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What To Use For Temporary Floor Protection During Events

By Paige Cerulli

Created: Jul, 2022 - Modified: Apr, 2026

When preparing to hold a special event, you may need to protect the flooring that’s already in place from the extra wear and tear. Temporary floor protection can help preserve your existing flooring while increasing the versatility of your space, whether you’re hosting a party, graduation, or other type of event.

Temporary flooring protection is an essential investment in your flooring, and at Greatmats, we offer covering options for carpet, wood, concrete, and other types of existing flooring. Let’s explore some of the covering options and help you choose the best product for your needs.

Common Temporary Floor Protection Options

The size and type of the best product for your needs will depend on how and where you plan to use it. Here’s a basic guide to get you started.




























Carpet Tiles Carpet Rolls Vinyl Rolls Heavy Equipment Mats
Uses craft fair, science fair, banquets, concerts craft fair, science fair, graduation graduation, concerts, banquets temporary roadways & walkways, track mats, outdoor events
Size 39''x78'' approximate 6' wide x custom length 5' or 10' wide x custom length' 4'x8' or 4'x4'





Now, let’s take a closer look at each type of cover.

Protective Carpet Tiles


temporary floor protection
When holding an event like a science fair or a craft fair, spills could cause damage and staining to your gym floor. The same goes for banquets or holiday concerts, where people might be eating and drinking.

Products like our Gym Floor Covering Carpet Tiles are ideal for these types of situations. These heavy-duty carpet tiles have a thin design, which makes it easy to do the layout. They will remain in place without sliding around. There’s no need to use adhesive or tape, which is important for a temporary floor.

These tiles feature a great aesthetic, too, so they’re also ideal for commencement ceremonies or award shows at a school. Some schools even choose to leave these carpet tiles in place underneath the team bench area to catch spills during basketball or volleyball games.



Protective Carpet Rolls


temporary flooring protection
Also ideal for indoor use, protective carpet rolls offer many of the same benefits as carpet tiles, but with a different installation method. These carpet rolls can quickly cover larger areas, and when paired with a storage cart, they’re easy to uninstall and roll up for storage.

The Gym Floor Covering Carpet Roll is a popular choice because of its versatility and beautiful appearance. The carpet features a non-slip backing for safety, and the individual panels can be attached with hook-and-loop tape.



Protective Vinyl Rolls


vinyl protective floor covering
Vinyl flooring rolls are another popular form of temporary floor protection. Often used in school gyms or similar spaces, vinyl is an excellent choice when you need acoustical benefits for a speech during graduation or at a concert, since it cuts down on the echoing in a large gymnasium space. These protective floor covers are easy to use, too.

The Gym Floor Vinyl Cover 32 oz Vinyl Runner is one of the fastest ways to cover the floor ahead of an event, since the sheet covers a large area in very little time. It’s also non-slip for safety, plus the vinyl is available in nearly a dozen different color options, so you can customize the look of the space.

Our Gym Floor Cover 18 oz Vinyl is another popular choice. Made of three-ply fabric for enhanced durability, this flooring cover also meets fire codes for safety. The lay-flat seams help prevent tripping hazards, while the waterproof design protects floors against spills. The flooring is available in many bright colors, so it’s a great match for gymnasiums.



Ground and Turf Protection Mats


outdoor event flooring
When you’re hosting an outdoor event, you may need to protect the turf or ensure that guests are raised off of soft dirt and uneven ground. Protective mats intended for outdoor use offer a practical solution, preserving the ground while also creating a safer, flat surface for your event.

Gmats Ground Protection Mats are industrial-strength mats that won’t splinter or sink into the mud. These mats are crafted from high-density polyethylene plastic and are strong enough to support vehicles weighing up to 60 tons, including skid steers, tractors, excavators, and more. Weighing just 80 pounds each, the mats are easy to use and can help to prevent damaged grass and ruts, keep vehicles from getting stuck in the mud, and prevent damage to existing driveways. As a result, they’re often used to construct temporary roadways at construction sites, and schools also use them as track mats as sport floor protection to cover track and field ovals, protecting the oval from football and soccer cleats.

The Matrax Light Duty Pedestrian Composite Mat is ideal for constructing temporary walkways or as event flooring. These mats feature drainage holes to prevent water from pooling on the surface, and a diamond top texture helps maximize grip and safety. A cam lock system makes installation simple, and these mats are ADA compliant, making them a versatile temporary flooring protection choice.

Contact Greatmats for Your Temporary Floor Protection Needs

Whether you’re looking for gym floor covers or event flooring, we have an excellent selection of temporary floor protection at Greatmats. Contact our Greatmats customer service team today; we’d be happy to help you find the right cover for your upcoming event and your existing floor.