Do They Still Make Plastic Floor Runners?

Features

• Floor runners may be made of plastic or vinyl. Plast-O-Mat runners are made of clear, heavy weight ribbed plastic and sold in bulk rolls. This type of runner can be cut to fit an area. More typically, runners are made of clear vinyl. This see-through construction allows you to continue to display the color and pattern of your rug, as your carpet shows through from behind/beneath the runner. Vinyl runners often come with ribbed protrusions or cleats on the back to grip your carpet and hold the runner in place. Runners are available for work surfaces in other colors or with an opaque surface.

Types

• Floor runners and mats are available in soft or rigid vinyl. Soft runners are used for foot traffic in areas such as hallways, in front of doors and in offices in front of frequently used equipment. Rigid floor runners and mats are made for use on thick carpet, where chairs and other devices need to roll over the area, such as in front of a desk.

Benefits and Downsides

• Runners protect and preserve sections of your carpeting from heavy foot traffic, soil, damage and everyday wear. Vinyl resists stains, including grease and oils. Runners are easy to clean and maintain using the same floor care products and cleaning routines as you use for vinyl flooring.

  Keep plastic floor runners with cleats out of contact with wood floors. The movement of the mat can cause scratching on some types of flooring, and the cleats on the back of runners can create holes in wood flooring.

Heavy Duty Styles

• In addition to regular carpet runners used in your home, runners are available for business use for areas such as offices, cleaning rooms and warehouses and to protect floors from damage during construction. These runners are made in larger sizes and offer more coverage in length and width. They provide protection against slips and falls, industrial chemical and acid resistance, easy cleaning features and come in a variety of non-skid surface designs for added safety.