When you hire a painter, you’re not just hoping for smooth walls or freshly updated cabinets; you’re trusting that your home and belongings will be protected along the way. No one wants to walk into their kitchen and see paint dust on countertops or splatters on hardwood floors. That’s why the coverings painters choose matter so much. Some use plastic sheeting, others roll out paper, and as a homeowner you may wonder which one truly keeps your furniture, floors, and fixtures safe during the project.
At Brush & Roll Painting, we’ve been serving homeowners in Omaha since 1996. Over the years, we’ve seen just about every prep method out there, and we’ve learned firsthand the pros and cons of different materials. Proper prep isn’t just about keeping things clean; it’s about ensuring a high-quality paint finish while protecting your home. The choice between plastic and paper is one that depends on the surface being covered, the type of paint being applied, and even the equipment used.
This article will walk you through why painters choose plastic sheeting in some situations and paper in others. We’ll explain when each option works best for spraying interior walls, ceilings, cabinets, and even exteriors like windows and doors. By the end, you’ll understand what to look for when painters prepare your home so you can feel confident in their process and know your belongings are being properly protected.
Why Protection Materials Matter in Painting
Before comparing plastic and paper, it’s helpful to understand why painters should cover so much of your home. Paint can travel farther than most people think. Even with brushes and rollers, splatters and drips are almost guaranteed. With spray painting, tiny paint particles, called overspray, will float in the air and settle on surfaces you didn’t expect. Without proper coverings, paint can end up on floors, countertops, furniture, or appliances.
Some painters don’t use plastic or paper at all, and that usually comes down to cutting corners. Skipping proper prep saves them time and a little money on materials, but it leaves your home at risk.
The protection step is also about efficiency. A painter who spends hours scrubbing floors or sanding overspray off cabinets isn’t able to focus on what really matters, giving you a smooth, professional finish. Coverings save cleanup time, prevent accidents, and show you that the painters care about your home.
Prep work isn’t just an extra step or a waste of time; it’s a sign of professionalism and respect for your home.
Plastic Sheeting: When and Why Painters Use It
Plastic sheeting is one of the most common protection methods, and for good reason. It’s lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to tape in place. Painters can quickly roll out large sheets to cover furniture, floors, or walls. But while plastic has its advantages, it also has limitations.
Pros of Plastic Sheeting
- Great for vertical surfaces: Plastic sticks well when taped, making it ideal for covering walls, doors, and windows.
- Moisture resistance: Unlike paper, plastic doesn’t absorb paint. If a spill happens, it sits on top instead of soaking through.
- Flexible coverage: Plastic comes in different thicknesses, from thin disposable sheets to heavy-duty plastic that resists tearing.
Cons of Plastic Sheeting
- Slippery on floors: Walking on plastic can feel like stepping on ice. For that reason, most professionals avoid using it on hardwood or tile where people will be walking.
- Paint pooling: If paint drips onto plastic, it can puddle and transfer onto shoes, clothing, or other surfaces.
- Can shift easily: Unless taped securely, plastic can move out of place, leaving parts of a surface exposed.
Best Uses for Plastic Sheeting
- Covering furniture during wall or ceiling painting
- Protecting windows and doors during exterior spraying
- Sealing off cabinets and countertops when spraying ceilings or walls nearby
Paper Coverings: When and Why Painters Use Them
Paper might not seem as high-tech as plastic, but many professional painters rely on it for certain projects. Painters often use brown kraft paper or specialized masking paper that can be rolled out and taped along surfaces.
Pros of Paper Coverings
- Safe for floors and countertops: Paper is less slippery than plastic, making it a safer choice for covering hardwood, tile, or stairs. On countertops, it allows the surface to still be usable, without worrying about things slipping off easily.
- Absorbs minor drips: Small paint splatters soak into the paper instead of pooling on top.
- Creates a stable work surface: Paper doesn’t shift as easily as plastic, so it stays in place when walked on.
Cons of Paper Coverings
- Not moisture resistant: Large spills can soak through paper and stain the surface beneath.
- Smaller coverage area: Paper usually comes in narrower rolls compared to large sheets of plastic, so covering big spaces takes more time and material.
- Less reusable: Once paper absorbs paint, it typically needs to be discarded.
Best Uses for Paper
- Covering hardwood or tile floors during interior painting
- Protecting countertops when spraying cabinets
- Masking baseboards or trim when using spray equipment
Plastic vs Paper for Interior Wall and Ceiling Painting
When spraying walls and ceilings, painters need to protect nearly everything else in the room. This often means a combination of plastic and paper.
- Walls and ceilings: Plastic is typically taped over windows, doors, and light fixtures to prevent overspray.
- Floors: Paper is preferred here since it provides a safe walking surface and won’t shift under ladders or equipment.
- Trim and baseboards: Painters often use masking paper to create clean edges along trim while spraying walls.
A good rule of thumb: plastic for vertical surfaces, paper for horizontal ones. The goal is to keep your home safe while allowing painters to move around freely and work efficiently.
Plastic vs Paper for Cabinet Painting
Cabinet refinishing requires extra attention because kitchens are filled with surfaces you don’t want painted, countertops, appliances, sinks, and backsplashes. Here’s how professionals approach it:
- Plastic sheeting isn't used too often when painters brush the cabinet boxes. It is often used to create a “spray booth” around the cabinets boxes when painters are spraying the paint. Painters may build a contained space using plastic walls to keep overspray from floating into other rooms.
- Paper is typically used on countertops and floors. Since paper absorbs small splatters, it helps prevent paint from being tracked through the house.
In this setting, plastic provides the large-scale barrier, while paper protects the work surfaces homeowners use every day.
Plastic vs Paper for Exterior Painting
Exterior projects also call for different protection strategies. When spraying siding, trim, or stucco, overspray can travel quickly, especially on windy days.
- Plastic sheeting is ideal for covering large areas like windows, doors, and garage doors. It provides a tight seal against wind-driven paint.
- Paper works well for smaller details, like protecting exterior light fixtures or trim pieces that don’t need paint.
Since exteriors are exposed to weather, heavier plastic is usually preferred, as it won’t tear or blow away as easily as paper.
What to Look for in a Painter’s Prep Work
Homes in Omaha often feature a mix of wood floors, open kitchens, and large exterior windows, all of which require careful protection when paint is around. Whether you’re having your living room walls sprayed, your kitchen cabinets refinished, or your home’s exterior updated, the right prep makes a difference.
By understanding the purpose of plastic and paper coverings, you’ll be better equipped to ask painters the right questions. Instead of feeling left in the dark, you can feel confident that your home will be cared for throughout the process.
As a homeowner, you don’t need to memorize every tool painters use, but you should know what good prep looks like. A professional painter should:
- Cover floors with paper or another slip-resistant material
- Seal off windows, doors, and fixtures with plastic sheeting when painting around them
- Use a combination of plastic and paper, depending on the surface being protected
- Take time to secure coverings tightly so paint cannot leak through or drift onto exposed surfaces
If you walk through your home before painting starts and see careless or loose coverings, that can be a red flag. Prep work is a direct reflection of the quality you can expect in the finished paint job.
Painting in Omaha, NE
When you first started reading, you may have been unsure why painters don’t all use the same materials. Now you know that it depends on the surface, the project type, and even the safety of walking around during the job. Plastic works best for walls, windows, and large vertical surfaces, while paper is safer and more reliable on floors, counters, and trim.
At Brush & Roll Painting, we’ve been helping Omaha homeowners since 1996, and one thing we’ve learned is that prep makes or breaks a paint job. Whether it’s protecting your hardwood floors during a cabinet spray or sealing off your windows before exterior painting, the right material makes all the difference.
If you’re planning a painting project, click the button below to get a quote.
And before you hire any painter, be sure to download our free guide to hiring a painter. It will walk you through the key questions to ask so you can choose a company that will protect your home and deliver results you’ll love.
