How to Protect Laminate Floors With the Right Rug Pad

The right rug can protect your laminate floor from scuffs.

Although laminate flooring is typically less expensive and easier to replace than hardwood flooring, it's still important to protect your floors. Laminate flooring is generally strong and scratch resistant, but heavy use can damage your floors. A rug both offers protection and adds to your decor. Unfortunately, rugs can easily slip and slide on smooth laminate floors, so it's important to choose a rug pad to hold your rug firmly in place.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape

Instructions

1. Use a tape measure to find the length and width of your rug. Ideally, your rug pad should be the same size or slightly smaller than your rug. If your rug pad is dramatically smaller than the rug, it will not work.

2. Examine your floor and rug to determine what thickness you want your rug pad to be. Rug pads typically range from 1/8 to 1/4 inches in height. If your laminate floor is uneven or you have high levels of traffic, you may prefer a thicker rug pad. If the carpet you're using is an Oriental rug or something delicate without a lot of traffic, a thinner rug pad should suffice.

3. Test out the rug pad before you purchase it. Step on the rug pad with shoes on and, if possible, with your bare feet. You are the person who will spend the most time on your rug pad, so it should feel comfortable to you. Walk back and forth a few times on each rug pad to determine what feels the best. Use caution if the rug pad feels exceptionally spongy as it may not protect your floor as well as a denser, sturdier pad.

4. Purchase a rug pad that does not use adhesive or glue. Your rug pad should hold your rug firmly in place without causing damage to the rug or flooring. Typically, a felt rug pad offers stability and comfort without leaving sticky residue behind.

Tips & Warnings

• Since some laminate floors are sensitive to rubber and synthetics, be sure your rug pad is a recycled jute pad. This is the best rug pad for laminate floors.

References

• Addarug.com: Area Rug Pads
• How to Hardwood Floors: Area Rugs and Rug Pads For Hardwood Floors
• Rug Pad For Laminate Floor: Guide to Laminate Floor Rug Pads
• Floor Facts: Overview of Laminate Floors