There are a few ways to buy a rug pad for hardwood floors. One way is to buy from a store that has the rug pad already cut to certain sizes and folded in a bag. The other way is to buy a rug pad from a store that cuts the rug pad when you order it. Without any thought, this second way to buy a rug pad for hardwood floor is the best way.
We have heard about many people having issues with their rug pad purchase. The common complaint refers to rug pads that are already cut and folded in a bag. Depending on how long the rug pad was folded in the bag, it could take up to a year for the rug pad to flatten. The fold marks and lines in the rug pad could cause problems for your hardwood floor, your rug and for people walking on the rug. One woman writes to us about her experience with an 8′x10′ rug pad for her hardwood floor that she purchased at a big box online store:
“I ordered the 8′x10′ rug pad that was described as a rug pad for hardwood floors. It was also described as being a fiber surface and synthetic rubber lower surface. Well, the rug pad arrived and I thought there was a mistake. This 8′x10′ rug pad was folded to fit into a 24 inch square plastic bag! I opened the bag and found that it took me almost 30 minutes to unfold the rug pad. The rubber like material of the rug pad was sticking to itself at every fold. Once I opened the rug pad and put it on the floor, it looked like sections of a roller coaster! I let it relax on the floor for a few days and nothing changed. I finally called a rug pad store that I found online to explain this and to order an 8′x10′ rug pad from them since they state that they only cut as the order comes in. The gentleman assured me that there rug pads were not folded and bagged and that I should return the one I have before it effects the rug and hardwood floor. I had already decided to do that before he even told me!”
There are few stores that actually cut the rug pad upon order and do not believe in folding the rug pad several times within itself to stuff it into a bag or small box. Choose such a store to make sure you receive the rug pad the way you should, without rows and rows of fold marks that will cause premature wear to a rug and a hardwood floor.
One way to tell if the store sells rug pads already cut and packaged is to actually ask them. Another way is to ask for a custom size. If the store cuts to order, chances are they have no problem custom cutting the rug pad for you. Lastly, if the description of the rug pad states that it trims easily with scissors, then chances are the rug pad is already cut and bagged.
The rug pad can effect a hardwood floor by the way the pad is lying on the floor. An uneven rug pad on a hardwood floor could cause uneven wear marks on the floor as well as the rug. Be sure that your rug pad for hardwood floors is completely flat under your rug and this will avoid trip hazards and wear to the rug and floor.
