A new floor is one of the most expensive parts of any build or renovation, and it’s also one of the first things to take damage once trades start moving through — dropped tools, dragged materials, wet concrete splash, paint spills. Floor protection exists to absorb that damage instead of the floor underneath. The type you need depends on what’s happening on site, not just how long the job runs.
Rigid board protection: MDF and Corflute
For the heaviest traffic and the highest risk of impact damage — think scaffolding, ladders, or materials being wheeled across the floor — a rigid board is the strongest option. MDF sheeting comes in 3mm, 9mm and 16mm thicknesses, so you can match the board’s stiffness to how much weight is actually going over it.
Corflute (corrugated plastic sheeting) is a lighter alternative that’s easier to carry and cut on site, and it still holds up well against foot traffic and light equipment. It won’t take the same abuse as MDF, but it’s faster to lay and lift again at the end of the job.
Woven and multi-layer protection: for the length of a full build
For a job that runs for weeks rather than days, a woven or multi-layer product is built to stay down and keep working the whole time. SupaBord comes in two grades — Renovator Grade for lighter domestic renovation work, and Contractor Grade for a genuinely heavy-traffic commercial build. Both are absorbent, breathable, and designed to stop trapped moisture from damaging the floor underneath.
VISY Guardboard, Capitol Heavy Duty Floor Protection and Construction Multi Guard are all real alternatives in this same category — each is a multi-layer board designed for extended construction-site use, so the choice between them usually comes down to what’s in stock and the roll size you need for the area you’re covering.
Film and plastic protection: fast to lay, best for shorter jobs
When the job is shorter, or the floor just needs protecting from dust, paint and light foot traffic rather than heavy equipment, a film-based product is quicker to roll out and more affordable per square metre. Protect IT 2mm is a good general-purpose option for this. Black Builders Film is a straightforward poly sheeting option for a fast, low-cost layer against dust and spills.
If it’s carpet you’re protecting rather than a hard floor, purpose-built products work better than a generic film. Carpet Saver is designed specifically to grip and protect carpet without leaving residue when it’s removed, and Polywoven covers both carpet and hard flooring in one product if you’re working across mixed surfaces on the same job.
Cushioned protection, for extra impact absorption
Polycushion 4mm adds a genuine layer of cushioning on top of the usual protective barrier, which matters if there’s a real risk of dropped tools or hardware during the job — worth the extra thickness on a site where that’s a likely scenario, rather than just incidental foot traffic.
Don’t forget the tape
Whichever protection you choose, it only works if it stays in place and the joins are sealed. SupaBord Joint Tape is built to seal the joins between boards so dust and spills can’t get underneath, and SupaBord 150 Day Edge Tape holds the perimeter down for the length of a longer job without leaving adhesive residue when it’s removed. For general masking and surface protection during painting work, Magpie Waterproof Masking Tape is a reliable, water-resistant option.
Matching the product to the job
As a general rule: reach for MDF or Corflute where there’s real risk of impact damage from equipment or materials, a woven multi-layer board like SupaBord for a longer build where the floor needs to stay protected for weeks, and a film or plastic product for shorter jobs or lighter foot traffic. If you’re protecting carpet specifically, use a carpet-rated product rather than a generic film — it’s designed to grip properly and won’t damage the pile when it comes up.
Browse the full floor protection range at Multifors to compare these side by side for your next job.