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Home The blog space Well prepare a painting site thanks to protective tarps

Well prepare a painting site thanks to protective tarps

By Bâches Direct

Published on 06-04-2022

Last updated 17-09-2026

2

Tips DIY Painting
Painting tarpaulin
Painting tarpaulin

Repainting your house requires a bit of preparation, particularly when it comes to equipment. Discover our tips and our protective painting sheets to fully protect your floors, rooms and furniture.

Why protection?

When a homeowner decides to repaint their interior walls, their aim is to revitalise the atmosphere inside their home. Therefore, creating new, tedious tasks is out of the question. Indeed, a painting project can result in dirt on the floors and also on certain items that cannot be moved due to their size or weight. The same thing can happen with the tiles in the kitchen and bathroom. Cleaning these stains can lead to extra costs, as you’ll need to buy specialised products to remove the paint stains, not to mention the time it will take.


Using a plastic sheet is the best way to prevent paint drips from the roller or brush from landing on the floors or the kitchen worktop. This covering also prevents these stains from setting on the bath. This wide protective sheeting, which is available in shops, is used to cover parts of the house not affected by the painting work. It comes in various sizes, and the person in charge of the project should choose the sheeting according to their needs and the size of the area to be protected.

Which protective tarpaulin should you choose for your project?

To prevent paint from getting onto your surfaces, there are now solutions to suit every room layout:

  • Polyethylene plastic sheeting: Available in rolls or as folded sheets, these flexible and cost-effective sheets are ideal for covering furniture, windows or worktops. There are two types: low-density polyethylene (ideal for small jobs) and high-density polyethylene (more durable).
  • Self-adhesive protective sheeting (1 m x 25 m roll – 25 m²): Thanks to its self-adhesive backing, it sticks directly to the floor without the need for adhesive tape. Repositionable, non-slip and featuring a 120 g/m² waterproof film, it provides effective protection against liquids and cushions minor impacts. It is the perfect solution for delicate areas such as staircases.
  • The absorbent felt sheet (1 m x 25 m roll – 25 m²): Its top layer of textile felt instantly absorbs drips and traps paint, preventing it from being tracked underfoot. Its waterproof plasticised backing guarantees complete waterproofing to protect your wooden floors and tiles.

How do you go about fitting the tarpaulin?

Getting hold of a good-quality protective sheet is one thing, but the person carrying out the work must also know how to use it. So, before you can lay out the sheet, you need to make space in the room. This means moving the furniture to ensure that the sheet can cover as much of the surface as possible. The aim is to spread the plastic sheeting out so as to eliminate any creases. It should be noted that protection is at its best when the sheet is spread evenly over the surface to be protected.


The tradesperson or apprentice painter will start by taping the sheet along the wall, beginning at the edge of the skirting board. The protective film must then be stretched to cover the floor. The roll of tarpaulin should be unrolled at right angles to the wall. This prevents the material from creasing. This process must be repeated each time you move to a new section. It is best to remove the tarpaulin as soon as the final brushstrokes have been applied.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • Are paint protection sheets reusable?

    Yes, most professional-grade or standard tarpaulins (such as felt or adhesive tarpaulins) are designed to be reusable. Allow any paint that has fallen onto the surface to dry, dust it off or wipe it gently, then fold or roll up your tarpaulin and store it away from damp.

  • How can you avoid slipping on a tarpaulin whilst painting?

    Lightweight plastic sheeting can be slippery. To avoid any risk of accidents, particularly in high-traffic areas or on stairs, opt for self-adhesive paint sheeting or felt sheeting, which provide good grip on most smooth surfaces.

  • How can you effectively protect a staircase whilst painting it?

    Stairs can be a tricky and dangerous area if the surface is slippery. The best option is self-adhesive sheeting on a roll: it is applied step by step, lies flat and does not require any adhesive tape to hold it in place.

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