This article will explain and assist anyone who uses, is looking at buying, or has already purchased floor rugs and mats
It really does not matter what type of flooring your rugs or mats are sitting on, whether it's an expensive carpet, cheap carpet, wood floor or tiles, for various reasons they almost always have a tendency to move around. The size and weight of your carpet rugs and mats play a huge role in that the heavier and larger the rug, the less chance of movement. So the two types of floors that mats or rugs are placed on are either carpet or hard surfaces, whether it be for comfort, aesthetics or for the wiping of feet, all present different problems and may require different solutions.
Reasons Why Area Rugs Move Around on Carpets
Area rugs and mats placed on top of carpets are the most difficult problem for the prevention of movement, the reason for this is that all carpets have a pile. This means that the top surface of the carpet is above the base of the hard floor, this area has air voids, and when walked on it will always compress down. The carpet pile will always move in one direction when compressed, so when a rug or mat is placed on top and is walked on, the pile of the carpet moves sideways in one direction, making the rug move with it. The taller the pile the more chance of movement, but if the pile is very dense (some more expensive types are denser), the sideways movement is reduced. So it depends on which type of carpet is being used, before you need to determine the amount of control needed; note, some cheap carpets will move less than an expensive one.
Reasons Why Floor Rugs Move Around on Hard Floors
Hard floors are the easiest for the control of rugs and mats moving. Gloss tiles are the slipperiest, followed by wood and non-gloss tiles, and then vinyl, as a general rule only. One of the problems with hard floors is that people like rugs that have a smooth backing to prevent scratching, and if it's thin or light, it will slip very easily. Movement of mats and rugs really is a huge problem, especially for safety, for this reason alone some manufacturers make some mats or rugs with a rubber backing already built in. This can be a problem in itself, as some types of rubber can harden and deteriorate, especially if maintained incorrectly, e.g. washed in hot water or dried in the sun, and generally they are only made up as a thin and cheap type of rug.
Solution for Rugs & Mats Moving on Carpet
There are a few different types of products available on the market, some are quite good, and others are average. After many years of feedback from our customers, the self-adhesive type foam seems to be the best way to go. Our rug underlay products, such as premium rug lock (for carpet runners) or total rug grip (for rugs), are made with a special dry adhesive that will adhere to any surface, and are placed on the underside of your door mats or rug. As it's only available in 60cm wide on a continuous roll, how much to use is dependent on the situation, e.g. type of carpet or how big and heavy the rug or hallway runner is, or the amount of foot traffic in the area. Ideally the whole area of the rug should be covered with the foam underlay to minimise movement. Another advantage is that this product can also be used on hard floors, and when its life effectiveness runs out, it can be switched out easily.
Solution for Floor Rugs & Mats Moving on Hard Floors
As mentioned above, the foam works very well on hard floors, but there are other products made from rubber that are less expensive that can be used instead. Our rug underlay anti-slip options are only suitable for hard floors, dimpled and open to allow air to circulate, which helps to prevent moisture trapping, but they are not a self-adhesive product. The non-slip matting is placed under the rug, ideally the more coverage the better, and if you find that the rug moves off the matting, you can spot-glue it to the back of the rug.
Alternative to Rug Underlay
An anti-skid rug spray is a spray-on rubber that is applied to the back of any type of floor mat or rug, eliminating the need for any material underneath your area rugs. The only disadvantage of this product compared to the others is it doesn't have any bulk, meaning it isn't constantly in contact with the floor, especially if it's only a thin light rug or mat, but once a small amount of pressure is applied on the mat, it won't move. The only drawback is, after the initial application and the first couple of weeks' use, a smear of rubber residue may be left on the floor; clean it off once and that should be it.
Video: Premium Rug Lock on Carpet
Video: Hard Floors
Video: Anti-Skid Rug Spray
ScatterMats Rug Warehouse has been established since 1983 and is situated in Welshpool, WA. We are an enthusiastic, family-run business which is owner/operated and dedicated to providing quality service to all our customers, and we can even modify your rugs according to your preferences. You can choose from the following collections: carpet runners, animal skins and print rugs, Persian rugs / traditional design rugs, modern rugs, wool rugs, round rugs / circles, shag rugs, kids rugs or activity floor mats like road rugs, and outdoor rugs, plus loads more.