Masonite vs Ram Board Floor Protection for NYC Moves

Floor protection rules in New York City come from each building, not from city law. A co-op board, condo board or managing agent writes them into the house rules, the move-in packet or the alteration agreement, and the building's staff enforce them on move day. Masonite, a rigid tempered hardboard sheet, is the traditional answer for lobbies and corridors where loaded dollies roll. Ram Board, a heavy recycled paper board sold in rolls, is lighter and suits long runs of finished floor inside an apartment, especially floors that are still curing. Read your building's written rules first, because they settle the choice before price or preference does.

Where the Requirement Comes From

The city's Building Code requires contractors working in an occupied building to use barricades, signs, drop cloths and other protective means that give the occupants reasonable protection. The code expects those measures to appear in the job's occupant protection plan, or in its tenant protection plan where the code requires one. It does not name a floor covering, a brand or a thickness. The specific requirements come from private building documents.

Examples From Real NYC Documents

• An office tower's move rules. The move-in and move-out procedures at 140 Broadway in Manhattan require clean Masonite runners on all furnished floor areas where movers roll heavy furniture or equipment, and say the sheets should be at least 1/4 inch thick. The rules call for 4 by 8 foot sheets in the lobby and corridors, 32-inch sheets in suite doorways, and dollies with rubber wheels.
• A model co-op alteration agreement. The New York City Bar's form alteration agreement for co-ops requires the shareholder's contractor to cover any back hall floor used for the work with construction paper and to take all precautions needed to protect hallway carpeting, wall coverings and other finishes.

Residential buildings vary more than offices. Some name Masonite outright, some allow a similar board, and some only ask the mover to protect floors and elevators. Ask the managing agent for the move-in or renovation packet in writing, and check it for the required material, the permitted move hours, and the certificate of insurance your mover must send before the date.

Masonite at a Glance

Masonite began as a brand name, and people now use it for any tempered hardboard sheet. Home centers sell it in 4 by 8 foot and 2 by 4 foot panels, and 1/8 inch is the common retail thickness. Some buildings, like 140 Broadway, ask for 1/4 inch.

• Strengths. The rigid sheet spreads the weight of dolly wheels, bridges small gaps at thresholds, and survives many moves.
• Weaknesses. Full sheets are heavy and awkward on narrow stairs, and grit trapped underneath can scratch the floor it is meant to protect.
• How to lay it. Sweep the floor, put down a slip sheet of kraft paper or a canvas drop cloth, lay the boards on top, and tape seams and edges to each other. Keep tape off finished floors.

Ram Board at a Glance

Ram Board comes in rolls of heavy paper board. The manufacturer lists the standard board at 42 mils thick, about five times the thickness of builder's paper, and says it is made from recycled materials and FSC certified. It lists a 38-inch by 100-foot roll as covering about 317 square feet. The company also sells thicker versions, including Ram Board Plus and Pro Sheets.

• Strengths. A roll covers a long hallway or an open living room fast, and the company says the board is breathable so curing floors underneath can breathe.
• Weaknesses. A flexible board spreads the weight of dolly wheels less than a rigid sheet does, so heavy dollies and piano boards need care on it.
• How to tape it. Ram Board's tape guidance says to use seam tape only to join boards and never to apply it directly to floors, because the adhesive can pull off finishes. To hold the edges down, the company sells 14-day and 90-day edge tapes that it says remove without residue within those periods.

In April 2026 the company added Pro Paper, a lighter flooring paper it describes as 1.5 times thicker than builder's paper and breathable over curing floors. In thickness it sits between plain builder's paper and standard Ram Board.

Stairs, Doorways and Elevators

Floors are only part of the route. Stair treads, door jambs and elevator walls take hits on move day too, and a building's packet may cover them separately.

• Stairs. Sheets and rolls slide on treads, so tape them down at both ends of each tread or use a product made for stairs. Ram Board sells Stair Armor, tread covers that adjust to any tread size and wrap the front edge.
• Doorways. Cut Masonite to the door width, as 140 Broadway does with its 32-inch doorway sheets, so the dolly crosses the threshold on a rigid surface.
• Elevators. If the building has a service elevator, ask the super whether the building hangs its own pads or expects the mover to bring them, and book the elevator for the move window.

Masonite and Ram Board Side by Side

Choosing for a Move or a Renovation

For a move, follow the building's rule first. If the packet says Masonite, bring Masonite, because building staff enforce the packet on move day. Before you book, ask the NYC moving companies on your list whether the crew supplies the boards, runners and elevator pads your building requires, and have the mover send the certificate of insurance at the same time.

For a renovation, the alteration agreement governs the common areas, and the apartment's own floors are your call. Ram Board or a similar breathable product over new or refinished wood keeps dust and dropped tools off the finish. Use rigid sheets in the paths where workers roll heavy carts or tile.

Move-Day Floor Protection Checklist

1. Get the building's move-in or renovation rules in writing and note the required material, thickness and move hours.
2. Send the certificate of insurance to the managing agent before the date, in the format the building asks for.
3. Confirm with the mover who supplies the boards, the tape and the elevator pads.
4. Walk the route with the super before the move: lobby, corridor, elevator and apartment door.
5. Photograph the floors and walls along the route before anyone lays protection, so you can answer any damage claim.
6. Sweep the floor, lay the slip sheet and boards, and tape seams to each other rather than to finished floors.
7. Lift the protection at the end of the day, sweep, and check the floor with the super before the crew leaves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does NYC Law Require Masonite for Moves?

No. The city's Building Code requires reasonable protection for occupants during construction in an occupied building, but it names no product or thickness. Masonite requirements come from individual buildings' house rules and move policies. Ask the managing agent for the current rules before each move, because boards and management companies revise them.

What Thickness of Masonite Do NYC Buildings Require?

It depends on the building. Home centers commonly sell 1/8 inch sheets, and some buildings set a higher minimum. The move rules at 140 Broadway, for example, call for sheets at least 1/4 inch thick.

Is Masonite the Same as Hardboard?

In practice, yes. Masonite started as a brand of hardboard, and movers and contractors now use the name for any tempered hardboard sheet.

Can You Tape Ram Board Directly to Hardwood?

Ram Board says never to put its seam tape directly on floors, because the adhesive can remove finishes. It sells low-tack edge tapes, rated for 14 or 90 days, for holding the board to surfaces.

Do Movers Supply Floor Protection?

Some movers bring boards and elevator pads, and some expect the building or the customer to provide them. Confirm in writing when you book, and match the materials to the building's written rules.

Can Masonite Be Reused?

Yes, if you keep the sheets clean and dry. Wipe or sweep both faces before each use, because grit stuck to the underside scratches the floor it is meant to protect.

How Thick Is Ram Board?

The standard board is 42 mils thick, according to the manufacturer. Ram Board Plus and Pro Sheets are thicker, and Pro Paper, added in 2026, is a thinner flooring paper.

How Much Floor Does a Roll of Ram Board Cover?

The manufacturer lists a 38-inch by 100-foot roll as covering about 317 square feet. A 4 by 8 foot Masonite sheet covers 32 square feet.