Get Rolled Floor Protection to Lie Flat Without Flipping It Over

The Problem

Heavy rolled floor protection holds the memory of the roll. Unroll a run and the free end curls back on itself, so you end up taping every edge down or weighting the corners just to keep it workable underfoot.

The Technique

This one is quicker to watch than to read — the motion takes about five seconds in the reel:

1. Unroll the run and stand about 5 feet back from the curled end.
2. Roll the end back against its curl to counter-bend it.
3. Grab the end and pull that 5 feet of board up to vertical, letting a light crease form across the board at your feet.
4. Lay it back down. The crease and the counter-bend cancel the roll memory and the run lies flat.