Rugs can add warmth and style to a room, but they can also cause damage to laminate flooring if not used properly. Luckily, a rug pad can provide a protective layer between your area rug and laminate floor and non-slip cushioning to your tired feet.
The problem?
Some rubber rug pads will destroy your laminate floors, making things noticeably worse.
I’ll go through all of that in this article. You can expect to learn what kinds of rug pads damage laminate floors and also which is the best rug pad for laminate floors altogether!
What To Know About Rugs On Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is a popular choice for many homeowners because it offers the look of real wood at a lower cost. This type of flooring is made up of multiple layers, with a core layer made from melamine resin and fiber board material and a top layer that features an imprinted textured image designed to mimic the appearance of real wood.
As versatile as laminate floors are, the synthetic material is sensitive and can interact poorly with certain activities and materials. Chairs and furniture in general can easily damage laminate floors, as well as area rugs made with coarse material or rubber rug pads.
Understanding this can help you find the right rug pad for your laminate floor.
Do You Need A Rug Pad On Laminate Floors?
Using a rug pad on laminate floors is generally a good idea (I’m biased!). A rug pad can provide cushioning and insulation to help protect the laminate floors from scratches, dents, and other types of damage. It can also provide sound insulation and improve the comfort of walking on the rug.
However, it is important to choose a rug pad that is compatible with laminate flooring and the correct size for your rug. That’s exactly what I’ll be going over in this article 😉
As always, consult the manufacturer’s recommendations for your specific type of laminate floors before using a rug pad.
How To Avoid Laminate Floor Discoloration Under Your Rug
You can avoid laminate floor discoloration by using materials safe for laminate flooring, such as natural rubber, felt, and soft natural fibers. Cheap plastic is made with plasticizers and phthalates, which cause a chemical reaction with the laminate floors that leads to discoloration. Whether shopping for a rug pad, a rug, or anything else that will sit atop your laminate floors, look for natural materials that are safe for laminate flooring.
Best Rug Pads For Laminate Floors
I generally recommend rug pads from RugPadUSA because they focus on quality materials that won’t damage your floors. I trust their products and recommend their rug pads from experience.
The Superior-Lock rug pad is generally one of the best rug pads for multiple floor types. This high-quality, non-slip pad is designed for use on hardwood flooring and is also suitable for laminate flooring. It is made of a blend of felt and natural rubber. Felt rug pads provide a durable cushion that works in medium traffic areas. The rug backing is made of textured natural rubber, which provides a firm grip to keep your rug in place. The pad is 1/4 inch thick and is suitable for use under a variety of rug sizes. If you want a thick rug pad, then you can get this in 7/16″
Using this rug pad will help protect your laminate floors from scratches, dents, and other types of damage. The natural felt material provides a bit of soundproofing and protects the floors from general wear and tear. Overall, the Superior-Lock rug pad is a reliable choice for protecting your laminate flooring and keeping your rug in place.
Also made of felt and rubber, this rug pad is a high-quality, non-slip pad designed to provide subtle cushioning and reliable gripping power on all types of floors. The Contour-Lock rug pad is made of a combination of felt and rubber and is 1/8 inch thick and can be cut to easily fit any rug. The low profile makes it a versatile rug pad that can be used for areas that need an especially smooth surface, such as in high traffic areas and under thin rugs.
The pad’s non-slip natural rubber backing helps keep rugs anchored in place, while the felt and rubber materials provide gentle cushioning and protect the floor from scratches and dents. Overall, this highly durable rug pad can be a convenient and effective way to keep your rug in place and protect your laminate flooring.
When it comes to cushioned rug pads, the Eco-Plush takes the cake. There’s a reason plush is in its name. This felt rug pad is a 1/2-inch thick, 100% felt pad designed for use on laminate and other types of flooring. It offers extra cushioning that protects your laminate flooring from scratches, dents, and other types of damage.
The cushioned pad is available in three thicknesses but is not a non slip rug pad. Instead, it is known for its luxurious extra cushioning. ☁️ It’s great under larger rugs placed under heavy furniture or heavier rugs, which are less likely to move around.
It is safe for use on all floors and finishes, making it a versatile rug pad for protecting any kind of flooring (including hardwood floors!). Using this rug pad provides added cushioning and insulation to help reduce noise and improve the feel of walking on the rug.
Nature’s Grip
The thin profile is eco-friendly and safe for your floors.
The entire rug pad is an eco-friendly, non-slip rug pad made from a combination of rubber and jute. The rug pad material is made of jute, a natural fiber, which makes the waffled design possible (and also making it eco-friendly!). The jute is coated in a thin layer of natural rubber for a non slip grip. This rug pad is safe for both your floors and your family, making it a practical choice for use on laminate flooring.
This nonslip rug pad is 1/16″ thick and can be customized to fit many sizes. The low profile makes it a great rug pad for thin rugs, low pile rugs, or rugs in high traffic areas (like a runner rug). The waffle design and natural rubber material makes this rug pad mildew resistant.
Caring For Rugs On Laminate Floors
To take care of your laminate flooring when using area rugs, follow these tips:
- Choose a rug with a smooth, natural fiber surface to minimize the risk of scratching or damaging the laminate.
- Use a protective layer between the rug and the floor, such as a rug pad made of natural rubber or felt, to provide cushioning and insulation.
- Clean the laminate floors regularly to remove any dirt or debris that may accumulate under the rug.
- Remove the rug and allow the laminate flooring to air out periodically to prevent any potential discoloration caused by prolonged exposure to the rug.
- Avoid using rubber-backed rugs on laminate floors, as they may contain harmful chemicals that can leach out and discolor the floor.
By following these tips, you can help protect your laminate flooring and keep it looking beautiful for years to come.
FAQs About Rugs On Laminate Flooring
We answer common questions about how to choose a rug pad for your laminate flooring so that you can have a smooth and comfortable purchasing experience.
How do I protect my laminate flooring from my rug?
To protect laminate flooring from discoloration caused by harmful plastic found in cheap rubber-backed rugs, you can take the following steps:
- Avoid using cheap rubber-backed rugs on laminate flooring. These types of rugs may contain harmful plasticizers that can leach out and discolor the laminate flooring.
- Choose rugs with a natural rubber or felt backing instead. These materials are less likely to cause discoloration of the laminate flooring.
- Place a rug pad under the rug to create a barrier between the rug and the laminate flooring. This can help prevent any potential discoloration from occurring.
- Clean the laminate flooring regularly to remove any dirt or debris that may accumulate under the rug.
- Remove the rug and allow the laminate flooring to air out periodically to prevent any potential discoloration caused by prolonged exposure to the rug.
By following these steps, you can help protect your laminate flooring from discoloration caused by harmful plastic found in cheap rubber-backed rugs.
Can you use a rug pad on laminate floors?
Yes, it is generally safe to use a rug pad on laminate floors. However, it is important to choose a rug pad that is compatible with laminate flooring. Some rug pads can damage laminate flooring, so it is important to choose a pad that is designed specifically for use on laminate. To avoid rug pad damage, we generally recommend rug pads made with natural rubber or felt as these are the least likely to damage flooring.
However, it is always a good idea to consult the laminate flooring manufacturer’s recommendations for the specific type of laminate flooring you have before using a rug pad.
Will rubber mats damage laminate flooring?
Yes, likely. Laminate floor discoloration is often caused by the presence of harmful plastic materials in low-quality rug pads. These plasticizers and phthalates, which are toxic chemicals, can emit gasses that discolor or stain laminate flooring, especially if they are left in place for a long period of time.
To avoid damaging your laminate flooring with rubber mats, we recommend using 100% natural rubber and/or felt.
What kinds of rugs are safe for laminate floors?
Laminate flooring tends to work well with smooth, natural fiber rugs, such as those made of cotton, wool, flatweave, or needlepoint. These types of rugs are less likely to scratch or damage the laminate surface.
On the other hand, rough or textured rugs made from scratchy fiber, plastic, or other tough materials should be avoided as they may cause scratches or other types of damage to the laminate flooring.
Will rubber-backed rugs harm laminate floors?
Rubber-backed rugs can potentially harm laminate floors if they are not used correctly. Rubber-backed rugs can also discolor or stain laminate flooring if they contain certain chemicals or if they are left in place for a long period of time.
To avoid damaging your laminate flooring, choose either a natural rubber and/or felt rug pad OR get a rug with a natural-rubber backing.
What size rug pad should I get?
To ensure that your rug pad fits properly under your rug, it should be about 1” from each side (or 2” from total length and 2” from total width). For example, if your rug measures 4 feet by 6 feet, your rug pad should be about one inch shorter on each side (or two inches shorter on overall length and width). This would come out to 4 feet 10 inches by 6 feet 10 inches.
Closing Thoughts
Whether you have laminate floors or not, these are the best rug pads in general. They are made with natural materials that won’t damage your floors (true for both hardwood and laminate floors). Most rug pads by RugPadUSA can work with most flooring types, so take a look at their selection of rug pads for laminate floors for more options.
