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rug pad for aluminum oxide finished hardwood floor

5 years ago

Hard time finding a rug pad with grip that will not damage UV cured polyurethane with aluminum oxide finish hardwood flooring. Manufacturer said no rubber or latex backing. Saw a post a while back that said to use pure vinyl pad like wundergrip. Is this correct? I thought vinyl would damage the flooring/finish?

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Comments (6)

SJ McCarthy
5 years ago
Vinyl (PVC) can and will react with urethane and polyurethane. What you are looking for is a rug or rug pad that CLEARLY states: Safe for Use With Hardwoods

As for wundergrip....I'm not seeing a GUARANTEE for hardwood. And this always makes me nervous.

www.rugpadusa.com

Have fun....and don't believe the "good for all hard surfaces" statements. They are there to SELL the product. They are not there as a guarantee.
HU-992121144
Original Author
5 years ago
SJ McCarthy - Thanks for the info. I was also thinking the same thing. The hardwood floor manufacturer is Shaw. Funny, I spoke to a person yesterday at Shaw who told me no rubber-even natural rubber- because it doesn't breath and to use a vinyl backed rug. I called again today and was told by another person to use a PVC pad. I'm confused as it's my understanding that a natural rubber pad that is needle punched, like rugpadusa carries, allows the floor to breathe whereas PVC/vinyl could react to the floor finish. Not sure what to get because vinyl/pvc pad makes me nervous about staining/ruining he floor finish. Any suggestions?
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jellytoast
5 years ago
https://www.uniquewoodfloor.com/blog/choosing-the-right-rug-pads-for-hardwood-floors/
HU-992121144
Original Author
5 years ago
The PVC pad at rugpadusa does not have any plasticizers/phthalates. That being said, it's a solid product (no holes) thru which the floor is allowed to breathe. Wish these flooring companies would just be up front and name specific types/models of pads safe to use on their floors. Guess they don't want to make that guarantee. Seems like most others are using the felt/rubber combo w/o problems.
HU-834894365
5 years ago
What about using a Chelewich doormat? It's vinyl but made in the USA and but it's made without phthalates.
SJ McCarthy
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Vinyl has a chemical reaction with urethane/polyurethane. It causes the urethane/polyurethane to turn ORANGE.

Vinyl = PVC and PVC = vinyl. The chemical name for vinyl = polyvinyl chloride = 'vinyl' for short. No matter where pvc is made, it is still pvc. It's like asking for water without H2O in it.

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