Vinyl plank flooring is an expensive flooring option. If you want your investment to pay off, you have to take care of it. A little mistake like throwing up a rug on top of vinyl plank flooring can cost you a lot.
Yes, you heard me right. A rug on the vinyl plank flooring can damage it. Certain types of rug backing available can damage your vinyl plank flooring. Do you want to know what backing is not good for vinyl plank flooring?
Allow us to let you know more about this. In this guide, you will get to know- can you put rugs on vinyl plank flooring, what rug backing is safe and what not for vinyl plank flooring, and what should you not use on vinyl plank flooring.
All You Need to Know Before Throwing a Rug Over a Vinyl Plank Flooring
Thinking about decorating your vinyl plank flooring with some runner or rug? Well, before you do that, we think you need to know some facts about throwing a rug on top of a vinyl plank flooring.
As we know, vinyl plank flooring is an expensive, delicate flooring option that can be damaged if you neglect it a little. So you have to be very careful even when you want to put only a rug over it because a rug can cause damage to a vinyl plank flooring. How is that? Let’s know.
Don’t think we are telling you to skip rugs. We are telling you to be a little careful when you put a rug.
So what is it ultimately? Can you use a rug on a vinyl plank floor or not?
You can obviously throw rugs over your vinyl plank flooring as much as you want. But you have to ensure the rugs you are using are made with materials suitable to vinyl plank flooring.
To find the rugs for your vinyl flooring, you won’t have to do lots of things. These days rugs come with labels; by carefully noticing the label, you can decide if the rug is perfect for your flooring or not.
Rug or matt manufactured for a vinyl plank flooring will come with labeled “Colorfast.” It means it’s safe to use on a hardwood floor. When it’s safe to use on hardwood floors it means it’s also safe to use on vinyl plank flooring.
What Rugs Are Safe to Use on Vinyl Plank Flooring?
There are lots of rugs available to use on top of vinyl flooring. What are those rugs? We told you a little about what types of vinyl-backed rugs are safe to use on vinyl plank flooring.
Now, let’s know some of the Rug names safe to use on vinyl plank flooring. A rug that won’t be damaged by heat or sunlight is the best rug for vinyl flooring.
Along with colorfast rugs, you can also use a rug constructed with wool, jute, seagrass, cotton, fiber, or jute backing. Any of these materials are harmless to vinyl plank flooring. These won’t create any stain or damage to the flooring and will give you more comfort underfoot.
All these ingredients are super soft and harmless to any flooring. But these types of rugs cost a little higher than the regular rug. As you know, good things cost a little more, but not always.
If you are on a tight budget but want to keep your flooring safe, you can buy jute rugs instead of wool and cotton. So spend a little more and buy a cotton or wool rug or buy affordable jute rugs. All these will keep your floor safe from stains and further damage.
Rug You Must Avoid on Vinyl Plank Flooring
Now it’s time to know about the rugs you shouldn’t or clearly say you must not use on vinyl flooring. Materials like rubber or latex are highly forbidden to use on vinyl plank flooring.
These sources cause a chemical reaction with the vinyl floor contaminated chemicals if they are exposed to sunlight and get direct UV rays for a long time and get heated.
These materials also conflict with high foot traffic; that’s why high traffic areas face extensive discoloration more than other areas. And as a result, the floor will be stained permanently.
Apart from rubber and latex, there is another type of rug backing called PVC. This backing is made with glues, plastic, and other adhesives that are sticky to vinyl floors.
And as we know, sticky materials can damage vinyl flooring. So you have to avoid rubber-backed area rugs and latex and plastic also.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Polypropylene Safe on Vinyl Floors
No polypropylene isn’t safe on vinyl floor. Because the vinyl floor is made with mixed petroleum materials and polypropylene has a rubber back. Chemical rubs off the rug due to friction of UV rays or some other reason and cause discoloration. It releases toxins that affect the quality of the vinyl floor. You will see the result in four weeks after using polypropylene on your hardwood floor.
Is Pvc Rug Backing Safe for Vinyl Floors
No rubber backing isn’t safe for vinyl plank flooring. Rubber back rug pads react with chemical vinyl plank floor contains and cause stains and damages. This problem mostly happens when the rubber back gets sunlight or friction for other reasons.
Can You Use a Rug Pad on Vinyl Plank Flooring
Yes, rug pads are safe for vinyl plank floors. But you have to make sure the rug pad is made with ingredients compatible with vinyl plank flooring. You must avoid rubber or latex back rug pads.
Are Rubber Backed Rugs Bad for Vinyl Plank Flooring
Yes, rubber backed area rugs are really bad for vinyl plank flooring. No matter if the rubber is natural or synthetic, both are harmful to vinyl plank flooring. Whenever the rubber gets in touch with heat or gets the sunlight UV rays, it triggers a reaction with the chemical vinyl plank flooring containing and discoloring it.
Is Pvc Rug Backing Safe for Vinyl Floors
No PVC rug backing isn’t safe for vinyl floors. PVC rug is made of plastic; this kind of rug or rug made with rubber or latex back is also not safe for vinyl floors. All these ingredients are sticky to floors, and as you know, any sticky element can damage the vinyl floors. So it will be best if you avoid these kinds of rugs.
Final Words
When you are shopping for a rug for Vinyl plank flooring, you need to be extra careful. We have told you above what rugs are safe to use on vinyl plank flooring and what baking is not good for vinyl plank flooring.
And we have told you why rubber, latex, or plastic backing isn’t good for vinyl plank flooring. Read the details we have shared above and buy the rugs safe for vinyl plank flooring.
