How to Cut a Rug Pad
A rug pad is an essential component of any rug. It helps make the rug more comfortable, prevents slipping on hardwood floors, and protects your carpeting from damage by the sharp corners of a rug. A good-quality pad can be cut with scissors or a utility knife for smaller jobs like cutting out fringes.
A rug pad can be an excellent investment, but it’s easy to make mistakes when cutting the rug pad material. Cut too much, and you’ll waste money on excess materials. Cut too little, and your rug will slip constantly. This blog post is all about how to cut a rug pad with precision every time! So let’s dig dive into this blog post!
10 Reasons Why You Should Cut a Rug Pad:
- It can help prevent slips and falls by adding an extra layer of cushion between you and your flooring
- You can easily swap out different types of rug pads for each room without having to invest in a new rug
- If you use a non-slip pad under your rug, it may last longer than if you didn’t use one
- It allows you to match the shape of your rug to other room decors
- The thickness of your rug pad creates a darker or lighter-looking area under your rug, which can add depth and texture to a room.
- They’re easy to clean and replace if they become worn out
- Pads provide a barrier between your rug and flooring, which helps prolong the life of your carpet
- You can adjust the amount of padding you put under your rug based on where it is in the room or what type of floors you have underneath
- You can use a rug pad to add comfort and warmth under your feet while you’re walking around the house
- Rug pads provide insulation in the winter, which helps prevent heat loss through your floors.
Types of Rug Pads Material:
Rug pads come in many materials such as wool, cotton, latex rubber, and synthetic. Each material has its purposes and characteristics that provide a different performance style on the rug flooring.
1. Wool Rug Pads:
Wool is an ideal material for martial arts applications because it is made from natural fibers that maintain their form well under pressure and absorb recoil power when introduced with high impact.
2. Cotton Rug Pads:
These are made from natural fibers that maintain their form well when under pressure and put through various movements. Cotton can also absorb recoil power when introduced with high impact, which is why it’s best for martial arts applications.
3. Latex Rubber Rug Pads:
Latex rubber is one of the most well-known materials used for rug pads in Krav Maga training but also has various uses outside of flooring (such as antifatigue mats). Latex rubber is known to have good shock absorption but also wears down quickly when being used in high-impact areas. Also, due to its softness, it can tear easily, so be careful during use.
4. Synthetic Rug Pads:
This material does not absorb much recoil power or shock, making it ideal for low-impact training, but it would be best to avoid using this type of pad in high-impact areas due to its inability to absorb shock. This material is also known as plastic, vinyl, or leather.
Step by Step Guide: How to Cut a Rug Pad
Step 1: Measure the Size of Your Rug.
Measure the size of your rug before you purchase a new pad. This will ensure that your new pad is cut to fit perfectly. Most rugs are 6×9 or 8×10, but some are larger, so be sure to measure!
Step 2: Buy a Rug Pad.
Purchase a rug pad designed for use under area rugs. These will have a rubber backing that is safe for carpets and non-skids, preventing slipping and sliding! They are usually square and can be cut with scissors to fit any size rug. Make sure the measurements of your rug pad are smaller than those of your rug (you can always cut off excess material).
Step 3: Find Your Rug Pad.
Many department stores carry rug pads that are safe to use on carpeted surfaces. Often, they’re found in the area with other floor care items like rugs, vacuum cleaners, and brooms/mops.
Step 4: Cut the Rug Pad to Size.
Use sharp, clean scissors. If you do not have a cutting board, place the rug pad on top of an old towel or blanket for stability. Do not cut more than one side at once. This will make it easier to keep your lines straight and even! Instead, start by placing the pad against the corner of your rug and cutting off that excess pad material.
Step 5: Place Rug Pad Underneath Rug.
Now that your pad is cut to fit, place it underneath your rug! Ensure the non-slip back of the pad is properly adhering to the floor before setting your rug on top of it. You can also use a rubber mallet or hammer to tap down any loose material while ensuring everything is straight.
Congratulations! You’ve now learned how to cut a rug pad to fit perfectly underneath your area rug!
Some Tips and Suggestions:
1. Various materials are used to make rug pads, but the most common one is polypropylene (seen in the photo above). This material will let you know when it needs to be replaced because it dries out and becomes brittle.
2. When purchasing a rug pad, get one that’s big enough for your area rug but also thin enough to not push up against your wall or furniture legs. Common is rug pad foam. You can get it in different thicknesses and densities, but the most commonly used are medium-density (1/4 inch) and high-density (3/8 inch).
3. Cut the rug pad to fit precisely under the rug or mat. If the pad is too small, the edges will curl up, and you’ll end up tripping over it. If the pad is too big, it will bunch up in places, leaving your rug wobbly.
4. To determine how thick your pad should be, lay it on top of your rug, allowing an extra 3 inches all the way around for seams or cushioned corners. Using a sharp pencil, mark the pad around the outside of your rug.
5. Cut three additional pieces of material (polypropylene) with enough length to be folded over and sewn together into one larger piece that fits under your rug.
6. Fold the larger piece of material in half, then fold it again in half with the outside edges touching each other.
7. Place rubber shelf liner underneath the rug pad to prevent slipping, especially on hard surfaces.
Conclusion:
After following these steps, you will have a rug pad that is positioned correctly. Next, measure your current rug pad lengthwise from one end of it to the other. You will use this measurement to guide how much fabric needs to be cut off so it does not hang over your new mat’s edges when laid flat.
If you are having trouble cutting your rug pad with scissors, ask someone with carpentry experience to help out or use an electric saw. Your new rug pad should last for years and provide the proper amount of padding underfoot! We hope this article helped you learn how to cut a rug pad in five simple steps. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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