Area Rug Pads

Now that you have your own unique, stylish area rug, it’s time to invest in quality area rug pads to help preserve its gorgeous look. Area rug pads are thin underlays that are specially made to be used under area rugs to simultaneously protect both your rug and your floor. While not an absolute necessity, at Floors by Roberts, we highly recommend buying a quality area rug pad so you can prolong its lifespan and get the most enjoyment out of your rug for years to come.

Similarly, there are three recommended materials to look for in your area rug pads: natural rubber, felt and a combination of both.  These particular materials all tend to be acceptable for use on a wide variety of hard flooring surfaces and, generally speaking, won’t harm them. It’s recommended to choose an area rug pad made with these materials, as pads made from glues, plastic, or adhesives, can stick to or stain hardwood, vinyl and even laminate floors. Let’s take a closer look at the different types:

• Non-Slip Area Rug Pads made from natural rubber are, like their name suggests, designed to prevent rugs from slipping, wrinkling and bunching on hard-surface floors. These pads simultaneously grip the area rug and hold it in place, providing a cushioned, protective layer between the rug and floor. While they can be used with all rug sizes and types, at Floors by Roberts, we recommend them for area rugs located in high-traffic areas, such as hallways and foyers, where thin rugs may be especially inclined to slip and slide.
• Cushioned Area Rug Pads made from felt make area rugs softer and more comfortable underfoot. These cushioned pads add a plush layer to larger rugs that are located in rooms where you and your family spend the most time, like living rooms, family rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms. As area rugs in these rooms tend to be anchored by furniture, grip is less important in this area rug pad, which is good because felt is not always successful in holding area rugs in place. However, these felt cushioned pads do provide firm support for the area rug, which is important.
• Cushion + Grip Area Rug Pads made from a combination of natural rubber and felt are multi-purpose, anchoring area rugs firmly to the floor while adding a layer of comfort to them. These combo area rug pads are recommended for thinner, smaller area rugs that are prone to slipping and/or wrinkling and therefore need more grip as well as more support and greater cushioning.
• If you plan to lay an area rug over carpeting, look for a specially designed rug-to-carpet pad. These pads are typically made of polyester with a vinyl coating and are made to prevent the rug from bunching up on the carpet underneath.

At Floors by Roberts, we know that flooring, including area rugs, is a big investment of time and money. That’s why we believe that area rug pads are worth the small added expense to protect your floors. Using them can prevent a larger expense later when you may need to repair any potential damage that could happen without them!