We get a lot of question when it comes to rug pads. It is almost impossible to sort through all the different information. Let us help you with this two-minute read.
When it comes to valuable area rugs, a rug pad is an absolute must and can save you from some big disasters. Rug pad help protect both your area rug and floor. An area rug pad can help keep rugs from moving, bunching, slipping, wrinkling and buckling. This movement can cause rips or tears to your rug, not to mention the occasional tripping hazards. Also, many area rugs can have a rough underside to them, from handmade rugs to bound broadloom carpeting cut for an area rug. This sometimes-rough underside can cause damage to your would floors. The proper rug pad can help minimize this damage.
There are two measurements that you need to be concern with when it comes to area rugs.
#1 The first is to choose the correct thickness. The thickness help protect the warp & weft yarns, basically the area rug back where all the fibers are knotted into the rug. In most cases, area rug padding ranges between 1/8 and 7/16 of an inch. You do not want to have the pad to thin or to thick. For example, a thin woven hall rug should have a thinner padding. You may consider a slightly thicker padding if a thin woven rug is used as a hall runner because of the added foot traffic. A larger thick rug may require a thicker padding. In some case, a thicker pad is use to lift the rug slightly higher to get more air under the rug. This allows to rug to breath better. You will see this more ofter with nature fiber rug.
#2 The overall dimensions of the padding. This is the width and length of the rug. Most area rug pads can be cut to fit. The padding should not be the same size as the rug. A tripping hazard can be created when the padding is too close to the area rug’s edge. The padding should be about 1 inch shorter on all sides. In some case, with hand loomed or loose hand knotted rug, you might have to be close to 2 inches short on each side. This is due to the flexibility and unevenness of the sides of these rugs. Many times, you may find that the rug can flex and move, and you may need the extra gap. Keeping this gap is important so you do not have the rug curl up and create that tripping hazard we already spoke about.
There is an unspoken #3 decision to make. It is suggested that tradition padding be replaced 4-6 years. The rubber backing tends to breakdown over time. Now there is a “pet proof” padding which comes with a lifetime warrantee of your rug. If you have pets? This is a great choice. This padding can be washed along with protecting your wood floor from that occasional pet accident. Remember, that it is all about stain-free living for your peace of mind.
Thank you and I hope I kept this under the 2-minute read