rug underpads

[Lucie_Thivierge@xxxxxxxxx]

Historic rugs are displayed in an historic house and the layout of the rooms
necessitates people walking over the rugs.  Runners, shoe covers and rug
underpads are being investigated.

In the preprints of the Textile Symposium 97 - Fabric of an Exhibition: An
Interdisplinary Approach, Ottawa, Canada, Steven Pine, conservator at Bayou Bend
Collection and Gardens, mentions a pad formed from a 3 mm (1/8 in.)
needle-punched polyester felt with an application of a silicon rubber, Dow
Corning 732 RTV clear.  This pad is manufactured by Rogers Corporation, 2300
East Devon Avenue, Elk Grove, Illinois 60007-6120, phone : 800.237.2068 / fax:
847.640.3838. The price varies  from $8.50/square foot (900 square feet per
release) to $9.75/square foot (225 square feet minimum per release).

The quality of the underpad is really good but it is costly. I am presently
looking at other commercial rug underpads.  Any ideas, comments and sources
would be appreciated. Thank you!  Lucie Thivierge