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LVP Luxury Vinyl Plank... Area rugs and rug pads

Michelle Linden

last year

I have read through so many posts here, contacted Coretec, scoured the Internet. Yet I am still unsure what to do.
In our new home, the entire main floor is LVP. I had planned on area rugs in the dining room, living room, and some runners. Then I started reading these horror stories about LVP interacting with rugs and causing discoloration to the LVP. I could just cry. We have discoloration on our bathroom sheet vinyl in our old house from rubber backed bath rugs, but I hadn't even thought about this with LVP. I have been to several stores that sell either LVP, area rugs, or both. And I get different answers from everyone. I even drove to Nebraska Furniture Mart and got different answers from people in their rug area and from the LVP department.
So what I've learned/read so far and questions.
1. No rubber or latex backed rugs or rug pads. The rubber and latex can cause a chemical reaction with the vinyl and create staining. Coretec verified this.
2. Polypropylene rugs- I have read these are bad with vinyl by themselves or that they are fine if they don't have rubber/latex backing. Which is it?
3. Rugs that have a rubber/latex backing... Can they be used if you use a vinyl safe rug pad? Or can the chemicals in each still react even with the barrier? What about around the edges?
4. Rug pads... Are there any that are GUARANTEED not to stain LVP. I have read several threads about Rug pad USA and their product called Anchor Grip. They no longer carry it. Other recommendations?
I need to find something soon, as we are getting close to move in. Please don't weigh in with snarky comments, opinions, etc. I am looking for factual information to help our search

Featured Answer

Ally De

last year

I put regular (i.e., cheap) area rugs directly on my Coretec LVP floors almost 2 years ago. I avoided the rubber pads on purpose, and figured since the rugs are underneath heavy furniture they're certainly not going to move around.

Zero issues. These are the cheap 9x11 area rugs sold at big box stores - no rubber backing like a bath mat. I could envision any rubber creating a haze or ghosting issue on the LVP, but I'm not sure any regular wool or cotton rug with no backing can do any harm.

I've had no issues in over 2 years, and just pulled them both up a few weeks ago to clean crumbs from underneath the edges....

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Comments (10)

Allison0704
last year
I get all of our rug pads from Rug Pad USA, and have never had an issue. Had LVP in the basement of our last house with rugs and pads. Den, hallway and second kitchen had rugs.
Michelle Linden
Original Author
last year
Allison, do you know which of their pads you used? I wish they still had Anchor Grip, as it had glowing reviews. But they have a couple other options.
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Thank you Anne I appreciate the info. A rug in our dining room is necessary because we have window cornices that my dad made me so I chose not to have curtains because I have dogs and in our last house- the curtains got destroyed. So we really don’t have a way to “dress up” the dining room other than some wall decor and a nice rug to help fill the room if that makes sense. Also- our LVP scratches so easy it’s awful! Even with felt pads under our dining room chairs when I pull the chairs in and out our floor would scratch horribly! Especially if you’re sitting on them and slide out like most people do... I wasn’t looking for a rug too expensive and I also was having a super hard time finding a rug that was the colors/style I was looking for (black and tan) and I happened to find the PERFECT one which is cheap polypropylene (unfortunately) I’m hoping it lasts a bit longer than 2-3 years because our dining room never really even gets used to be honest. It’s just there for show at this point. LOL!
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Michelle Linden
Original Author
last year
Allison, do you know what material your rugs are? Did any of them have latex or rubber backing?
chispa
last year
last modified: last year
Get hand-knotted wool area rugs (or machine made wool rugs) and felt pads they sell for these rugs. The felt pads will be quite a bit more expensive than the thin rubbery pads that are mostly available out there.
PRO
User
last year
Wool or cotton rugs only. No rubber or plastic or synthetic anything. Felt pads.
Allison0704
last year
Superior Lock 1/4"
seosmp
last year
We have LVP in our basement with several big area rugs. I used felt pads underneath for comfort purposes. No issues there. I also have a bathroom rug with rubber backing and haven’t noticed any issue. And a small rug at the bottom of the stairs where I added a sticky backing to keep it in place. Haven’t noticed any issue but will report back!
anj_p
last year
I actually had the same question with regards to ruggable. It's impossible to find info on what their rug pad is made of and if it's safe for LVP. What I read is natural fibers will not damage LVP (like wool or cotton). I imagine a felt pad would also be OK.
HU-435189873
8 days ago
Is a polypropylene rug safe if I opt for a felt pad between the rug and LVP floor?

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