Not all leveling feet are the same. Some of them feature different components than others. When shopping for leveling feet, you may discover that some of them have a circular-shaped piece of elastic material attached to the bottom. Known as glides, they live up to their namesake by allowing you to glide the leveling feet, as well as the objects on which they are installed, across the floor. For a better understanding of leveling feet glides and how they work, keep reading.
The Basics of Leveling Feet Glides
Leveling feet glides consist of a piece of elastic material that’s attached to the bottom of the leveling feet themselves. Most of them are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). As shown in the adjacent photo, PVC glides are located at the base of the leveling feet. They serve as a barrier between the leveling feet and the floor. They are known as “glides,” of course, because they allow you to glide the objects on which they are installed.
How Leveling Feet Glides Work
With glides, you can easily move furniture and other objects by gliding them across the floor. Like all leveling feet, they still allow you to adjust the height of objects. If an object is tilted towards the left or right side, you can install a set of adjustable leveling feet to the bottom of it. Once installed and properly adjusted, the leveling feet will make the object level so that it doesn’t tilt. Glides simply add another level of convenience by allowing you to move the object more easily.
Most leveling feet are made of metal. Some of them are made of stainless steel, whereas others are made of carbon steel. Regardless, they feature a metal construction. Their metal construction means that you can’t easily glide the objects on which they are installed. Metal doesn’t glide easily on the floor. It may, in fact, scratch or otherwise damage the floor. Fortunately, glides offer a solution.
Glides can be added to most types of leveling feet, including those made of stainless steel, carbon steel and other types of metal. Once added, the leveling feet will be able to glide across hardwood, laminate concrete and other common types of flooring surfaces. It’s important to note, though, that glides are typically used for lighter objects. They may fail to support the weight of heavy objects. Nonetheless, for lightweight load applications, you may want to choose leveling feet with glides.