Frequently Asked Questions

Surface protection is the prevention of abrasions and damage to different surfaces, like floors or countertops. At Trimaco®, we have a number of surface protection products that protect any surface, including carpets, hardwood floors, counters, stainless steel surfaces and more. Our products can withstand heavy foot traffic, forklifts, paint, stains, water and more. Trimaco’s surface protection products include protective film, canvas dropcloths, plastic dropcloths, surface shields, masking paper, and more.

Trimaco has a very wide range of flooring paper weights depending on your job. We have lightweight protection great for vinyl flooring and heavy-duty protection perfect for premium hardwood flooring. From basic Builder’s Paper to premium FloorShell, we can address your floor protection needs. Contact our customer service team for more information.

Our standard pallet is 48″ x 48″. Each wood pallet is heavy duty and built to last during the storage/warehouse management and shipping process. Here’s a list of our most popular items in pallet quantities:

• FloorShell 38″ x 50′ 20/pallet
• FloorShell 38″ x 100′ 16/pallet
• X-Board 35″ x 50′ 48/pallet
• X-Board 35″ x 100′ 36/pallet
• X-Paper 36″ x 120′ 80/pallet
• Aqua Shield 10 mil 36″ x 100′ 42/pallet
• Aqua Shield 10 mil 36″ x 393′ 16/pallet
• Aqua Shield 10 mil 72″ x 393′ 10/pallet
• Aqua Shield 25mil 36″ x 186′ 16/pallet
• Aqua Shield 25mil 72″ x 180′ 10/pallet
• Aqua Shield 40mil 36″ x 120′ 16/pallet
• Aqua Shield 40mil 72″ x 120′ 10/pallet
• X-Plastic 48″ x 96″ 275 sheets/pallet

Contact customer service for pallet quantities on other items.

We have multiple films for floor protection. Carpet film = 30″ x 200′ is 3 mil, all other sizes of carpet film are 2 mil thickness. If you are looking for a film to protect laminate flooring, vinyl flooring, linoleum or floor tile our hard surface film will work best. Hard surface film = 2 mil thickness. For more information about hardwood flooring protection, concrete protection and thicknesses of our various drop cloths and other surface protection solutions please contact our customer service team.

Our wide variety of paper products are safe for gardening and are used often for this task. However we recommend using builders paper or X-Paper. They can be used as a protective barrier for weeds, and in some cases a moisture barrier. Please contact our customer service team for more information.

Rosin paper is made from recycled heavy-duty paper and is ideal for flooring projects, like hardwood floors, or other multi-purpose building projects. Trimaco’s Red rosin paper has a superior moisture barrier. We also have Brown rosin paper for those who want a rosin paper with less dye content.

Yes, our masking paper is safe for weed control as it contains no adhesive. Both the premium green mask and general purpose mask paper will work fine in your garden.

Paint strainers help remove a wide variety of impurities, lumps, and debris in paints, stains, and varnishes to give paint jobs clean results. Trimaco carries high-quality polyester screen strainer bags, professional-grade mesh strainers, pump strainers, and filters that vary from fine to super fine.

We have 1 gallon, 2 gallon, and 5 gallon mesh paint strainers. We also have medium sized pump strainers that are designed for pressure pump intakes, strainer bags, and cone shape filters.

Trimaco paint strainers have a range of 125 microns to 650 microns for mesh filters. Our SuperTuff Polyester Bag Strainers are 250 and 600 microns, EZ-Strainer and SuperTuff Pump Strainer are 600 microns, and SuperTuff Polyester Cone Strainers are 125, 190, or 226 microns. Check out the different mesh sizes on the individual product pages.

Our strainers are not tested for food use and are not manufactured to meet FDA standards, but people often use them for food. Some examples are beer brewing, reusable produce bags, and filtering various liquids during cooking. Please rinse mesh before using.

No, but our Aqua Shield surface protector is flame retardant, leak proof and slip resistant. If you’re looking for a spill proof drop cloth try our Eliminator, One Tuff, Butyl II, Old School Butyl or Stay Put Canvas Plus. These paint drop cloths are heavy duty and great for protecting carpet, tile and more.

Not all of our dropcloths can be washed, but some can. Regular canvas can be machine washed on warm and tumble dried on low but take note that they may shrink and become less spill resistant after. Same case for Rubber-Duckie Butyl-coated backed dropcloth. Our One Tuff, Stay Put Canvas and Butyl II dropcloths should not be washed. Instead, wipe any large paint spills with a rag to prevent the paint from drying on the dropcloths.

At Trimaco, some of our drop cloths are washable and reusable. They can be used for a variety of applications, including spill protection on painting and construction jobs. If your drop cloth needs to be replaced, check your state’s regulations on recycling plastic film and oil-based paint. There may be different regulations depending on a plastic drop cloth, butyl drop cloth, or a canvas drop cloth. We’ve found in most cases that plastic drops can be recycled, but only when there’s no paint on them.

Trimaco offers many types of drop cloths: canvas, vinyl, butyl, paper, coated and plastic drop cloths. Canvas drop cloths are made with thick fabric to protect surfaces during the painting process. Trimaco carries high quality canvas drop cloths that are available in various ounce weights and sizes. We also have a skid resistant and spill proof canvas drop cloth that will keep you and your customers very happy. Vinyl drop cloths are made with vinyl fabric and they cling to surfaces. Butyl drop cloths are made from butyl – an alkyl radical or rubber. This rubber backing helps the drop cloth stay in place and prevents paints and spills from damaging surfaces. Plastic drop cloths are made with plastic and can be used to cover shrubbery and furniture, dust containment, and miscellaneous projects. Paper drop cloths are made from recycled materials and made of absorbent paper. Coated drop cloths are light in weight but perfect for spill protection. These drop cloths are typically used as painter drop cloths to use as floor protectors and surface shields.

Masking paper is used to catch paint drips and spills, and protect surfaces. It can be adhered to the wall with masking tape and is ideal for masking trim. Trimaco offers two masking paper products that are made for water and oil-based materials, like lacquers, acrylics, drywall texture, and more.

Masking tape is an adhesive tape used to cover surfaces on which paint is not wanted. Typically, masking tape is used in painting projects to protect surfaces, like windows or trim, from being painted. We have a wide variety of high performance masking tapes to fit all surfaces and paint jobs. Our tapes have easy, clean removal with minimal to no residue for the best paint jobs. Many of our tapes are made of flat paper, giving cleaner lines and better performance.

Masking tape can be used on painted walls, windows, ceilings, trim, baseboards, faux finishing, wood, glass, metal, delicate surfaces, drywall and most wallpapers. We recommend testing the masking tape on a discrete surface overnight before applying to the entire surface. Trimaco offers a wide variety of high performance masking tapes for all types of projects with some tapes able to stay in place for 7-14 days with a clean removal.

We sell our products across the nation through distributors. Go to our Where to Buy page and fill out the form – we’ll help you find your nearest store with Trimaco items.

Our SuperTuff Canvas Drop Cloths are available in four different weights, 6oz, 8oz, 10oz and 12oz. They are all made from high quality canvas and are a cotton blend.

With roots back to 1906, Trimaco continues to delivered innovative, dependable products. We offer a wide range of job site protection products from heavy duty floor protection to dust containment and personal protective equipment. Trimaco has everything you need to keep surfaces, floor and personnel safe and protected on site – making us your single source for total jobsite protection.

Trimaco’s X-Board is made from recycled materials, and is recyclable depending on what substances come into contact with the surface protector.

Yes! Trimaco’s Heavy Duty E-Z Up Poles do have replacement parts. Learn more here.

Drop cloths are used to surface protection for surfaces such as countertops, floors, and furniture when painting. They can also be used for various DIY projects. Learn more!

It depends on the type of paint. Oil-based paints are dry to the touch within 8 hours and can be recoated in 24 hours. However, latex-paints dry in about 1 hour and are ready for a re-coat in 4 hours. Learn more about interior painting tips.

The easiest ways to help paint dry faster are opening windows, turning on some fans, and using a hair dryer or heater. Learn more about interior painting tips.

A lint free cloth is one that does not lose any fibers or lint when used. Explore how to choose the right lint free cloth.

You can wash drop cloth curtains in the washing machine with warm water and detergent to clean and soften them. Learn how to make new sew drop cloth curtains.

Coveralls are a loose-fitting protective garment that covers the whole body except the head, hands, and feet. Trimaco offers a wide range of coverall options to fit the needs of most applications. Explore how to choose the right coverall.

Both are a protective clothing, but while overalls cover the torso and legs with straps over the shoulders to hold them up, coveralls cover the whole body minus the hands, feet, and head. Explore how to choose the right coverall.

With the use of Trimaco’s Painter’s Mitt, painting banisters, handrails and spindles has never been easier! Learn how paint paint spindles, banisters and handrails.

The difference is that stain soaks into wood and is expected to change the color of the wood, while varnish is a protective coating that protects against dirt and water. Explore how to properly stain wood with Trimaco’s cloth wipers.

It depends on the stain, but they generally take 24 to 48 hours to fully cure. Explore how to properly stain wood with Trimaco’s cloth wipers.

To avoid brush strokes, we recommend using a lint-free soft wiper to apply and wipe off excess wood stain. Explore how to properly stain wood with Trimaco’s cloth wipers.

Overspray is a mist of paint that gets on an unintended surface when spray painting. Explore 6 products from Trimaco that help protect against overspray during an automotive paint paint.

Wood stain should be wiped off immediately after being applied. If it isn’t, it will leave behind pigments that create a tacky, sticky feel. Explore how to properly stain wood with Trimaco’s cloth wipers.

Water-based stains last longer than oil-based stains and are more environmentally friendly as they do not contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Oil-based stains are easier to apply and tend to have a more even finish as they take longer to dry. Explore how to properly stain wood with Trimaco’s cloth wipers.

When protecting hardwood floors during construction, we recommend using a durable, impact resistant, residue free surface protector. Trimaco’s Stay Put Surface Protector is great for protecting hardwood floors during construction.

Tile is delicate and easy to chip. We recommend using a heavy duty, impact resistant surface protector to avoid cracks and damage. Trimaco’s Stay Put or FloorShell Surface Protector are great options for protecting tile.

It depends on the specific stain, but it generally takes 24-72 hours for a wood stain to fully dry and cure. However, you are usually good to apply a second coat of stain after about 4 hours. Explore how to properly stain wood with Trimaco’s cloth wipers.

Trimaco’s X-Board is 20mil thick.

Trimaco’s Floorshell is roughly 40mils thick.

X-Board is thicker than X-Paper making it the ideal choice for long-term, heavy-duty surface protection. Its 20mil thickness and durability are perfect for high-traffic areas and demanding projects, making X-Board a trusted solution for professional contractors and painters who need reliable protection that lasts.

X-Paper is 1.5x thicker than builder’s paper, offering greater durability and tear resistance on the job. That means fewer interruptions to reapply and more time focused on getting work done. Built to last, X-Paper helps protect surfaces more efficiently and reliably.

Yes, Trimaco’s Brown Masking Paper (sizes 3″-12″) can be used with most hand masking devices

Yes, Trimaco’s X-Board is recyclable in its original form. However, its recyclability may be affected by any substances that come into contact with it during use.

Trimaco’s Carpet Films are 2mils thick.

Tyvek coveralls are not designed to be washable. Washing them can damage the material and compromise their protective properties.