fraction of the cost of hiring a professional, why not DIY with WallpaperBuddy™.
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