Floor Protection

Heavy traffic areas in a household, including garages, basements, and workspaces, will benefit from the application of floor protection. Floor protection products can include mats, tiles, and epoxy paints as well as cleaning and maintenance solutions.

Protection can help to catch and prevent the spread of mud, slush, salt, dirt, and other chemical contaminants such as motor oils and antifreeze from the garage or basement into other areas of the house.

Epoxy Floor Paint

Epoxy floor paint is the product used in a protective painting process that leaves the floor with a kind of shine due to a chemical reaction. It is often used as a protective floor coating in airplane hangars and industrial locations. Because the paint uses a chemical that will evaporate over several hours, if used in smaller, confined spaces, the paint should be left to dry and to "gas off" for a few days. Epoxy floor paint requires a certain amount of education in correct application, and will generally be sold along with written instructions or even multi-media instructions on application.

Mats and Tiles

Protective flooring, such as mats and tiles, can be applied to an entire room, or just a specific designated area. Protective flooring can be installed in a new location to extend the life and vitality of a floor, or even be utilized to cover existing floor cracks and stains to revitalize the appearance of a heavy traffic area.

For instance, vinyl roll out garage flooring is available which provides protective cover for porous floorings such as concrete, which can easily be stained by unexpected automotive spills and leaks. Protective garage floor mats also keep dirt and slush from being carried into the home while offering a non-slip surface for the vehicle as well as the individual. Mats can be trimmed to fit garage interiors, and may be overlapped to reduce seams for a full coverage appearance.

Roll out mat floor protection is generally easy to install and may not require adhesive product backing. This type of floor protection can come in a variety of colors and patterns and can be much simpler than painting garage floors with epoxy-based paints which may take several days to accomplish and also requires a certain skill set for maximum benefit.

Chemical Cleansers

Chemical protections such as waxes, cleaners, and cleansers can also provide an extra layer of protection for floors and floor runners. Maintaining floors, including frequent vacuuming and mopping of flooring surfaces, will help to reduce stains and extend floor life.

By Barbara Poelle