Rug pads will insure that your hardwood floors are not subject to every day's wear and tear from foot traffic. Rug pads provide extra comfort and soundproofing of your home. To help you choose the best rug pads, the following information is offered.

Don’t purchase a rug pad that sticks to the floor underneath the rug or carpet. Pads that stick to the floor are manufactured from inferior PVC materials. Some of them have been treated with toxic chemicals that may over time react with hardwood floor finishes. If your house has hardwood floors with glossy finishes, the risk of the floors being stained by this material is much greater. If you do not want to take chances of damaging the hardwood floor, select a fiber-felt, hardwood friendly or natural rubber underlay that will protect the flooring.

As a note of caution, if you have a hardwood floor that has just been refinished, it will be better to avoid using a rug pad underlay until the floor is completely cured. You should wait for at least a month before you put a rug pad or underlay on it.

Only use eco-friendly rug pads. You can get these types of pads as an earth friendly alternative to rubber, felt and PVC pads. The organic, eco-friendly pads are suitable for all kinds of flooring. They use natural plant oils as well as polymer that prevents them from reacting with hardwood floors that have been made with a glossy polyurethane finish.

Felt rug pad types of underlays usually have a thick, protective layer that covers the area rug. Some of them are very thick. They are perfect for area rug underlays that measure 6 by 9 feet and more. These types of rug pads tend to have a bit of disadvantage when it comes to gripping well with the floor. However, they are the perfect choice of rug underlays for someone who wants more cushion under there rugs. In the long run, they will help to maintain your rug area much longer.

Felt pads are usually made from recycled long-lasting fiber. They are also softer and they do not produce any distinct smells like those associated with felt jute pads. Just like organic, eco-friendly pads, you can safely use them for all types of floors. They provide a lot of benefits including insulation, soundproofing as well as providing an acoustic barrier.

Natural rug pads are among the best underlays in the world. They have a lower rubber surface that will efficiently secure the pad. They have a thick layer that makes them durable and provides good cushioning. They have a felt layer that grips the bottom of the area rug and helps keep the rug secure to the floor. The layer also stops rugs that are considerably large in size from bunching or creeping.

Natural rug pads have additional benefit of being used for securing area rugs as well as carpets. To use them this way, all you will need to do is flip the underlay so that rubber faces the floor while the felt side faces the back of the carpet. This way the rug pad will grab the carpet flooring using a layer of rubber that will keep the area rug from moving.

PVC rug pads are not recommended. They emit volatile organic compounds as well as toxic formaldehyde fumes. The volatile organic compounds may eventually have dangerous effects to the health from prolonged exposure. Additionally, PCV rug pads significantly break over time, they stain and stick to certain types of hardwoods and are not long lasting compared to the other types of underlays.

The decision as to which rug underlay to choose will be largely based on the place that you wish to use it as well as the size of the area rug. Even though larger sized pads do not require as much grip, putting a bit more cushion underfoot is a great idea. For small size rugs, the more natural rubber pads provide a good grip that will prevent people from tripping while walking on the rug. Whatever choice of rug pad or underlay you choose, insure that it is going to satisfy all your needs.

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