5 Best Ways To Protect Laminate Flooring From Rolling Chairs (Must-Try!)

Laminate flooring is a wood flooring that can be quickly installed and is affordable. The benefit of laminate flooring is that it can lay over almost any subfloor, so you won’t need to rip out any existing materials.

The downside is that this type of flooring is not built to last as long as other types, such as solid hardwoods, engineered hardwoods, or cork. Plus, it is not scratch-proof.

Because of this, most people are concerned about rolling chairs on laminated floors. They ask: Do Office Chairs Ruin Laminate Flooring?

The short answer is yes. Rolling chairs are the most used in the office because of their ergonomic benefits, but they can damage your laminate flooring with continuous use. Moving across the laminate flooring while sitting on or in its casters can easily cause dents, scratches, and scuff marks.

Therefore, it would be wise to be cautious when rolling chairs on your laminate flooring to protect them from damage and provide long-lasting service.

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Why Protect Laminate Flooring from Rolling Chair?

Treating hardwood flooring dents, marks, and scratches is easy and cheaper than laminate flooring. But it is difficult to repair the dents or hide the scratches of laminate flooring because it requires you to replace the planks or cover the scratches.

Besides, it is also time-consuming and expensive. Most laminate flooring manufacturers provide a warranty that the flooring will be scratch resistant. It means your warranty is costly to repair and replace laminate flooring.

5 Best Ways to Protect Laminate Floors from Rolling Chairs

You may employ several ways to protect your laminate from rolling chairs at home or office. Below are detailed explanations to help you choose the best one that would be easier to implement and serve your need the best. They include;

Install Rubber Casters on Rolling Chairs

Replacing the rolling chair wheels with rubber casters would be a smart way to protect your laminate flooring from getting damaged. The casters that come with your rolling are standardized but harmful to your laminate flooring because they are plastic and steel.

Due to this, they tend to leave scuff marks, dents, and deep scratches behind when you move across the floor while sitting on them. The chair does not cause scratches, dents, and scuffs. Your body weight pressing against the casters causes abrasion to the laminate flooring.

For this reason, replacing the casters with rubberized casters will significantly help absorb your weight pressure, thus minimizing the risks of scuff marks, dents, and scratches.

We strongly recommend choosing laminate flooring casters, which are specifically designed for optimal performance. They are floor-friendly, affordable, can handle loads up to 650 pounds, and are made of high-quality rubber.

Furthermore, they are also easy to replace and were designed with a universal standard size stem that can fit a lot of different rolling chairs. Before purchasing them, it is imperative to know your chair’s casters’ shaft/stem length and diameter.

Invest in an Office Chair Without Wheels

An office chair without wheels is an excellent choice if you are comfortable with it.

However, this is the least desirable option for those seeking laminate floor protection. You may opt for this option if you are okay with not being able to move.

See Also: How to Choose the Right Office Chair?

Placing a Mat Beneath the Chair

Alternatively, you can place a mat underneath the chair to help absorb the casters’ weight distribution, making the floor safe and scratch-free. This method is easy to use, only if you do not know how to replace the casters.

Nonetheless, mats are reliable because they are smooth, which allows the casters to roll easily, but rigid at the same time.

However, before purchasing any mat, it would be wise to settle for a type of mat that is durable, reliable, and will provide maximum protection. Don’t worry about it because below, we have listed some of the best types of mats for rolling chairs. They include;

Tempered Glass Chair Mats

Tampered glass chair mats are ideal for medium and large spaces and areas that experience a lot of foot traffic. Besides, they are eco-friendly, made from premium quality material, and can support a weight capacity of up to 1000 lbs.

Due to this, it provides a long-lasting service, but you will have spent a lot of money to have it underneath your chair.

Cushioned Foam Chair Mats

Cushioned foam chair mats also provide maximum protection for your laminate flooring, yet they will cost you a reasonable price. It stands out because it is high-quality PVC material while featuring a triple-layered footrest for an anti-fatigue experience.

Moreover, it is also smooth, anti-slippery, and durable to top it all.

Bamboo Chair Mat

A bamboo mat is well known for its long-lasting service, but it is also natural and elegant when installed in your space. It is the best alternative because it has high-tensile strength, making it capable of withstanding a lot of weight and preventing abrasion from the moving casters.

In addition, they are also affordable but expensive compared to plastic mats.

Polycarbonate Chair Mat

Polycarbonate Chair Mats are popular because of their highly durable material. Besides its high-quality construction, the polycarbonate material also provides enough stickiness that keeps the mat at a fixed position, preventing slips and minimizing the risks of damage.

Generally, when choosing a chair, it would be helpful to consider how the mat will look in the space. Therefore, it is advisable to opt for a mat that won’t be noticeable on the floor.

Use Rug pads or Carpet

You may also use rug pads or Carpets to protect your laminate flooring from rolling chairs by placing it under the chair.

However, you should use a large carpet or rug pads that will sufficiently cover the space the chair moves.

Secondly, the carpet or rug pads should also be thick enough to absorb weight pressure and minimize the abrasion and slipperiness of the casters.

Lastly, it should be smooth enough to allow the casters to roll over it smoothly.

Plus, you should also be cautious about the type of backing used in crafting the rug pad because it can cause damage to laminate flooring by marking it without you realizing it.

So, it is advisable to test the carpet on the floor before applying your weight to the rolling chair to ensure it is friendly to laminate flooring. For example, you shouldn’t use jute rugs on laminate flooring because they are scratchy and might damage the flooring over time.

Must See: 9 Best Ways to Keep Rugs From Slipping on Laminate Floors (Must-Try!)

Opt for Stationery Chair with Protective Padding

Opting for a stationery chair with protective padding is not bad if you do not mind working without casters. Unfortunately, a stationary chair can also cause dents, scuff marks, and scratches because you will apply pressure to the chair when you sit on it.

Therefore, to minimize the effect of your weight pressure, you need to install protective padding to absorb your weight. Or, you may decide to purchase a stationary chair with protective padding.

Must See: 7 Best Furniture Pads for Laminate Floors (Buying Guide Included)

FAQ: How to Protect Laminate Flooring from Rolling Chair?

Can you put heavy furniture on laminate flooring?

No, it would be best if you did not place heavy furniture on laminate flooring. A heavy object can cause serious damage to laminate flooring if it puts pressure on it.

Due to its smooth surface, laminate flooring will scratch, crack, and eventually break. The best way to prevent this from happening is to place lighter furniture on top of laminate flooring or take some precautions to protect the flooring.

If not, it could lead to more expensive repairs in the future.

Will casters damage laminate flooring?

Typically, office chair casters are made from rubber or plastic and are attached to the bottom of the chair’s legs.

As a result of the caster wheels, the chair moves easily and can be controlled more easily.

There are different types of casters for different types of floors. While some can be used on laminate flooring, others should not be used anywhere. It doesn’t matter if the caster is designed for laminate floors. It will still scratch and damage the surface.

Casters are abrasive when they move across a surface.

Do I need a chair mat on laminate?

There is no clear-cut answer to this question. It depends on how much water will be exposed to the mat and how much usage is expected to receive.

Some people prefer to use chair mats on laminate flooring, while others do not. If you regularly use your office or home’s flooring, you may want to consider getting a chair mat since that will help prevent its damage.

How do I stop my office chair from rolling on laminate?

There are various ways to prevent office chairs from rolling on laminate flooring. These include installing rubber casters, placing a mat beneath the chair, using rug pads or carpet, or using a stationary chair with protective padding.

Each of these methods, however, has its advantages and disadvantages. To learn more about them, read the full article.

Read More on Laminate Floors

5 Best Ways to Protect Laminate Flooring from Rolling Chairs (Must-Try!)

Why Protect Laminate Flooring from Rolling Chair?