Area Rugs and Rug Pads for Hardwood Floors
The addition of area rugs on hardwood flooring serves both an ornamental and practical purpose. But rugs can move or slide around on a wood floor and cause scratching due to different types and coarseness of rug backings - and - the grit, dust, and dirt trapped beneath the rug.
Thus, it is recommended that a pad be placed under area rugs to protect the wood floor. However, rug pads can also cause damage depending upon the material they are made of ... so choose carefully. As you know, rug pads offer other benefits as well including noise reduction, safety and comfort. For wood floors, I highly recommend them.
The following recommendations are for polyurethane coated hardwood floors.
Wood Floor Rug Pads to Avoid Steer clear of most rubber, foam-backed, latex, plastic-matted or non-ventilated rugs and padding. Some rugs are made of PVC (vinyl) that contains plasticizers which can discolor the finish or the wood. The damage is permanent and its not a pretty sight. Your floors need to breathe. Many rug pads will be labeled as good for "hard surface floors" or even wood floors. But remember, you aren't putting the rug pad directly on wood. You are setting it on top of your wood floor finish.
Be sure your rug pad won't harm whatever finish your flooring is protected by. If you're not sure, call the manufacturer or DON'T use it.
In particular, there is a popular anti-skid synthetic rubberized product also used for lining shelves and drawers that leaves an un-repairable and very distinct crisscross, grid, or egg crate pattern on your hardwood floor. You might find that even carpet or general flooring stores will recommend it! My advice - don't take the chance with this type of pad. I've seen the irreversible damage they cause for unsuspecting hardwood floor owners. A buff and recoat does not remove this pattern. It has to be sanded off. Ouch! That's expensive.
Similarly, there are bathroom-style rugs with a certain type of rubber backing known for yellowing linoleum and vinyl flooring. They also permanently discolor hardwood floors. And last, do not use a stiff pad with hard cleats or grippers. Many people like to use these near outside entrances, but they can cause indentations in the wood.
Area Rug Pad Material for Hardwood Floors Area Rugs themselves should be non-staining so that the colors don't bleed into your floor. I prefer rugs of the same material front and back, so you can flip them over if desired, like wool or cotton and many oriental style rugs. Note the cleaning instructions before purchasing. If you use the right type of pad, you can choose any area rug you'd like without concern.
For an inexpensive hardwood floor rug pad option, I recommend the Rebond Padding made from recycled scraps of foam between 3/8" and 7/16" in thickness. Cut the pad an inch or two smaller than your area rug and use carpet tape on the seams to hold the two together. I also suggest a Polyurethane Padding. It is reusable with a lot of cushion. And last is the Fiber Padding made from recycled polyester fibers. This type holds up well but it isn't as comfortable.
Recommended Retail Area Rug Pads for Hardwood Floors There are hundreds of rug pads available on Amazon.com alone, and so many say they are for "hard surface" floors and even show an image of what appears to be a wood floor. This is a real sticking point with me. The chemical reaction of the material these pads are made from, especially the anti-slip type, can cause permanent, irreversible damage to your hardwood floor. And so you need to choose very, very carefully.
Below are my top recommended hardwood floor area rug pads. A very worthwhile investment as compared to the much larger, long-term investment of your wood flooring, and the expense of having to repair them due to inappropriate accessories. I provide different size options currently available to meet your needs.
Wood will change color over time due to exposure to sunlight and other natural occurrences. And the portion of the floor covered by rugs may change color as well. It is best to move the rugs periodically to keep a more even color throughout the wood floor.
The addition of area rugs on hardwood flooring serves both an ornamental and practical purpose. But rugs can move or slide around on a wood floor and cause scratching due to different types and coarseness of rug backings - and - the grit, dust, and dirt trapped beneath the rug.
Thus, it is recommended that a pad be placed under area rugs to protect the wood floor. However, rug pads can also cause damage depending upon the material they are made of ... so choose carefully. As you know, rug pads offer other benefits as well including noise reduction, safety and comfort. For wood floors, I highly recommend them.
The following recommendations are for polyurethane coated hardwood floors.
Wood Floor Rug Pads to Avoid Steer clear of most rubber, foam-backed, latex, plastic-matted or non-ventilated rugs and padding. Some rugs are made of PVC (vinyl) that contains plasticizers which can discolor the finish or the wood. The damage is permanent and its not a pretty sight. Your floors need to breathe. Many rug pads will be labeled as good for "hard surface floors" or even wood floors. But remember, you aren't putting the rug pad directly on wood. You are setting it on top of your wood floor finish.
Be sure your rug pad won't harm whatever finish your flooring is protected by. If you're not sure, call the manufacturer or DON'T use it.
In particular, there is a popular anti-skid synthetic rubberized product also used for lining shelves and drawers that leaves an un-repairable and very distinct crisscross, grid, or egg crate pattern on your hardwood floor. You might find that even carpet or general flooring stores will recommend it! My advice - don't take the chance with this type of pad. I've seen the irreversible damage they cause for unsuspecting hardwood floor owners. A buff and recoat does not remove this pattern. It has to be sanded off. Ouch! That's expensive.
Similarly, there are bathroom-style rugs with a certain type of rubber backing known for yellowing linoleum and vinyl flooring. They also permanently discolor hardwood floors. And last, do not use a stiff pad with hard cleats or grippers. Many people like to use these near outside entrances, but they can cause indentations in the wood.
Area Rug Pad Material for Hardwood Floors Area Rugs themselves should be non-staining so that the colors don't bleed into your floor. I prefer rugs of the same material front and back, so you can flip them over if desired, like wool or cotton and many oriental style rugs. Note the cleaning instructions before purchasing. If you use the right type of pad, you can choose any area rug you'd like without concern.
For an inexpensive hardwood floor rug pad option, I recommend the Rebond Padding made from recycled scraps of foam between 3/8" and 7/16" in thickness. Cut the pad an inch or two smaller than your area rug and use carpet tape on the seams to hold the two together. I also suggest a Polyurethane Padding. It is reusable with a lot of cushion. And last is the Fiber Padding made from recycled polyester fibers. This type holds up well but it isn't as comfortable.
Recommended Retail Area Rug Pads for Hardwood Floors There are hundreds of rug pads available on Amazon.com alone, and so many say they are for "hard surface" floors and even show an image of what appears to be a wood floor. This is a real sticking point with me. The chemical reaction of the material these pads are made from, especially the anti-slip type, can cause permanent, irreversible damage to your hardwood floor. And so you need to choose very, very carefully.
Below are my top recommended hardwood floor area rug pads. A very worthwhile investment as compared to the much larger, long-term investment of your wood flooring, and the expense of having to repair them due to inappropriate accessories. I provide different size options currently available to meet your needs.
Wood will change color over time due to exposure to sunlight and other natural occurrences. And the portion of the floor covered by rugs may change color as well. It is best to move the rugs periodically to keep a more even color throughout the wood floor.
