Will an Office Chair Scratch the Laminate Floor?

Everything in our workspace plays a vital role.

You need to make sure your desk has enough surface area so we can remain organized. Your office chair should provide adequate support to keep you comfortable while working. You must also ensure there’s enough space around these to allow for movement.

As you go through your typical workday, it’s natural to find yourself rolling your office chairs from one area to another. After all — isn’t this why you have casters in the first place? But if you’re not careful, you’ll start to notice that the floor isn’t as smooth as it used to be.

You can expect wear and tear to happen, especially after constant use over a long period. If you can prevent it, however, wouldn’t it be better?

Here’s the good news — not only is keeping your laminate flooring scratch-free favorable, but it’s also possible.

We’ll go through several ways to better care for your laminate flooring to ensure it won’t get damaged. You can also opt to use floor mats, which can be functional and fashionable.

Ready to learn more? Read on, then!

The Relationship of Office Chairs and Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is commonly used at the office or in your home. It’s typically less expensive compared to other hardwood floors, making it an economical choice. You can even choose a style that suits your taste.

You can easily clean spills and other messes on laminate floors since it’s resistant to moisture and most stains. But the main reason why most people opt for this type of flooring is its durability. Laminate flooring is more durable, scratch and impact-resistant, and longer-lasting than other flooring types, whether vinyl, hardwood, or carpet.

Remember, it’s scratch-resistant. It is not scratch-proof.

Can I Use an Office Chair on Laminate Flooring?

The short answer? Yes, you can.

There is absolutely nothing that says you cannot use your office chair on laminate flooring. That said, you should be aware of the possible consequences of doing this.

The constant rolling of office chairs across laminate flooring can result in some damage. Office chairs caster wheels usually cause scratching, which may be costly to repair.

Now you can say that since it’s the caster wheels causing the problem, you can choose to use a chair that doesn’t have it. But that may prove to be more disastrous.

Mind you, using your office chair is not the only thing that causes damage to laminate floors. If you want to take care of it, you also have to consider the effect of dirt and improper cleaning.

Choose a cleaner that results in a streak-free surface each time — these are typically the best kinds to use on floors. You can also look for solutions that are water-based and use a hypoallergenic formula.

What floorings are best for office chairs?

There are other flooring materials better suited for office chairs, although you can use laminate flooring. Concrete floors and those made of tiles withstand the constant rolling best. To a certain extent, vinyl floors can also handle an office chair’s wheels for a long while.

You’ll notice that more scratches typically appear on laminate and hardwood floors. However, changing your flooring so you can use an office chair isn’t the most logical move.

We’re also not saying that you should give up your office chair. What we’re saying is that there are options somewhere in between.

How Do You Keep an Office Chair from Scratching Laminate Flooring?

Earlier, we said that office chairs cause scratches to your laminate flooring because of their casters, but it’s crucial to note that these chairs typically use plastic ones. These glide over the floor instead of rolling smoothly, which is what causes the scratches and dents.

Yes, there are different types of casters, making it one of the office chair parts you have to consider when you’re looking for one. If you have laminate flooring, make sure to choose a seat that uses rubber casters.

Manufacturers designed these kinds of casters specifically for sensitive floors. Because of the material used to make them, they won’t mark as plastic wheels do. Asides from helping you avoid damage —  they also offer the following advantages:

• They’re quiet. Standard plastic wheels usually make sounds when you’re moving your chair around.
• Good-quality rubber casters swivel and turn perfectly, increasing your mobility.
• If you purchase rubber casters, it costs the same as getting an office mat (more on this later).

If you already have an office chair and realize it has plastic wheels, you don’t have to go out and get yourself a new one. You can purchase yourself a set of caster wheels since you can replace those in your chair.  Install these on your existing seat, and you’re good to go!

If acquiring rubber casters is out of the question, you still have another option. You can use a furniture pad to prevent damaging your floor. The advantage of having this is you can use it for a variety of things, not just your office chair.

Can You Drag Furniture Across Laminate Flooring?

In reality, an office chair isn’t the only thing you move around. Other furniture, such as tables, cabinets, or shelves, also get rearranged from time to time.

If you want to keep your laminate flooring damage-free, here are a couple of things to keep in mind.

Don’t drag your furniture.

When you want to transfer your furniture to a different area, it’s faster (not to mention easier) to push or drag it. Sliding it may also damage your furniture itself — sometimes it may cause paint to peel or edges to get chipped.

Although lifting it requires more effort, this method provides more protection to your furniture and your floor.

Utilize furniture pads.

Furniture pads are also known as moving blankets, specifically because movers use them to protect items when you’re transporting them. It looks like a padded quilt that you can wrap around furniture.

You can utilize it when you’re rearranging furniture, although it’s more common use is when you’re moving furniture from one house to another.

Do You Need Furniture Pads for Laminate Flooring?

If It’s just your office chair you’re considering, using furniture pads may be overkill (unless you’re transporting your quality seat to a different neighborhood). However, if we’re talking about moving various pieces of furniture around because you’re redecorating, furniture pads won’t hurt.

Asides from protecting your laminate flooring from scratching, you can benefit from furniture pads in other ways, such as:

• It allows you to slide your furniture to a new location without fear of damaging your floor
• It prevents furniture legs from breaking when moving them

Depending on what you’re moving, furniture pads may not be necessary all the time. But having them around isn’t a bad investment.

The Wrap Up

If you’ve invested in having laminated flooring, you should do everything possible to keep it damage-free. Scratching and dents can come from the most unlikely of places — even the constant movement of your office chair across its surface can cause it.

Understanding what your options are can help you decide what you need to do. If your concern is mainly about your office chair, perhaps replacing your caster wheels will be enough.

You may want to get yourself a set of furniture pads if you do a lot of redecorating. You may not need them all the time, but it’s better to have them and not need them than to find yourself scrambling to find some at the last minute.