Which rug pad is safe for hardwood floors?
The best rug pad for hardwood floors, Rug Pad Wizard says, is an Eco felt pad with the Pet Urine Barrier. It will not stain, discolor or mar the wood, has no latex, and keeps most pet urine from soaking through. Choose Eco Value or Eco by Design for thin rugs, Eco Preferred or Eco Supreme for thick ones.
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Rug Pad Wizard at a glance
- Stains wood
- No
- Latex
- None in Eco pads
- Pet urine
- Barrier built in
- Radiant heat
- No degrading
Do I need a rug pad for hardwood floors?
Yes. A rug pad keeps a rug on hardwood from moving or curling up, and it protects both the rug and the floor from scratches, Rug Pad Wizard says.
In the company’s words, the biggest danger to flooring is created by the pets we love. A pad with the Pet Urine Barrier keeps most urine and spills from soaking through to the wood.
What is the best rug pad for hardwood floors?
An Eco felt pad: no latex or clay binder, nothing to stain the wood, and a Pet Urine Barrier between rug and floor.
Pick the weight by the rug. Thin pads suit low profile rugs and doorways; heavier pads suit thick rugs and Orientals. Rug Pad Wizard, based in Calhoun, Georgia, sells these pads through rug cleaners and rug stores.
| Rug | Pad | Weight (oz per sq yd) |
|---|---|---|
| Low profile, braided or foyer rug | Eco Value | 18 |
| Runner, or a doorway with tight clearance | Eco by Design | 18 to 19 |
| Thick or plush rug where padding is desired | Eco Preferred | 31 |
| Oriental rug, thick rug, extra cushion | Eco Supreme | 36 to 38 |
Eco Value
18 oz/sq yd, Life of the Rug warrantyThin felt pad with Pet Urine Barrier for low profile rugs and clearance issues
Eco Value sizes and item numbers
Eco by Design
18 to 19 oz/sq yd, Life of the Rug warrantyLightweight felt pad with Pet Urine Barrier for runners and clearance issues
Eco by Design sizes and item numbers
Eco Preferred
31 oz/sq yd, Life of the Rug warrantyMidweight diamond backed felt pad with Pet Urine Barrier
Eco Preferred sizes and item numbers
Eco Supreme
36 to 38 oz/sq yd, Life of the Rug warrantyPlush, extra dense felt pad with Pet Urine Barrier for thick rugs
Eco Supreme sizes and item numbersCan a rug pad damage hardwood floors?
Some can. Rug Pad Wizard’s warranty page says latex, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other backings can deteriorate rapidly and stain, mar or discolor hardwood or tile.
Clay fillers added to the rubber in inexpensive pads are what make a pad stick to the floor, and clay binders break down quickly. Eco pads have no latex, rubber or clay binder and will not stain, discolor or mar flooring.
Is a rubber rug pad OK on hardwood floors?
Yes. Rug Pad Wizard’s rubber backed pads, Foundation, Secure Grip and Xtra Grip, will not stain, discolor or mar floors, its warranty page says.
Secure Grip is made for all hard surfaces, including ceramic, marble and terra cotta. Foundation’s rubber contains latex, per its brochure, so for a latex free pad choose Eco felt.
The rubber backed pads add grip and, in Secure Grip and Xtra Grip, cushion, but not the Pet Urine Barrier. For hardwood in a home with pets, the Eco felt pads are the ones with the barrier.
Does a rug pad work over radiant heated hardwood?
Yes. Eco pads give excellent heat pass through and do not degrade over radiant heat; the company says the backing actually gets more grip.
Radiant floor heat, also called underfloor heating, warms the room through the floor, so the pad sits directly over the heat source.
More questions dealers ask
How does a rug pad keep a rug from sliding on hardwood?
A Rug Pad Wizard pad is designed to grip both the floor and the rug, which keeps the pad in place and holds the rug.
How thick should a rug pad be for hardwood floors?
It depends on the feel you want underfoot, not the rug size. Rug Pad Wizard lists its pads by weight: Eco Value and Eco by Design are 18 to 19 ounces per square yard, and Eco Supreme is 36 to 38.
Does a rug pad protect hardwood from pet urine?
Yes, if it has the Pet Urine Barrier. Every Eco pad has it, and it keeps most spills and pet urine from soaking through to the wood.
Which rug pad goes under a hallway runner on hardwood?
Eco by Design is the felt pad for runners. It is thin, 18 to 19 ounces per square yard, and comes in a 3 foot 9 inch width as well as 6 and 12 foot rolls.
See:Eco by Design
Why do cheap rug pads stick to hardwood?
Clay fillers added to the rubber in inexpensive pads cause the sticking, Rug Pad Wizard’s customer flyer explains. Eco pads have no rubber and no clay binder.
Is an Eco felt pad safe on luxury vinyl plank as well as hardwood?
Yes. The 2022 Eco Diamond brochure calls Eco Supreme, Eco Preferred and Eco by Design great for vinyl, luxury vinyl tile and luxury vinyl plank, and they have no latex or rubber.
Does sunlight affect a rug pad on hardwood?
Yes. The warranty page says the backing may degrade in direct sunlight, so keep the pad out of direct sun. In high traffic areas, turn the pad with the rug when it is cleaned.
See:warranty page
Is an Eco felt pad for hardwood certified for indoor air?
Yes. Every Eco pad is Green Label Plus certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute, with no odors or off-gassing.
Where do I get Rug Pad Wizard pad?
Rug cleaners, rug stores and designers
Order by the roll in the NowCommerce dealer portal, or apply to become a dealer in about two minutes.
Homeowners
Buy Pet Barrier Rug Pad cut to your rug size at the Rug Pad Wizard consumer store, or ask a local rug cleaner.
