What Can I Use on an Area Rug...Which Sits on Carpet?

[Hillside Trece]

In my living/family/HT room, we have a stylish area rug in the center of the floor which sits atop our wall-to-wall carpeting (which was just replaced from a fish tank flood -- totally different topic) and for the life of me, I just can't get this thing to stay put or get straight without any kinks in it. We bought the carpet at Lowe's, and it was a replacement for the same rug we had in this room before the flood that came from the loft upstairs right down to the living room below; even then, I could NEVER get a nasty kink right in the center of the rug out even with a big adhesive-like pad that was supposed to "straighten" a rug...

Now, with the new area rug (an exact replacement of the one before we had the flood), I can't get several kinks out which are causing fold-like ripples in it which are tripping me, my wife and our seizure-prone dog when we walk on it...this is even AFTER I left several heavy Spanish roof tiles on the carpet to try and smooth the kinks. We also have some kind of "tape" we bought from Lowe's that is supposed to hold the carpet down -- but it's not working, still moving in place when you walk all over it and simply contributes to the kinked areas...

I realize rugs aren't ideally supposed to sit on top of carpet, but is there ANYTHING I can use to straighten the area rug so it's flat and smooth, plus keep it in place atop the carpeting?

Thanks in advance to anyone that can help...

[adrian42677]

Originally Posted by Hillside Trece

In my living/family/HT room, we have a stylish area rug in the center of the floor which sits atop our wall-to-wall carpeting (which was just replaced from a fish tank flood -- totally different topic) and for the life of me, I just can't get this thing to stay put or get straight without any kinks in it. We bought the carpet at Lowe's, and it was a replacement for the same rug we had in this room before the flood that came from the loft upstairs right down to the living room below; even then, I could NEVER get a nasty kink right in the center of the rug out even with a big adhesive-like pad that was supposed to "straighten" a rug...

Now, with the new area rug (an exact replacement of the one before we had the flood), I can't get several kinks out which are causing fold-like ripples in it which are tripping me, my wife and our seizure-prone dog when we walk on it...this is even AFTER I left several heavy Spanish roof tiles on the carpet to try and smooth the kinks. We also have some kind of "tape" we bought from Lowe's that is supposed to hold the carpet down -- but it's not working, still moving in place when you walk all over it and simply contributes to the kinked areas...

I realize rugs aren't ideally supposed to sit on top of carpet, but is there ANYTHING I can use to straighten the area rug so it's flat and smooth, plus keep it in place atop the carpeting?

Thanks in advance to anyone that can help...

Double stick tape around the entire edge. Unless you use a double stick pad which would cover the whole area rug but you would usually use that with a flimsy rug such as a needlepoint, kelim, dhurrie or aubusson.

[Hillside Trece]

Originally Posted by adrian42677

Double stick tape around the entire edge. Unless you use a double stick pad which would cover the whole area rug but you would usually use that with a flimsy rug such as a needlepoint, kelim, dhurrie or aubusson.

Thank you, adrian...

I think this thing actually needs the double-stick pad you mention -- do you have any idea where I can get or order one of these?

BTW -- do you have any pics of your setup? I'd love to see your RTi12's as I have the same mains...

[Johnny Vinyl]

I don't think there is much you can do to prevent the area rug from "travelling". The problem lies in the fact the fibers of your carpet move when you step on it. If you have an area rug on top of that, it will move as well, thereby the "travelling". In my experience, no amount of tape is going to prevent this. I ended up removing the area rug.

[Hillside Trece]

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

I don't think there is much you can do to prevent the area rug from "travelling". The problem lies in the fact the fibers of your carpet move when you step on it. If you have an area rug on top of that, it will move as well, thereby the "travelling". In my experience, no amount of tape is going to prevent this. I ended up removing the area rug.

Makes sense, John; still, I want to try and keep this area rug where it is for now because I truly love the look.

What about one of those double-sided "pads" that would stick to both the carpet and area rug? The issue, also, isn't just the traveling and moving out of place...it's trying to get the area rug straight and un-kinked when it sits atop the carpet. This morning, I tried removing the rug from the living room and brought it over into the dining room where there is hard tile floor...I laid it down and put the weight of the dining room table and chairs on top of it to see if it would straighten it. From what I can tell, only after a couple of hours, the kinks are still there...

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Hillside Trece

Makes sense, John; still, I want to try and keep this area rug where it is for now because I truly love the look.

What about one of those double-sided "pads" that would stick to both the carpet and area rug? The issue, also, isn't just the traveling and moving out of place...it's trying to get the area rug straight and un-kinked when it sits atop the carpet. This morning, I tried removing the rug from the living room and brought it over into the dining room where there is hard tile floor...I laid it down and put the weight of the dining room table and chairs on top of it to see if it would straighten it. From what I can tell, only after a couple of hours, the kinks are still there...

I can certainly appreciate you wanting to keep the area rug. I personally prefer area rugs over carpeting as they add so much character, but I know you have to work with both.

It seems to me that you may have an issue with the area rug itself....defective perhaps (if I can use that term). If you're able to exchange it, I'd look into that first. I have no experience with the double-sided pads, but that's certainly an option and may work out well for you.

[Hillside Trece]

Thanks man. It's possible these rugs are defective; as I said, we bought both of them (the first one before the flood and now this new identical one) at Lowe's, but at the store, they have them hanging there on display perfectly straight and smooth...

Does anyone else have any suggestions?

[Uniquely]

A sheet of Dycem underneath might do the trick. It's what we use in nursing homes to keep things from sliding... like placing it underneath a cushion to keep the resident and cushion from sliding out of a wheelchair. Of course since it's normally a medical supply... it is insanely much more expensive than it would be if it were not.

[Hillside Trece]

Originally Posted by Uniquely

A sheet of Dycem underneath might do the trick. It's what we use in nursing homes to keep things from sliding... like placing it underneath a cushion to keep the resident and cushion from sliding out of a wheelchair. Of course since it's normally a medical supply... it is insanely much more expensive than it would be if it were not.

Thanks, uniquely; I will look into Dycem...

BTW...weren't you at one point "Robinandtami"?

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by Hillside Trece

Thanks, uniquely; I will look into Dycem...

BTW...weren't you at one point "Robinandtami"?

Indeed I was! Dycem BTW is just plastic like sheets with insanely sticky properties. If it gets gunky and loses it's stickiness... just wash it with soap and water and it's just like new.

[Hillside Trece]

Originally Posted by Uniquely

Indeed I was! Dycem BTW is just plastic like sheets with insanely sticky properties. If it gets gunky and loses it's stickiness... just wash it with soap and water and it's just like new.

Beyond the Scooby-Doo avatar, I recognized the pics of your setup with the entertainment center...