Area Rugs for Hardwood Floors

Choose Area Rugs and Rug Pads Carefully

The addition of area rugs on hardwood flooring serves both an ornamental and practical purpose. But rugs will 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.

Thus, it is recommended that a pad be placed under area rugs to protect the wood floor. However, rug pads can also cause damage so choose carefully.

For polyurethane coated hardwood floors

What 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.

Anti-skid Rubbarized product to avoid using under area rugs 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.

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.

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.

What to Use: Rugs 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.

Hi. I'm Bob's wife, Michelle, just jumping in [again] to offer my opinion!

I like bamboo area rugs ... you don't need a pad under them, they look great with a wood floor, do their job protecting it, and you can just wipe them clean! I even have one in front of my kitchen sink just because the bamboo makes a great moisture barrier.

I recommend shopping for area rugs and accessories at Rugs USA. Take advantage of their "Price Match" guarantee. First, decide on the item you want to buy, and then search for that exact item at www.google.com.

Check out the pricing of the other vendors to see if anyone is cheaper than Rugs USA. If so, copy the URL link of that competitor and go to Rugs USA, fill out the Price Match form, and they'll beat that competitor price by 10%! They also have a Loyalty Program and a great return policy.

HINT: Bob gets kind of technical below. Whatever you choose, use vinyl non-slip protectors under your rugs, look for a monk cloth or cotton backing, and rotate your rugs occasionally to prevent sun fade.

rebond area rug pad recommended for hardwood floors If you use the right type of pad, you can choose any area rug you'd like without concern. For an inexpensive 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. Polyurethane Padding for Area Rugs

Fiber Padding for Area Rugs And last is the Fiber Padding made from recycled polyester fibers. This type holds up well but it isn't as comfortable.

Wood will change color over time due 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.

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