<p>I am having prefinished hardwood installed into my kitchen/laundry room next week. I live in Virginia where it is more wet than snowy. I also have a small hound dog. I have 2 doors in this area that lead outside, one into a screen porch and the other into my garage.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any recommendations for small rugs that I could put by these doors? The one door to the garage has a very low threshold so it would need to be something without a lot of height. I already have rugs there now but they are cheapo and I kind of want something a little nicer or at least new since the floors will be new.</p>
<p>I could also use a recommendation for the area near my sink. Right now I have old laminate so these things were never really an issue. We do have great outdoor type rugs in the porch and garage I just want to be extra vigilant with the hardwood.</p>
<p>I received an LL Bean catalogue today and saw those water hogs rugs and thought something like that might work by the door and also under the dog’s bowls.</p>
<p>The water hogs are excellent. We have them in our mudroom, and on our front porch. Well worth the money. I personally would NOT use them as “decorative” rugs in my kitchen, however. </p>
<p>You might also want to put area rugs by the sink and stove areas. We have hardwood floors, and have rugs there. Protects the floors in those high traffic areas. We buy inexpensive ones at Target, or an odd lot store…and just replace when they get gross.</p>
<p>We have bought several rugs on Overstock dot com and paid almost nothing for shipping, like $3.00. They have a great selection for all kinds of rugs and we’ve been quite pleased with their durability.</p>
<p>Thanks for the ideas. I have some cheap rugs from Target but i thought the rubber backs would be bad for the floor. I also like to be able to wash them as my doggie and family are messy!</p>
<p>I got 2 at Costco. I was told by floor installer to not get anything with rubber on bottom. I do wash the rugs on occasion tho the directions say not to.</p>
<p>My rugs are not rubber backed. Like I said…I get cheap. I vacuum them several times a week, and wipe up any spills. I also get something that doesn’t show small imperfections I replace my sink and stove rugs several times a year. I don’t spend more than $15 each on them.</p>
<p>I use indoor outdoor rugs by my doors and in my kitchen. The pros are that the nap is very low and tight and they are super easy to clean. The cons are that they aren’t soft and you have to be careful when you order online because some of them are more plastic looking than others. Ballard has a nice selection.</p>
<p>What is the rubber supposed to do to the hardwood? Mine seems pretty indestructible, I would never have thought not to buy a rubber backed rug. I haven’t bought a rug for my kitchen yet.</p>
<p>How do you not break your neck slipping on them if they’re not rubber backed? I have high gloss finish and it is SLICK.</p>
<p>Ema,
I think it is that you don’t want the wood floors exposed to water. The water, if not wiped up quickly, can ruin the finish.</p>
<p>I wish I could recall exactly why he stressed the point of no rubber, but it was 5 years ago. when my d/w leaked, and water sat on floors all day, I had to replace those boards.</p>
<p>Just a few weeks ago, I got a Bean waterhog runner for the front door all the way through the entry to where folks take shoes off. Very nice, and neat looking, if less than soft underfoot. </p>
<p>In my maple floored kitchen, I’ve had rubber backed rugs forever. With the precautions, I’m sure they’re afraid of damage, or dye transfer in those cautions. In 20 years of using those rugs, I’ve never had a problem. Non rubber backed are unsafe, as are old rubber backed rugs, aged to slickness. Another advantage to rubber backed rugs- the areas under the rugs wear far less. </p>
<p>Finally this summer, I had the wood buffed and re coated. There was a week or two before the rugs could be put back down. </p>
<p>Type of rugs? Ikea rubber backed were my favorite, but haven’t seen them the last few trips to Ikea-a yearly trip, as it is hours away. Sometimes the bath section of Kohls and the like have a better variety of sizes and colors than kitchen areas.</p>
<p>hokiefan- what prefinished hardwood are you getting? wood type and brand? </p>
<p>we have half the house in australian cyprus and i plan on doing the rest in a couple of years. i really would like prefinished wood, even if it is not the same. the thought of emptying my house and smell is too much for me. i have also used target rugs with rubber backs for 13 years. i also replace them when they look old, especially the ones in the kitchen and i also have learned not too light colored but also black had too much lint look. i tried washing them years ago and it ruins the backing. when i am tired of them i use them in the garage.</p>
<p>No rubber backed because if water or dampness is underneath the rug it won’t dry. I have small hooked-type rugs that work great. Never had any problem with slipping. I also have one in front of my refrigerator as well as the stove and sink.</p>
<p>Rocky - the brand is Mulligan and it is 3/4 inch solid oak. Pre-finished with a stain called oak caramel.</p>
<p>I would have never thought about a non rubberized back rug until a neighbor mentioned it to me. I did a google search and what I read was the backing can have plasticizers in them which will discolor/ ruin the floor. What the online folks suggest is a special pad that goes under your rug to kind of form a barrier. That way you won’t slip. I also read that a lot of these pads are made overseas with inferior materials. So even if you try to do the right thing you may damage the floor. Go figure!</p>
<p>I am going to call the installers today. I just figured you all would have better suggestions then the men I am working with. They are a great company but you know, men.</p>
<p>I just wanted to start shopping before they get installed. Work starts Monday.</p>
<p>We have rugs from Flor on our bathrooms with hardwood floor. For about 8 years. Rubber backed. The floor looks as good as new, no discoloration.</p>
<p>I looked on many sites when I was researching this. While they tell you not to use latex/rubber backed rugs, some of the pads they are recommending have a rubbery backing. Go figure. And there were many many comments from customers that said they had no trouble at all. </p>
<p>Thanks again. I’ll let you know what the installer says.,</p>
<p>We have hardwood floors in our kitchen and a rug from Orvis for under the dog’s water/food bowls. It’s a must as it protects the floor from water “overflow” after the big goofy dog walks away with water dripping. Easy to clean, works like a charm, no damage or discoloration to floors. It’s like the Bean Waterhog rugs. Highly recommend.</p>
<p>I called the flooring company and spoke with 2 different ladies, asking their opinions about what should be a simple question. Both of them were very non committal. They said to just buy a thin rug and wash it as needed. When I bought up the padding idea they basically said to do what I want and what works for my family.</p>
<p>So I guess I will wait for,the guys to arrive next week and talk to them. In the meantime I am going to order one of those water hogs mats from ll bean for under the doggie bowl. I have a coupon and its free shipping.</p>
<p>I’ve used rubber backed rugs in my kitchen that has real hardwood floors with no problems. I launder them in machines but DO NOT dry them in the dryer. The rubber will flake. I lay them outdoors to dry.</p>
<p>I also have Waterhog mats from LL Bean and love them! In my kitchen, I have an LL Bean rug by the sink that is large enough for my work “U” and looks nicer than the Waterhogs for that purpose.</p>
I replace my sink and stove rugs several times a year. I don’t spend more than $15 each on them.</p>