Breathability and Floor Protection – Everything You Need to Know

Construction jobsites damage new flooring more often than any other finish. This holds true across both residential custom home projects and large-scale commercial construction projects. Accordingly, it is vital to use surface protection on new floors in order to keep those expensive new floors looking immaculate.

While using surface protection on interior finishes is generally quite easy, there is one very important consideration to make when protecting a new floor – breathability.

Breathable surface protection is a class of materials that do not trap moisture or gas vapors on surfaces while they are being used. Any flooring material that requires time to cure in order to be finished is one in which using surface protection specifically marked for breathability is vital.

Without the ability to breathe and ventilate moisture and gas, surface protection covering a new floor can leave the floor looking scuffed and damaged – despite being otherwise protected from typical jobsite damage. These unsightly blemishes are most commonly known as curing lines, and they form on curing surfaces that are in some way blocked from venting. This is frequently due to leaving solid plastic-based materials on them when they need to breathe.

Tuf-Guard Floor Protection

 

To solve this problem, a variety of specially designed surface protection coverings are now breathable.

Foremost is Tuf-Guard, an industry leading breathable temporary floor protection. Tuf-Guard is designed with high end concrete and hardwood in mind, great examples of floor finishes that requires time to fully cure. Made from a bespoke synthetic fiber-based material, Tuf-Guard is not only breathable but also slip-resistant. It is an ideal floor protection because not only can it withstand use from heavy machinery, it is also spill resistant. This ensures that the scissor lifts driving on top of Tuf-Guard won’t damage a new floor by dropping equipment onto it or spilling hydraulic fluid and oil onto the protected floor. 

Other breathable floor protection options are available, such as Trimaco’s FloorShell. FloorShell is a popular alternative to RamBoard, both use recycled paper fibers to create a strong floor protection layer. Not only is this material strong, it is easy to cut to shape, making it a great option to use on vertical surfaces and countertops.

 

Surface Liner Vapor floor protection

 

Made with hardwood flooring in mind, Surface Liner Vapor is among the best breathable floor protection options for residential construction projects. Soft to the touch and non-slip even on hardwood stairs, Surface Liner Vapor is ideal for protecting anything made from wood. Surface Liner Vapor is also spill resistant

Waterproof Shoe Covers Are Back!

With the onset of meteorological fall upon us, it is only a matter of time until more consistent rain and wet weather is falling on jobsites around the country. With that comes mud, dirt, and other plenty of weather-related ways to mess up flooring.

Polylatex shoe covers are an easy, cheap, and quick way to prevent damage to floors. They are plastic based, which makes them waterproof. This is in contrast to cloth polypropylene shoe covers, most commonly used in medical settings - but not spill resistant. 

Because they are made from durable plastic, these poly shoe covers are reusable, and can even be rinsed off and cleaned for further use. At 9 mils thick, they prove to be quite durable. The material construction of these shoe covers features a diamond plate-like skid resistant bottom, making them unlikely to cause slipping, even if used on wet flooring. An elastic band at the top of each shoe cover ensures a secure fit over boots, even large ones.

Multiple quantities of these shoe covers are available. Large scale builders can opt for a case of 150 pairs, or, if you have a small project/need for them they are also available in bags of 50 and bags of 10 pairs. A wide array of shoe covers are available to suit differing needs. Check out the Shoe Covers page of our site for more information.

To learn more about water resistant shoe covers, floor protection, or any other surface protection products, email us at sales@buildsitepro.com or visit our website www.buildsitepro.com