What is the best way to protect floors when painting?

When getting ready to paint the interior of a home, protecting the floors is an essential step. Without proper floor protection, paint, primer, and paint products can stain or damage hardwood, laminate, tile, and other flooring types. Choosing the right floor covering can save time and frustration when painting. This article will overview the most effective floor protection options when painting inside the home.

Why is protecting floors important when painting?

There are several key reasons to safeguard floors before painting:

• Prevent paint splatters and drips from staining floors
• Stop paint products like primers, thinners, and cleaning solutions from damaging floors
• Avoid tracking wet paint around the house and spreading to unpainted areas
• Save time and money by not having to refinish or replace flooring after painting

Taking steps to cover flooring creates a protective barrier between paint and expensive flooring investments like hardwood, natural stone, and carpeting. It also saves significant time by minimizing paint cleanup required after painting is complete. The right floor covering can simplify the painting process from start to finish.

What types of flooring require protection when painting?

Any flooring material inside the home should be covered and protected during a painting project. Paint products and overspray can permanently stain or damage most types of flooring, including:

• Hardwood floors
• Laminate flooring
• Vinyl flooring
• Tile floors
• Stone flooring
• Concrete floors
• Carpet

Even if the floor already has minor wear and older finishes, paint splatters and spills will make flaws look much worse and be extremely difficult to remove. Preparing floors for painting helps preserve their appearance and extend their lifespan.

Choosing the Best Floor Covering Method

When selecting materials to protect floors from paint, consider these factors:

• Type of flooring material – Certain products work better on hard surfaces vs. carpets
• High or low foot traffic – High traffic areas may require more durable coverings
• Size of space – Larger rooms need heavier duty floor protection
• Furniture to work around – Floor coverings must accommodate furniture and be easy to secure around obstacles
• Types of paint products used – Oil-based paints, primers, thinners can damage some covers
• Duration of painting project – Longer projects may require more permanent solutions
• Available budget – Some options are more economical for short-term use

Here are the most common options used by painting contractors and DIYers to protect interior floors during painting projects:

Painters Tape

Painters tape, also called masking tape, can provide a quick protective barrier for borders and edges of floors. It adheres firmly to create a seal and is designed for clean removal after painting. Use low-tack painters tape for delicate surfaces like hardwood. High quality painters tape is best for longer projects.

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Good for quick, small jobs
• Easy to secure around furniture legs and anchors

Cons:

• Not suitable for large floor sections
• Can allow paint to seep under edges
• Adhesive residue may be left after removal

Plastic Drop Cloths

Lightweight plastic drop cloths are commonly used to cover floors during painting. These thin plastic sheets provide basic protection from drips, spills, and overspray. Drop cloths are available in a range of sizes.

Pros:

• Low cost
• Easy to roll out and secure with tape
• Large sizes available

Cons:

• Can rip or tear easily
• Paint can leak under plastic
• Slippery surface

Canvas Drop Cloths

Canvas drop cloths are made from tightly woven cotton fabric. They are extremely durable and absorbent, soaking up spills and splatters. Canvas also has a non-slip surface. These reusable cloths come in a range of sizes.

Pros:

• Absorbent material
• Withstands heavy foot traffic
• Non-slip surface

Cons:

• More expensive than plastic
• Heavy and awkward to secure on stairs
• Requires careful paint removal after use

Paper Floor Coverings

Heavy paper floor coverings, like Ram Board and Floortex, provide good absorption for paint spills. The thick sheets are secured with painters tape. Paper coverings go down quickly but don’t withstand as much abuse as canvas.

Pros:

• Quick to install
• Good absorption of paint spills
• Low cost

Cons:

• Tears more easily than canvas or plastic
• Difficult to reuse
• Limited sizes available

Floor Runners

Floor runners create protected pathways through rooms to walk on while painting. These durable strips can be secured over carpet or hard floors. They provide a non-slip surface for high traffic areas.

Pros:

• Quick to set up walkways
• Good grip for walking on
• Easy to secure with low-tack tape

Cons:

• Only covers a narrow floor area
• Can shift around underfoot
• More expensive than basic drop cloths

Entrance Floor Mats

For entryways that will have heavy traffic going in and out during painting, floor mats provide durable protection. High quality, grippy doormats absorb paint and dirt efficiently. Use multiple mats to keep entryways covered.

Pros:

• Super grippy surface
• Great paint absorption
• Withstands heavy foot traffic areas

Cons:

• Difficult to clean thoroughly after use
• Only useful for entryways
• More expensive than basic drop cloths

Choosing the Best Floor Protection by Flooring Type

Certain floor covering options are better suited for specific types of flooring materials:

Hardwood Floors

• Canvas drop cloths
• Floor runners
• Paper floor coverings

Avoid plastic sheets on hardwoods, which can allow paint to seep underneath and damage wood finishes. Use an absorbent canvas, paper, or floor runners instead. Tape down carefully and watch for slipping hazards.

Carpeted Floors

• Plastic drop cloths
• Paper floor coverings
• Entrance mats for high traffic areas

Plastic cloths provide a nice protective barrier for carpets without risk of getting fabric stuck in the carpet pile. Avoid canvas drop cloths on carpets, which soak up too much paint to be cleanly removable.

Tile Floors

• Canvas drop cloths
• Paper floor coverings
• Floor runners

Tile needs an absorbent canvas, paper, or floor runner option to soak up paint drips before they seep into porous grout lines and set permanently. Plastic sheeting doesn’t absorb paint well.

Concrete Floors

• Plastic drop cloths
• Canvas drop cloths
• Paper floor coverings

Concrete is very porous and will absorb paint spills quickly. A plastic barrier works well, but canvas or paper can provide better absorption if spills occur. Floor runners are also easy to secure.

Tips for Protecting Floors During Painting Projects

Follow these tips for keeping floors shielded while painting:

• Clean floors thoroughly before covering to remove dust, dirt and debris that could stick and cause damage
• Select the right floor covering material for each room’s flooring type
• Tape down coverings carefully and watch for tripping hazards
• Overlap seams of drop cloths at least 12 inches to prevent leaks
• Use weights like bricks or paint cans to hold coverings in place on slip-prone surfaces like hardwoods and laminate
• Reinforce high foot traffic areas with extra durable options like floor mats and runners
• Keep multiple floor coverings on hand for inevitable spills, splatters, and overspray
• Try to keep foot traffic to main walkways and painted areas until floors are fully cured and protected

Proper floor prep and covering for the flooring type will provide the best protection during any sized interior paint project.

Removing Paint from Floors

Even with floor protection, it’s common for some paint to end up on flooring surfaces. Follow these steps to remove paint from floors:

For Hard Floors:

1. Scrape off any thick accumulations of paint gently with a plastic putty knife. Avoid scraping too hard, which could scratch the floor.
2. Wipe the surface with a soft cloth dampened with paint thinner or mineral spirits. Test on an inconspicuous area first.
3. Scrub with nail polish remover containing acetone. This can help break down oil-based paints. Rinse thoroughly.
4. For stubborn dried paint, use a cloth dampened with xylene. Avoid xylene on luxury vinyl plank floors.
5. Go over the floor with a clean, barely damp mop to remove solvent residue.
6. If paint cannot be fully removed, sand and refinish affected areas.

For Carpeted Floors:

1. Use a plastic putty knife to lift up thick paint carefully from the carpet pile. Avoid spreading the paint further into the fibers.
2. Spray stained area lightly with WD-40. Let sit 5 minutes.
3. Blot lifted paint globs with paper towels or rags.
4. Scrub gently with a clean cloth or carpet brush dipped in paint thinner. Flush with clean thinner and blot repeatedly.
5. Rinse the area well with clean water and blot thoroughly to lift paint and solvents from the carpet.
6. Repeat cleaning if paint is still visible. Avoid overwetting the carpet backing.
7. Use a fan or dehumidifier to fully dry carpet to prevent mildew if it becomes very saturated.

Test paint removing products first on scrap pieces of flooring or in inconspicuous areas. Harsh solvents can damage some surfaces. Work carefully when using razors or sandpaper to avoid scratching floors.

Conclusion

Protecting flooring properly when painting interiors prevents permanent damage, saves on expensive floor repairs and replacements, and minimizes time spent cleaning up paint spills after the job is finished. By using the right floor covers for each room’s flooring type, taping edges securely, and reinforcing high traffic areas, painted floors can be returned to their former glory once the paint job is complete. Follow these recommendations to keep interior floors looking their best for years to come.