Entrance Matting

OUTDOOR ENTRANCE MATTING CONSIDERATIONS 

Any outdoor entrance mat is required to be constructed out of a material which is resistant and remains effective in all types of weather. This mat is the first line of defence so it needs to be able to remove heavy dirt, mud, sand and grit. The mat should be drainable, allowing water to flow away from the surface of the mat. 

INDOOR ENTRANCE MATTING CONSIDERATIONS 

This type of matting is primarily for your main entrance, it’s main purpose needs to be able to stop both the dirt and water from getting into your building.  

It’s best to choose an indoor entrance mat with raised sections to wipe and scrape footwear and it should have a fabric top which is able to soak up and contain moisture. You may need to regularly clean this mat, so that it doesn’t become saturated with dirt and water. So we advise you to check that the mat is easy to clean. 

LOOSE LAY 

The appeal of loose lay mats is that they are one of the cheapest options and they require no installation, just roll the mat out and place it wherever you need it. However you can be limited to standard set sizes. The key consideration is to ensure it has a good gripper backing to make sure it does not move or cause a trip hazard. These types of mats maybe the most cost effective option but they will wear a lot quicker than some of the other matting options, so will need to be replaced more frequently. 

BI-LEVEL 

The most effective entrance mats at stopping dirt and water have a bi-level construction. This is because the upper surface scrapes and wipes footwear, and the lower level collects the dirt and moisture for later removal by cleaning. These mats stop dirt and water tracking off the mat as more people pass over the mat, due to the fact they are walking above the dirt and water, rather than through it. 

Bi-level mats tend have a ribbed construction or use raised nubs to create the two levels. Bi-level mats constructed with a rubber reinforced raised section, rather than the raised sections being created through additional fabric, maintain their raised construction and therefore remain more effective for a longer period of time. 

MODULAR ENTRANCE MATS

Modular entrance mats are made up of individual tiles similar to carpet tiles. The tiles are fixed down to fit areas of any size or shape. They are practically useful for large surface areas, or if there are obstacles in the way which would stop a whole mat being installed.

Due to the modular design the main advantage is the ability to replace damaged or worn tiles without having to replace the whole mat.

METAL ENTRANCE MAT SYSTEMS

A popular choice for retail and public buildings, due to their hard wearing characteristics, metal entrance matting is fixed to the floor so very unlikely to move and cause an obstruction.

Available in stainless steel and aluminium these mats can be more costly to install, but, once in place, offer a very attractive and safe entrance to your building. .

The downside to metal entrance matting systems is that the non-metal part of the system, the fabric sections, wear down over time and as they do so become lower than the metal ridges. This means that they become less effective at scraping and drying and can become slippery in wet weather.