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Temporary Subfloor Protection

user-132287 | Posted in Construction Techniques on August 5, 2008 06:13am

Infrequent poster/semi-frequent reader here… I tried a few searches but didn’t see what I was looking for.  Please let me know if this is the wrong folder.

Somewhere in the past year or so I ran across either an ad or a tip for temporary wood subfloor protection during construction.  Similar to a film that was put down at platform frame then cut at walls before finishes go down.  Looked like a good idea, better than the cardboard/luan/scrap scenarios I’ve been through.

Any ideas or has anyone seen this/used it?

Thanks for the help.

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Replies

  1. User avater
    IMERC | Aug 05, 2008 06:15am | #1

    why would you think you need subfloor protection???

    what are you trying to protect from???

    the folder location is fine

     

    Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

    WOW!!! What a Ride!
    Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

    1. user-132287 | Aug 05, 2008 06:26am | #2

      Mud.  Drywall compound.  Spilled drinks.

      I'm constantly working towards cleaner job sites and a more professional product/process.  Even with daily policing and cleaning of the sites and straw/gravel at the exteriors, the subfloors end up a mess (or more of a mess than I like).  Most of our work is renovation/remodel/large addition and many times they are living through it. 

      It's also another item for good marketing when walking a prospective client through another project.

      I saw the product briefly and was curiuos about it as well as what happens to water/snow and is it slippery (saftey).

      Also open to other methods.

      1. User avater
        IMERC | Aug 05, 2008 06:56am | #3

        1/8" masonite sheets... 

        Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

        WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

        1. cynwyd | Aug 05, 2008 06:59pm | #6

          Another vote for the tempered 1/8" Masonite.

          Cuts with a knife.

          Reusable.

          Sweeps, vaccums well.

          No trip hazard.

          Can be scrapped. 

  2. JeffyT | Aug 05, 2008 07:42am | #4

    How 'bout those big Tyvek-like tarps that lifts of lumber come wrapped in. If you don't use whole lifts your supplier probably has some in their dumpster. I use them some - staple 'em down with a hammer tacker and not such a good idea with lots of water around.

    JT

    1. User avater
      Matt | Aug 06, 2008 01:33am | #8

      Yea - I deal a lot with a rather large lumber yard.  They get in trains of lumber on a regular basis.  I like getting framing lumber from them because even though it is kept outside, their lumber is very "fresh".  BTW - they do keep it covered though.  Anyway, I asked one of the yard guys "what do you all do with all those lumber covers?"  His answer: "we throw them away".

  3. mike_maines | Aug 05, 2008 04:00pm | #5

    We've used floor protection that looks like felt (cotton felt, not tar paper) on top and has a plastic film on the bottom.  I can't think of the name right now, but if you Google "floor protection" it will probably pop up.

    We usually use rosin paper or fan fold foam insulation with luann or masonite on top, sometimes taping seams with duct tape if we really want to protect what's underneath.

    I've never protected a subfloor during construction though, aside from feeble attempts to cover slabs with tarpaper so they don't get stained.  That lasted about a day.

  4. FNbenthayer | Aug 05, 2008 09:36pm | #7

    There is a co that makes poly floor protection is it's blue and has a "diamond plate" texture. I believe it came in three grades and certainly would last the duration of most builds.

    I saw it at JLC Live...I just cant find the info-----------

     

     

     

     

    The awful thing is that beauty is mysterious as well as terrible. God and the devil are fighting there, and the battlefield is the heart of man.
    - Fyodor Dostoyevski

  5. User avater
    Matt | Aug 06, 2008 01:40am | #9

    I saw this stuff at my BS the other day.  about the same price as what's on the web site.  Don't think it's any cheaper than hardboard though.

    1. user-132287 | Aug 06, 2008 03:55am | #10

      Interesting... Ram Board.   I will look it up.

      I like the masonite suggestions and will probably try that as well, a couple concerns:

      1.  install time may be longer than a roll/sheet good

      2.  framing crew will protest (but that will happen anytime we change a process with any crew).

      The idea behind the roll/sheet good was to wrap the floor after subflooring and before the walls were framed.  Come back later and cut it loose with a knife.

      I also was considering housewraps - we always end up with extra after a job and the leftover roll could serve the floor protection on the next.  Most are slippery and not an option, but Dow has the Weathermate that seemed non-slip with a small sample today.  Tyvek and Typar are the primary brands around here and both are slippery to walk on when framing walls.  Anyone with experience on the Dow products?

      Thanks again.

      1. FNbenthayer | Aug 11, 2008 12:52pm | #11

        I found a sample of the poly I mentioned earlier, it's called cover guard. http://www.coverguard.com/ The website is poor, I'd call them for some samples.Jim 

         

         

         

        The awful thing is that beauty is mysterious as well as terrible. God and the devil are fighting there, and the battlefield is the heart of man.- Fyodor Dostoyevski

        1. user-132287 | Aug 11, 2008 06:32pm | #12

          Great!

          Thanks for remembering and following up.  I've sent them an email to get more info.  I'll reply post to all when I get the info.

          Tony

      2. User avater
        JeffBuck | Aug 11, 2008 10:19pm | #13

        anything other than masonite sounds like a trip hazzard.

         

        and why protect the floor before the walls go up?

        your framers spill joint conpound and paint?

         

        I stick with masonite ... 1/4" is even nicer when it's gonna be left down for a longer time. Plus ... having it on hand is nice to protect the finish floors after they go down.

        on finish floors ... I lay a clean cloth tarp ... plastic if "wet" is a concern ... then masonite ... duct taped seams for bullet proof coverage.

        for less permanant protection ... "the big roll" of cardboard my lumberyard carries is the best / most cost effective. 3ft wide ... think it's 100ft long. Don't even know if it has a brand name ... just call and ask for "the big roll" ...

         

        Jeff    Buck Construction

         Artistry In Carpentry

             Pittsburgh Pa

  6. DAC747 | Aug 16, 2008 06:04am | #14

    A 5 gallon bucket of Thompson's Water seal and a mop after the deck is done and before the walls are put up. It protects the deck, makes clean up [sweeping or vaccuuming] easy. It is amazing how just a coat of sealer keeps the dust from building up. I learned this when building Timber Frame homes, we allways coated the deck because sometimes it would sit for a couple of weeks while getting the frame shipped to the job. I soon learned that the house stayed much cleaner with the sealed floors. Try it !!!

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