What method is commonly used to protect floors from moisture and impact during salvage?

• A. Install concrete sealant to lock moisture out.
• B. Use plywood or heavy-duty mats to distribute weight and protect from moisture and impact.
• C. Remove all flooring before salvage to avoid damage.
• D. Place sandbags to absorb moisture.

Answer: (B)

Protecting floors during salvage centers on distributing the weight and creating a barrier against moisture and hard impacts. Using plywood sheets or heavy-duty mats achieves this best because they spread the load from equipment, tools, and foot traffic over a larger area, reducing point loads that can crack finishes or subfloors. They also form a protective surface that shields the floor from moisture coming from wet conditions or standing water, while providing a durable, easy-to-clean layer that helps prevent damage from debris and scratches. This approach is quick to set up, reusable, and adaptable to different work areas.

Other options don’t provide the same combination of load distribution and moisture/impact protection. A concrete sealant isn’t a practical solution for ongoing salvage and can trap moisture or fail under heavy equipment, while removing all flooring isn’t always feasible and doesn’t give a reusable protective layer. Sandbags don’t effectively distribute weight or shield the floor from impact and moisture in a salvage scenario.