Area rugs are a valuable addition to your house as they bring colors and texture in contrast with the hardwood floors, making them appear fuller and more beautiful.
However, this can have some serious downsides if the floors are not finished, and the area rug is made from a material which can cause scratches and grit on your expensive floors.
A suitable solution in this situation is to use a rug pad, but do you need one?
You need a rug pad under an area rug to preserve your expensive hardwood floors and protect them from scratches or scuffs. Without a rug pad, the rug can slide and cause damage. A rug pad provides grip, prevents slipping, and adds cushioning for comfort.
The outcomes of not having a rug pad can be very troublesome and are detailed later in the article.
Hence, make sure you read it all to not miss out on anything, and also find ways to get the best rug pad for your hardwood floors to provide an optimum level of protection.
Table of Contents
What Is A Rug Pad Used For?
A rug pad is used to prevent an area rug from slipping on the floor. It adds stability by reducing friction and sticking to the floors.
Besides preventing movement, rug pads offer additional benefits such as protecting the rug and hardwood floors from wear, providing cushioning, and minimizing the risk of scratches.
Using a rug pad enhances safety and prolongs the lifespan of both the rug and the underlying flooring.
Do You Need A Pad Under An Area Rug On Hardwood Floors? | 4 Reasons To Use It
Having a rug pad under area rugs on hardwood floors would be best because the area rugs can be made from various materials, which might or might not benefit the hardwood floors or finish surface.
Besides, the risk of slipping can be very dangerous when it comes to area rugs placed on hardwood floors without rug pads.
The reason behind this is that whether finished or not, hardwood floors are slippery, and the rugs are light and soft.
This can cause the rugs to slip under one’s feet and cause them to fall. Tripping from the hardwood floors is another problem when the area rugs are placed on the hardwood floors without any supportive structure underneath.
Furthermore, you might not know of many other benefits of using rug pads under area rugs on hardwood floors.
Hence, we have compiled a list of these points that might be useful for you when deciding whether to get an area rug and a rug pad.
If you are confused about cleaning these area rugs, please go through this comprehensive blog on how to clean an area rug on hardwood floors.
Non-Slipping Surface
As stated above, hardwood floors are quite slippery, and the soft surface of the rugs is sure to slip when one steps on them.
Many people argue that when you don’t need a pad under a carpet, why is it required under a rug?
Well, the answer is quite simple, the surface area and weight of the carpet prevent it from slipping, but this is not the case with the area rugs.
They are quite slippery, and this is where a rug pad comes into play. A high-quality rug pad will help prevent sliding and secure the rug in its designated spot.
Hence, it prevents it from sliding across the floors when people walk on it. Besides, it also keeps it from bouncing up in a place which might increase the risk of people tripping.
Protects your flooring
While many poles fail to notice this feature, the rug pads shield your hardwood floors.
Area rugs can often retain dirt and debris and pass it on to the hardwood surface over time.
However, the rug pad is an impermeable surface preventing this and keeping your floors clean.
Besides, the friction caused by the rug when it is moved can cause scratches and scars on the wooden floors.
However, as the area rug is a stable platform stuck to the hardwood floors, it receives the grit on behalf of the hardwood floors and keeps them from additional unnecessary traffic.
Due to this, the amount of wear and tear received by the hardwood floors is reduced significantly.
Hence, the rug pads protect your floors from extensive traffic, dirt or debris, and wear and tear factors.
Provides Cushioning And Insulates Against Cold And Noise
If you are looking for ways to dampen the hollow noise from the hardwood floors and have a cushioning effect under your feet.
Using a combination of an area rug and a rug pad is the best way to do so.
While the thick surface of the rug can absorb the extra noises and give your feet a soft touch, the felt or rubber rug pads can help cushion your feet when you walk on them.
Besides, the rug itself muffles many sounds from above and below the surface of the hardwood floors. The hardwood boards are usually rigid and do not bend upon pressure due to the strength and durability factor.
This makes them stiff and unpleasant to walk on. However, an area rug made of rubber or felt can give you the required compression when you place your feet on them.
This results in a suitable cushioning feature not found in mere hardwood floors.
Extends The Life Of Your Rug
As mentioned earlier, the rug pad saves your floor many years by limiting exposure to dirt and debris and reducing the wear and tear it might receive.
Similarly, the rug pad can also increase the life of your area rug by protecting it in the same way.
As the rug is not placed directly on the hardwood floor, it won’t experience the same friction on the rug pad.
This can save much grit on the rug and prevent it from wearing out too soon. Rub against it preventing it from wearing out where people frequently walk.
Without a pad, the rug will slowly degrade; without the air, flow allergens can get trapped in the rug.
What Happens If I Don’t Use A Rug Pad?
Not using a rug pad under your area rug will induce a greater amount of grit on both the hardwood floors and the rug.
This can cause additional grit and even result in scratches in many cases.
You might not care if your floors are sealed; however, if the hardwood floors are not finished, you might experience scratching or scarring directly on the wooden surface, which can be a sign of permanent damage.
In addition, the finish is also damaged after a certain time and the amount of traffic it receives.
If you have polyurethane finishes in the house, the wearing off of the finish from one place would mean refinishing the entire hardwood floors, as the poly finishes don’t allow spot repairs.
Hence, it is best to use a suitable rug pad on hardwood floors before you can install area rugs on them.
What Kind Of Rug Pad Is Best For Hardwood Floors?
The type of rug you have will deduce the safest type of rug pad for your hardwood floors. Each rug is made from a different material and has a varying effect on the surface of the wood.
Hence, you would require a different type of pad for the floors.
The common types of rug pad types are felt, natural rubber, polyvinyl-based, synthetic-latex, and felt-rubber hybrid.
Besides, the best way to choose the right rug pad for your rug is to keep in mind the right texture and thickness of the rug.
For instance, you might need a thin pad for a braided cotton area rug to keep the rug from slipping on the hardwood surface.
However, a wool rug might be able to scratch the surface due to its texture and thickness. Hence, you would need a thick natural or rubber felt pad to keep it in place.
The most popular type among all others is the natural fiber rug pad, used from natural materials and considered friendly to the environment.
However, this is not a justification to use it for all types of rugs. You would need the relevant type of rug pad according to the rug you got for your hardwood floors.
How Do I Keep My Rug From Damaging My Hardwood Floors?
Using a rug pad is the best option to prevent your rugs from damaging the hardwood floors.
Many types of rugs, especially wool rugs, can place a serious amount of grit on the hardwood floors as people walk on them.
This can reduce the floors’ longevity and even cause severe scratches.
The most suitable way to prevent this from happening is to place a rug mat under the area rug, which will receive the grit and pressure on behalf of the hardwood floors and keep them from getting damaged,
Do Area Rugs Require A Pad?
Getting a rug pad under an area rug is not compulsory, but it is surely recommended. The friction caused by traffic on the rug can harm the rug and the wooden floors.
An area rug is a suitable way to save both and keep them in their pristine condition while boosting longevity.
Bottom Line
Hardwood floors are a serious investment, and you should never expose them to certain risks, such as using an area rug without a rug pad.
A decrease in the value of your hardwood floors can mean a decrease in the value of your entire property. Hence it is only wise to protect your floors from such dangers.
Therefore, using a rug pad under your area rugs is crucial if you want to maintain the original shine and condition of hardwood floors.
If you have also placed area rugs on your hardwood floors without the pads, this is your sign to get a pad immediately to protect your wooden surfaces.
As a co-creator of FlooringFlow.com, Emma Sophia comes on board to answer all your questions related to any flooring problems. Together with John Henry, she’s gained extensive experience in fixing many flooring problems in their own house as well as in friends and family’s. Now, she wants to share her knowledge that she gained during floor remodeling, restoring, and DIY projects.
