Honestly, I’ve had better luck just sticking with the rubber pads alone. Felt always seems to get trashed within a few months, especially with tenants moving furniture around. Maybe it’s just me, but the extra layer feels like more hassle than it’s worth.
Rubber pads definitely last longer, but I’ve noticed they can leave marks or even get sticky over time, especially if there’s any moisture in the kitchen. I actually layer felt under the rubber for heavy chairs, but yeah, it’s a pain to replace. Maybe there’s no perfect solution—just tradeoffs depending on how much abuse the floor gets.
- Tried cork pads once—didn’t love them. They wore down super fast, especially with kids dragging chairs around.
- Rubber does last, but yeah, it gets weirdly tacky if there’s any humidity. I’ve had to scrape residue off more than once.
- Lately, I’m experimenting with silicone bumpers. They seem less prone to marking up the floor, but they’re not as grippy.
- Honestly, I think it just comes down to how much traffic your kitchen gets. For us, there’s no one-size-fits-all... just a lot of trial and error.
Funny thing, I’ve seen just about every type of pad under the sun—cork, felt, rubber, even those little plastic sliders. You’re spot on about cork not holding up with kids. I did a job last year for a family with three under ten, and the cork pads were toast within a month. Rubber’s weird too... in some houses it’s perfect, but in others it gets sticky and leaves those dark marks you can’t buff out.
Silicone’s interesting. I’ve only used them a couple times and they’re definitely easier on the finish, but I agree—chairs tend to wander more. One trick I’ve found is doubling up: silicone on the legs and a thin felt disc underneath. Not perfect, but it helps balance grip and protection.
Honestly, though, nothing beats a good routine sweep and mop. Most scratches I see come from grit that gets tracked in and stuck under chair legs. Pads help, but if there’s sand or crumbs underfoot, it’s game over for that nice finish...