Cover fleece

Protective nonwoven fabric for reliable floor protection during painting and renovation work

Covering fleece protects floors, stairs, and other walkable surfaces from paint, dust, and dirt during painting, renovation, or construction work. Unlike a thin tarp, fleece usually stays in place even with frequent foot traffic and absorbs paint drips instead of letting them pool on the surface. Within the Tarp and Fleece category, covering fleece is the more durable solution for high-traffic floor areas.

It is used in living spaces, stairwells, and hallways, as well as on construction sites or during moves, when sensitive floors need to be protected for extended periods.

Features and Benefits of Covering Fleece

Protective fleece is a textile fabric that is often combined with a coating or film on the underside. This underside is designed to slow the penetration of liquids and reduce slipping on smooth floors. The extent to which these properties are effective depends on the construction and thickness of the material.

Typical characteristics of protective fleece include:

• an absorbent top layer that soaks up paint drips
• a slip-resistant underside on many models
• greater weight, resulting in a more stable position than thin tarps
• Supplied in rolls of various lengths
• can be reused multiple times, depending on its condition

The choice depends primarily on the size of the area, how heavily it is trafficked, and how sensitive the underlying surface is.

Which protective fleece is best suited for which application?

The Nölle Profi Brush Universal Covering Fleece is ideal for renovation, painting, and restoration work, as well as for protecting floors, carpets, and furniture. According to the manufacturer’s description, this gray, absorbent fleece has a slip-resistant underside and is available in lengths of 10 m, 25 m, and 50 m. The short roll is sufficient for individual rooms or hallways, while the longer rolls are suitable for multiple rooms, stairwells, or commercial projects.

Additional covering materials, such as painter’s drop cloths, construction tarps, and woven tarps, are available in the parent category “Tarps and Fleece.”

What should you look for when buying protective fleece?

First, consider the required length. It’s best to roughly measure the walkways and floor areas and allow for some extra material to overlap at the seams. For multiple rooms or recurring projects, a longer roll is usually more practical than several short ones.

The surface you’re laying it on is also important. On smooth floors like tile, hardwood, or laminate, a slip-resistant backing is particularly helpful. For delicate surfaces, it’s advisable to test the product first in an inconspicuous spot to see if the coating leaves any marks.

Finally, the level of wear and tear matters: Where ladders are placed, tools are set down, or people walk frequently, a durable non-woven fabric is a better choice than a thin plastic sheet.

Protective fleece or protective tarp—what’s the difference?

Covering fleece is heavier, more absorbent, and stays in place better on many floors thanks to its underside. This makes it particularly suitable for walkable floor areas and projects that last several days.

Covering tarps, on the other hand, are lightweight, inexpensive, and quick to lay out. They work well for covering furniture or areas that are rarely walked on. However, paint drips can become slippery on smooth tarps.

It often makes sense to combine the two: use protective fleece on walkways and floors, and tarps or plastic sheeting over furniture and less-trafficked areas.

Application and Instructions for Covering Fleece

The floor should be swept clean and dry before laying the fleece so that it lies evenly. Unroll the fleece with the absorbent side facing up; overlap the seams and secure them with masking tape if necessary.

Even anti-slip fleece can slip on very smooth or damp floors. Additional securing is therefore recommended on stair treads and transitions.

After use, loose debris can be shaken out or vacuumed up. Whether the underlay can be reused depends on the degree of soiling. It is best stored in a dry place and rolled up.

Complementary Products for Covering Fleece

• Covering tarps
• Covering film
• Masking tape
• Paint rollers
• Paintbrushes

Drop cloths and plastic sheeting complement the drop cloth in protecting furniture and walls, while masking tape ensures a secure hold along joints and edges. Paint rollers and brushes complete the workflow. An overview of all covering materials can be found in the Drop Cloths and Sheeting category.