Vinyl flooring is known for its durability.
It may surprise you that the rug pads you choose for your vinyl floor can react negatively with its finish, causing permanent damage.
You can avoid disaster by reading this article and choosing the right pad to anchor your rug to vinyl flooring.
Why a rug pad is needed for vinyl flooring
If you place a rug over a hard surface, it will slide and bunch. Vinyl flooring is not an exception.
If you don’t use a non-slip pad, you’ll have to straighten your rug every time you pass it. It will make your attractive accessory a trip hazard.
A un anchored rug can easily scratch, scuff, or stain vinyl floors. Rug pads will extend the life of both your flooring and carpet.
A thick rug pad is a great way to make your rug more comfortable for barefoot or socks. The more cushioning you put under your rug, the longer it’ll last.
The rug pad can also act as a soundproofing agent in rooms with hard floors.
A rug pad is the last but not least. It will hold your rug so securely that you won’t have to lift it. You can simply vacuum over it. Making housework easier is a great thing.
What you should look for when buying a rug pad to go with vinyl flooring
You might think that being cautious when purchasing a rug pad is overkill. If you choose the wrong pad, your new luxury vinyl plank flooring could be ruined.
Why? (Take a deep breath)
Vinyl flooring is usually made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which can be damaged by chemicals released from synthetic plastics used to make cheap rug liners. Because this occurs at a chemical level, it is impossible to restore your flooring after it has been damaged by a cheap rug pad.
The cheap rug liners that you find at bargain basements are often coated with chemical adhesives, which enhance their grip and literally stick them to the floor. This adhesive will eventually deteriorate, damaging your floor and rug.
Not to mention, rubber pads that are cheap are often produced overseas by manufacturers who are not subjected to the same strict quality control as the US. This allows them to use phthalates – a toxic class of chemicals that is used to make plastics stronger and harder to break. This is not something you want to have in your house!
When choosing a rug pad to use with vinyl flooring, choose one that has a viscoelastic foam or memory foam backing. Avoid synthetic rubbers, as they will ruin your flooring.
The Best Rug Pads for Vinyl Floors
These three rug pads are made of organic material and are perfect for vinyl flooring.
All of them are made in the USA, and they come with a 10-year warranty. They also offer free shipping and returns.
Anchor Grip
Anchor Grip is a rug pad that has been designed to work on vinyl flooring and urethane finishes.
It provides plenty of grip while maintaining a low profile. It also doesn’t have any of the harmful chemicals that can damage, discolor, or deteriorate vinyl flooring.
It’s non-toxic and made from USA-sourced EVA. This is a great alternative to cheap imported rug pads that are full of toxic chemicals.