Replies

1. 
   gordsco | May 04, 2006 05:08pm | #1

   Forget about it and clean, scrape later. Mud splatters are a fact of life. DW dust from sanding is the biggest mess to clean and poly along the edge just traps alot more of it.

   Make sure the boarders keep the drywall high enough off the slab so your flooring will slide under it. That will save you more time than cleaning. 

    

    

   Gord

1. 
   dbleagles | May 04, 2006 05:45pm | #2

   Thanks for the quick reply..a concern was the glue not holding as well in the spots where mud or paint had dried.

    

   R

    

1. 
   gordsco | May 04, 2006 06:08pm | #3

   Good point.

   I was assuming the slab had beed power trowelled to a smooth finish.

   A little warm water and a scrub brush would remove most mud spots from any concrete.

   The amount of mud on the floor depends alot on your tapers. I've seen guys who leave almost nothing on the floor and others who constantly flick their knives to clean them.

   The biggest PITAs are the ones who wipe off their trowels on door and window openings. Nothing worse than chiseling off baseball sized clumps of dried bond before installing a door or window jamb.Gord

1. 
   KirkG | May 05, 2006 03:33am | #4

   A $10 roll of Rosen paper and a $2 roll of masking tape make for a good smooth protected and clean floor. Toss it when you are done and go to town.

1. 
   dbleagles | May 05, 2006 06:05am | #5

   Thanks  for your interest...the paper seems better than plastic.

    

   R

2. 
   Snort | May 05, 2006 07:26am | #6

   and try the green clean release tape...doesn't leave the residue that masking tape does after it's been down and stepped on for a while. I need a dump truck, baby, to unload my head

3. 
   Jay345 | May 06, 2006 02:50pm | #10

   Rosin paper IS NOT a floor protecting material!! It rips easily and traps dirt and grime under it to grind into the finish.

   It became a floor protector of choice simply because it was left around after the floor guys got done .

4. 
   KirkG | May 07, 2006 01:36am | #11

   It is only paper, but I typically put down 2 layers if I am going to be working for a long time, one if it is just a quick job. I also always have a roll of tape handy to address the occasional tears.We were only talking about protecting the cement floor during drywall taping anyway from splatters. You can always use Cardboard, Masonite or sheets of plywood or those other more expensive systems. Sometimes they will be worth it, most of the time I can get by comfortably with Rosen paper.

2. 
   davidmeiland | May 05, 2006 06:32pm | #7

   Papering the floor like Kirk says before finishing drywall is completely standard. Cleaning up mud off the floor because you didn't bother to paper it... well, reap what ya sow.

1. 
   dbleagles | May 06, 2006 06:58am | #8

   Thanks for in input...it only makes sense when you think about the work if not done...

    

   R

1. 
   wrudiger | May 07, 2006 08:25am | #15

   If it were finished floor, this stuff is great: http://www.ramboard.com/

   Add 1/4" hardboard in high traffic areas.

   For a slab / subfloor the other posts cover it well (pun intended).

2. 
   Schelling | May 06, 2006 12:55pm | #9

   Papering over a finished floor is standard practice but I don't know anyone who papers over a slab or subfloor. To do a decent job with the papering does take a little time and you still have to clean up afterwords. If it is too protect a finish floor this is well worthwhile but a subfloor doesn't need this protection.

3. 
   Matt | May 07, 2006 01:54am | #12

   Are you talking about protecting subfloor or finished floor?

4. 
   WayneL5 | May 07, 2006 05:51am | #13

   Avoid plastic.  It's too slippery and tears easily.  Heavy paper (like rosin paper) or cardboard left over from all the boxes are good.  They shoud be taped down so dirt does not get under.

5. 
   JeffBuck | May 07, 2006 07:10am | #14

   plastic then thrown down tarps in the areas to be worked on top of.

   Jeff

       Buck Construction

    Artistry In Carpentry

        Pittsburgh Pa

6. 
   eriktherad | May 08, 2006 02:01am | #16

   On one of my last jobs, we bought a 15' wide roll of landscapeing cloth and taped it to the edges of the finished floor.  Worked great, not slippery, didn't tear, and we rolled it up and can use it again.  If you do get drywall mud on the floor, use a little vinager and mope the floor clean.