A polished floor handed over at the end of a project is exposed to every trade that follows: plaster, paint, MEP, glazing, joinery and the cleaning crew. Most damage on a new polished floor happens after the polish, and it is the contractor who pays for it.

Protection layers

Layer	Product	Protects against	Watch out
Release film	Polyethylene sheet	Paint, plaster, water	Traps moisture if left long
Absorbent	Heavy paper or felt	Spills, foot traffic grit	Needs replacing when wet
Hard board	Fibre or OSB board	Point loads, ladders, trolleys	Tape only, never nails
Edge ramp	Rubber ramp	Trolley wheels at doorways	Keep it clean underneath

Rules that prevent 90 % of damage

• Tape seams with a low-tack construction tape, never gaffer on the polish; residue becomes a dull band.
• Never nail or screw board into the floor.
• Route all site traffic on one protected corridor and keep other areas closed.
• No skips, scaffolds or material stacks directly on the floor; put plywood pads under legs.
• Lift, do not drag, anything with metal feet.
• Replace wet paper immediately; a wet layer is worse than none.

Sequencing the trades

1. Polish last where possible, after wet trades and ceiling work.
2. Where polish must come early, protect with board and keep a written log of who entered.
3. Remove protection only when the last trade has left that zone, not before.
4. Clean and inspect in the same visit as removal; damage found a week later is harder to attribute.

Damage that voids a warranty

Dragging a scaffold, dropping a tool, welding sparks, solvent spills and adhesive residue are not normal wear, and most warranties exclude them. Photograph the protection at handover of each zone and record the condition at removal. If a trade damages the floor, the cost is theirs, and the photographic record is what makes that a simple conversation instead of a claim.

Price protection as a line item. It costs a fraction of a re-polish, and on a visible floor it is the cheapest insurance in the project.