There’s a special kind of joy that accompanies buying new furniture, and an even greater thrill when you finally lay down your long-awaited flooring, all fresh and polished.
But what happens when you hear the dreaded screech and look down to come face to face with a permanent scar on your precious floor? Not exactly a pretty picture, is it?
So what do you do to avoid such costly incidents? Well, you use floor protectors for furniture of course!
Today, we’ll be presenting you with all the information you need to know when it comes to floor protectors; what they are, which type you should choose, as well as tips on proper application. Let’s get started!
What are Floor Protectors for Furniture?
One of the most common issues, when we talk about flooring maintenance, has got to be scratches and scrapes, particularly the ones resulting from furniture frequently grazing against the floor.
This problem is regularly seen in areas where chairs and tables are always being moved back and forth, such as kitchens and living rooms. The repeated friction of their legs against the top layer of your floor causes chipping and scratches to appear, ruining the look of your home.
Floor protectors were manufactured as a solution to keep unwanted scratches from happening. They’re mounted onto the bottom of furniture legs to prevent the harsh contact between them and the floor, and consequently, reduce the risk of developing scrapes.
What are the Types of Floor Protectors?
Since there are several types of flooring, such as hardwood, vinyl, and ceramic tiles, as well as various kinds and sizes of furniture, it only makes sense for floor protectors to exist in multiple forms depending on their material and method of application.
Here are the types you’re most likely to encounter:
Self-adhesive Pads
First up, we have self-adhesive pads. These are generally made of rubber or felt with one side being highly adhesive to stick onto surfaces.
To properly apply such pads and ensure a service time as long as possible, clean the leg surface thoroughly and check that it’s completely dry. Then you just peel back the seal and stick the pad.
You can use self-adhesive pads on nearly all types of furniture for most hard floors including ceramic, concrete, and wood. These pads are quite affordable, and they also help decrease moving noises.
However, the adhering power of such pads falters over time, especially with continuous dragging, so you need to regularly check if they’re still intact. Self-sticking protectors tend to collect dust and dirt, meaning you’ll have to replace them more times than you’d like.
Formed-felt Pads
As the name suggests, these pads are made from enhanced felt with formed edges added to provide a more secure fit around furniture legs. Similar to self-adhesive pads, you can apply formed-felt protectors by removing the peel and sticking them onto clean, dry surfaces.
They’re also suitable for all hard floors and are available in many shapes and sizes to accommodate various chair/table legs types. The improved fit makes formed-felt pads extra durable, losing their adhering abilities over a longer period.
That being said, dust and debris still accumulate inside and under formed-felt pads, so you’ll need to perform regular check-ups to keep everything clean and looking good.
Rubber Grippers
Typically made from rubber or Teflon-like materials, this type of floor protectors is precisely designed to boost the gripping effect compared to other pads, thus preventing furniture from moving and sliding.
Installation is pretty simple since you just need to tightly secure them into furniture legs. Some brands will add an extra layer of self-adhesive for reinforced mounting.
Rubber grippers perform nicely on hardwood, tiles, as well as parquet floors. If you own a recliner chair, this should be your go-to protector pad, however, it’s not the ideal choice for furniture that’s moved a lot.
It’s not recommended that you use rubber grippers on soft floors unless you want to end up with dents and marks.
Nail-on Pads
Possibly offering the highest degree of security, nail-on pads are made of materials that generally glide smoothly over all sorts of floor surfaces. They’re a great option for narrow furniture legs while doing a superb job with kitchen and dining chairs.
To install this type of protector, you’ll need to first drill a hole in the leg, then screw the pad on using a nail. This method guarantees that the pad will stay in place for as long as you want, but you should check on it from time to time to readjust the fit.
It’s best if you don’t use nail-on pads on softwood floors to avoid creating imprints and dents. These protectors are also not recommended for furniture with wide legs.
Tap-in Glides
This type of floor protector has a metal shaft on it which is what you use to mount it onto furniture legs. You should place the protector over the leg’s bottom side, then use a hammer to tap the metal rivet into the leg.
Don’t hesitate to drill a hole first if you’re not confident about the rigidity of your furniture’s wood.
Obviously, you can’t apply tap-in glides on other materials such as steel. Also, the process of installation can be quite tiring.
Caster Cups
Think of caster cups as coasters normally used for mugs, except that these ones are directed towards chairs and couches. They’re pretty much the easiest type of protectors to install, all you need to do is put the cup on the floor, then place the furniture leg on top of it to slide in the ‘O’ spot.
Use caster cups for hard floor surfaces only since they don’t distribute weight very well and may cause dents to appear on soft floors. These protectors are available in a range of diameters to fit various leg sizes.
Swivel Glides
Last but definitely not least, swivel glides offer outstanding support for furniture that you regularly move around. They utilize a nail to mount onto furniture or a rivet that you knock in with a hammer.
Swivel glides move when your chair is tipping back, and they’re usually equipped with felt or Teflon on the bottom.
Wrap Up
Finding the best floor protector surely isn’t easy, you need to factor in the type of flooring you’re working with, the size and construction of your furniture, as well as the material and mechanism of the corresponding floor protector.
Consider investing in high-quality floor protectors for furniture, because whatever the price may be, it’s not as expensive as new flooring!
