How To Select The Best Rug Pads To Protect Your Hardwood Floors From Damage

Although area rugs can add a great touch of elegance to a room with hardwood floors, they can also potentially scratch them and cause damage. To prevent this from happening, it's necessary to get rug pads. Quality rug pads can help stop a rug from scratching your hardwood floors while helping ensure they last as long as possible. They can also prevent a rug from sliding and extend the rug's life as well. Choosing the wrong pads can lead to big problems – poor-quality rug pads may end up damaging your hardwood floors as well. Choosing wisely is essential to ensure that your hardwood floor stays in great condition.

When choosing rug pads, the main thing you'll want to think about is their materials. Some rug pads are made with felt, natural rubber, synthetic latex, or PVC. You can also find pads that are a hybrid of both rubber and felt. While some of these are suitable for other types of flooring, others, such as PVC, shouldn't be used with hardwood floors. In addition to the pad material, you should also take the characteristics of the specific rug you have into consideration when choosing rug pads.

Hybrid rubber or felt pads generally perform the best and are the safest for hardwood flooring, but they also cost the most. If you've already splurged for an expensive area rug and don't mind spending a little extra to avoid problems with your hardwood floor, felt pads are a good option. Natural rubber pads are also worth considering for any size rug, have great grip, and tend to be one of the very safest options for hardwood floors. Felt can also work well for larger rugs, but only as long as slipping isn't a concern.

PVC pads and latex pads should usually be avoided if you want to protect hardwood floors from scuffs and scratches. You should also avoid using any pads that contain low-quality adhesives. These rug pads might leave residue on your flooring and cause damage.

In addition to considering the material of the rug pads, consider the size and span of your rug as well. Rubber pads work well for any rug size, but felt pads should only be used for large rugs because of their lack of grip. Rubber pads can also be useful for any rugs that go underneath doors, since they're thinner but may not be thick enough for all purposes. The abrasiveness of the rug material should also influence your choice of rug pads. You may need to get a thicker pad to add extra cushioning for a thick rug or one that has more potential to cause damage. A wool rug could be particularly problematic, so it should have thicker rug pads to match. Always consider the exact rug you'll be using with the rug pads to ensure you choose the very best option for your needs.