Painting your home’s interior is one of the fastest and most effective ways to increase the sale price. Even if you’re not planning to move, a fresh coat of paint makes your house feel new.
Doing the painting yourself can save a significant amount of money. But it can also lead to problems if you don’t prepare carefully.
One important consideration is a carpet cover for painting. Your carpet is a significant investment. You don’t want to ruin one aspect of your home while trying to improve another.
Learn more about the options for protecting your carpet so you can get the most from your home improvement project.
Why Is A Carpet Cover For Painting So Important?
No matter how careful you are, you can’t avoid some drips and splatters while you’re painting. A carpet cover protects your carpet from these types of accidents.
Once paint dries on the carpet, it’s difficult if not impossible to remove. Paint removers like alcohol, acetone, and turpentine can discolor carpet. They can also damage the carpet backing.
If paint spills on the carpet, you may have to call a professional carpet cleaner. The worst-case scenario is that you need to replace the carpet entirely. A carpet cover saves you from the stress, effort, and expense of trying to remove a paint stain.
Types Of Carpet Protection For Painting
You have several different types of carpet protection to choose from. Drop cloths might be the first carpet cover you think of. Other types of coverage may offer better protection though.
Canvas Drop Cloths
Canvas drop cloths are easy to spread out. You don’t need to tape them down. They won’t make your ladder slip.
However, heavy spills can soak through the canvas. You have to be careful when you move canvas drop cloths. You don’t want any wet paint on the canvas to touch anything else.
Canvas drop cloths are one of the most expensive options for carpet cover. They’re machine washable and reusable though.
Plastic Tarps, Drop Cloths, And Sheets
Plastic tarps are heavier than plastic drop cloths or sheets. Drop cloths and sheets are sold by thickness.
Plastic isn’t absorbent, so paint won’t seep through. However, you have to sop up spills and then wipe the tarp dry. A plastic carpet cover can’t go in the washing machine.
Plastic carpet protection can be very slippery. You shouldn’t use plastic on stairs. Some manufacturers offer tarps with fabric backing or drop cloths with paper backing to make them less slippery.
Heavy Paper Rolls
Paper rolls are an inexpensive option. You can lay them down easily. The rolls come in various lengths and widths.
You have to tape the paper in place so it doesn’t move, though. Paper is only good for a single use. It absorbs paint and tears easily when wet.
Floor Protection Film
Carpet protection film is a self-adhesive polyethylene film. It’s very durable and resists tearing. You can apply it and remove it easily.
Floor protection film saves you from the hassle of wrestling with canvas drop cloths or plastic tarps.
Temporary floor protection film sticks from edge to edge. It stays in place and reduces the risk of tripping. You can safely use it on stairs.
You can leave carpet protection film in place for up to 45 days.
Protecting The Rest Of The Room When You’re Painting
A carpet cover is one important part of protecting your home when you’re painting. Good preparation will help you finish your painting project without needing major clean-up afterward.
Move The Furniture
First, move and/or cover the furniture. A crowded space can lead to messy accidents.
Move the furniture out of the room if possible. Otherwise, stack it in the middle of the room and cover it with a drop cloth or plastic sheet.
Remove And Cover Fixtures
Remove all the switch plates, outlet covers, and other wall fixtures. Then you can cover the switches and outlets with painter’s tape.
Before you remove the ceiling light fixture, remove the cover and the bulb. You can unscrew the fixture from the ceiling and use an old metal hanger or wire to hang it off the junction box. Cover the fixture with a plastic bag.
When you put the fixtures back on, you’ll have a perfect finish.
Cover The Baseboards
You don’t need to fully cover the baseboards to protect them. You can save time by using a strip of wide tape that hangs over the top. It will work like a roof overhang to keep splatters and drips off the baseboard.
Protect Doors And Windows
You can use light plastic sheets to cover doors and windows. Save time by using wide tape when you tape the door and window trim. You can use it to hold the plastic sheet instead of taping the sheet separately.
Get The Most From Your Carpet Protector With ArmorDillo
To get the best carpet protection, you need the best carpet protector film. ArmorDillo Paint Protection Film and Carpet Protector is a heavy-duty, three-ply film. Our innovative linear low construction makes this three mil film thinner but stronger than other three or four mil sheets.
Its co-extruded construction gives you a more durable film. Co-extrusion uses multiple plastic materials that are joined together in the extrusion process. The high rubber content in ArmorDillo protective film makes it stronger and more puncture-resistant.
Our multi-layer, self-adhering product has added UV protection to help keep your carpet looking new.
We use a patented air-beaded adhesive. This creates a 3D adhesive layer that conforms better to your carpet. ArmorDillo Carpet Protection Film is easier to apply and adheres better than other films.
ArmorDillo Carpet Protection Film is ideal for low- to medium-pile, non-plush synthetic carpets. You can leave it on for up to 45 days.
Get Your Carpet Cover For Painting Today
When you need a carpet cover for painting, you can count on ArmorDillo Carpet Protection Film. Our films are fully made in the USA. We give you the highest quality products and excellent customer service.
We offer several roll sizes to choose from and quantity discounts. Contact us today to find the perfect floor protection film for your project.