Oriental and Area Rug
Pad Cushion
- Choosing the Right Oriental
or Area Rug Pad -
When an Area Rug Salesman or a Website suggests that You
Must Use a Pad or Cushion under your Area Rug, most of the time, it’s a waste
of good money. My experience is that it’s best Not to use an Area Rug Pad
unless you absolutely have to. That’s why I choose to showcase area rugs that
have no need for any type of pad or cushion on my website. These Area Rugs are
generally 12 mil or higher density cut-pile area rugs with a standard heavy
backing (or secondary backing) that is not solid latex and has the ability to
allow moisture and gases to pass through them. Area Rugs with Solid Latex
backings should never be used in home décor, especially in homes built on a
concrete slab, due to their propensity to Trap moisture or gases under your rug
and ultimately cause more problems than they solve. However there are circumstances when use of a
rug pad is unavoidable.
When to use an Oriental or Area Rug
Pad
The circumstances under which a person may find it necessary
to use a Rug Cushion:
- When you have a Flat-weave Type (or flimsy) area
rug or runner that wrinkles, bunches or travels when walked on.
- When you need an extra layer of protection for existing
Hard-wood, Laminate, Vinyl or Linoleum flooring that you will be placing your
area rug on.
Types of Area Rug
Pads
There are several types of area rug pads for Oriental style
rugs on the market… the problem is that most of them are synthetic polymers that
either Do Not “Breathe” (retaining moisture underneath) or Cause Damaging Chemical
Reactions on most types of hardwood, laminate and vinyl floorings. You may have
seen such damage as Yellowing of vinyl flooring or Discoloration of hardwoods
where an area rug pad was used. So even though there are a variety of styles to
choose from... it’s best to have a Firm Surface under your Area Rug, for longer
life and easier cleaning… since polymer synthetic rug pads can be such a
nuisance, there is really only one style that I suggest to my clients and that
is a Felt or Fiber rug pad or cushion.
Advantages of Fiber
Rug Pad
My Best Choice would be an All-Felt area rug pad but those
have become all but impossible to find anymore. The next best choice would be a
Synthetic Fiber rug pad. My reason for suggesting this type of Oriental or Area
Rug Pad is firstly the fact that they do allow moisture and gasses to pass
through them, thus minimizing potential damage to expensive carpets, hardwoods,
laminates and vinyl flooring, from moisture and from untoward chemical
reactions.
One caveat to watch for when buying a Felt or Fiber Rug Pad
is that almost all of those available in today’s marketplace have a non-slip polymer
surface on one side of the padding or cushion. It’s Okay to go ahead and use
one of these new styles as long as you remember to place the polymer side up,
so that Only the Felt or Fiber side of the pad is touching the flooring that
you are trying to protect from damage. This is the opposite of what you are
instructed to do, but I assure you that it’s the Best way to prevent damage to
your existing floor covering, when adding an Oriental style Area Rug for Home Décor.
My Choice for Best Oriental or Area Rug Pad (The safest over any flooring)
Protect your Flooring Investments with a Quality Needle-Punch, Felt Pad
Article by Charles Beason at www.RugRunnerBiz.com
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