How To / How to Protect Hardwood Floors

June 20, 2018

Nothing matches the warmth and feel of hardwood floors. Even with all the other laminate, vinyl and tile options on the market today, consumers still want the traditional hardwood floors. In its 2018 Industry Outlook survey, the National Wood Flooring Association reported nearly 40 percent of contractors said they expect to see hardwood sales increase by 8 percent or more.

However, with great surfaces, comes great responsibility! Make sure you’re using proper floor protection to keep your hardwoods looking great.

How to protect hardwood floors against these 3 disasters:

You’re in charge with protecting floors at the job site-whether the floors are brand-new or decades old. The three culprits that cause the most damage include dents, water and dirt. Have confidence in your surface protection with these easy to install Trimaco products.

Dents:

Some hardwood flooring options are softer than others. When moving or renovating a home, invest in impact-resistant surface protection board, that will shield the impact of heavy furniture and equipment.

We recommend Trimaco’s FloorShell® Heavy Duty Temporary Protection. Featuring Spill Block® technology, this temporary surface protection is breathable which allows floors to cure. FloorShell® can withstand the impact of forklifts, heavy machinery and furniture. Made of 100 percent recycled fibers, you can earn up to two LEED points in USGBC certification using FloorShell®. For best results, use printed side up with FloorShell® Seam Tape to seam pieces together.

Additional recommendations include adding felt pads on the bottom of table and chair legs, and wrap pieces of furniture when moving to avoid scratches.

Water:

The kiss of death for all hardwood floors. Dealing with moisture damage requires replacing the subfloor and planks, and who has time for that? Wood planks are combustible, and Aqua Shield® Flame Retardant Surface Protector does triple duty protecting hardwoods. This protective flooring covering is leak-proof, impact + slip resistant, dust free and flame retardant (tested to meet NFPA-701 Method 2 Standards).

Sold in rolls up to 40 millimeters thick, Aqua Shield® is an excellent heavy duty surface option. After providing temporary floor protection, Aqua Shield® can be rolled up and reused for your next job!

Dirt:

It’s inevitable at every work site and especially hard to control. Mud, debris, sand, salt and other grainy substances are typically brought in by daily foot traffic. These particles scratch floors and even embed in the surface—or get stuck in finishes.

Trimaco’s X•Board Paint + Remodel is one of our favorite protection products. It’s breathable for curing and features Spill Block® technology, ensuring no paint, mud or water seeps through. This lightweight surface protector gets the job done and is 2.5 times thicker than builder’s paper to prevent scratches. For best results, use printed side up with X•Board® Seam Tape to seam pieces together, and sweep the floor prior to installation.

Looking for a solution to keep dirt, dust and mud out of the work place completely? Check out Trimaco’s protective DuPont™ Tyvek® booties, dirt trapper mats or the unique E-Z Floor Guard.

Need something you didn’t see here? Share your tips on how to protect hardwood floors! Also be sure to explore more about all of our surface protection products in our product catalog. Still have questions? Use Trimaco’s product selector to help narrow down your options, based on your specific needs!