How to choose the right floor protection for your building site
Floor protection and construction
If you are a builder, a flooring contractor, or in the construction industry, nobody needs to tell you how messy and chaotic construction sites can be. Each of the individual contractors are chasing their own deadlines, budgets, and key deliverables. Unfortunately, most floors don’t reach their handover dates in good condition given the mad rush to complete the project. The culprits? Paint, dust, impact, water and oversight at investing in floor protection board at the construction site. The cost? Reduced profits, delays, and strained client relationships. This is a common problem and a rather costly one if floors need replacing or refinishing.
So, the real question is not WHY you need floor protection at a construction site. Rather it is “how”: how will you protect the flooring, and how do you know what floor protection product to use?
As a discerning, professional site manager or installer, you understand that protecting your flooring during its installation and post-installation is a no-brainer. We have summarised some key considerations for you to help you choose the right flooring protection product for you to use on site, plus a helpful comparison of each main floor protection product and strategy.
How is protective board different to other floor protection products?
| Product | APPROX R/m2 | Durability | Strength | Pros | Cons |
 | R20-R25/m2 | Cost effective Hard Wearing Quick and easy to use Professional and presentable No special tools required Scratch resistant Breathable Water and solvent resistant Reusable | |||
 builders plastic / drop sheets (black plastic) | R8.00/m2 | Cheap Easy handling Reusable | Thin Slip and trip hazard Not a good barrier for debris and liquids Untidy Non-breathable Not heavy impact resistant (falls from height) | ||
 sfk/corrugated cardboard | R14.00/m2 | Breathable | Bulky – handling, transport and storage Not a good barrier for debris and liquids Difficult to secure Moves around on surfaces (scratches) Disintegrates when wet Not reusable Untidy | ||
 correx sheets | R40-R200/m2 | Strong Reusable | Expensive Bulky – handling, transport and storage Difficult to secure Moves around on surfaces (scratches) Untidy Require expensive duct tape to secure | ||
 masonite/softboard | R70 – R200/m2 | Strong Durable Reusable | Expensive Bulky – handling, transport and storage Difficult to secure – tools & expensive duct tape required Moves around on surfaces (scratches) |
Three reasons why protective board for floors is ideal solution for construction sites
1. Protective Board is affordable.
If price is your main concern, then drop sheet plastic is your most cost-effective option per square metre. With plastic, consider carefully your flooring investment’s curing and breathing requirements, which, if compromised, may damage the floor. Your most expensive option would be Masonite or pressboard.
Protective Board starts from 10% of the price of pressboard, with exceptional usability and durability characteristics.
2. Debris and fluids are kept at bay.
If your site is likely to experience walkthrough debris and fluid spillage post-installation, plastic or corrugated sheeting is not going to cut it. While pressboard offers outstanding protection in this area, it has not been designed for this purpose. The high cost, the challenge to secure appropriately, and the scratch risk might just be too much.
Protective Board really shines in this criteria, being highly water and solvent resistant, and quick and easy to use.
3. Protective floor board is easy to install, remove and reuse.
Protecting your floor installation should not incur unnecessary labour costs and wasted time. As the finishing touch on your excellent installation, it should be quick and easy, and certainly set the tone that you are a professional service provider.
Protective Board has been designed specifically to make this part of your project a breeze. Only simple tools are required to install. The prepressed folds make it easy to cover up against skirtings or edgings, or even to clad stairs. And when you are done, it can be easily rolled up and stored for your next project.
Additional reasons why builders and flooring contractors use protective board on floors
- and Keep your clients happy. Floor protection, like Protective Board, safeguards your floor for the special handover day.
- Reduced risk. It supports you to deliver the floor in the way it was originally intended, thus avoiding premature, accidental and unplanned damage.
- Reduced waste. The cost of protective board is inconsequential when compared to the remedial costs that can easily escalate into hundreds of thousands of Rands.
What happens if you don’t use protective board for floors on construction sites? Think of it this way: if you choose not to protect your client’s floors, what budget will you allocate to repair or replace them?
Protective Board is a no-brainer when it comes down to saving money and time.
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