Are you worried about mud being tracked onto your carpet? Or are you concerned that your entryway poses a slip hazard when it’s raining outside? Maybe you think that your building isn’t very accessible? No matter the problem, entrance matting may be the convenient and affordable solution that you need.
The advantages of entrance matting are never-ending because they have a whole host of domestic, commercial and industrial applications. If you’re interested in creating a safe space, and saving time and money in the long run, then it’s definitely a purchase that you should be considering.
We’ve created this introductory guide to entrance matting so that you can decide whether it’s the right mat for you - but if you need some more comprehensive information, you should take a look at our Ultimate Entrance Matting Buyers Guide. Not everyone has time to download a pdf, which is why we’re covering the basics here. At Mats4U, we are experts in all things matting - which means that we can provide you with relevant information and helpful advice across the board.
What Is Entrance Matting?
Entrance matting, also known as barrier matting, is a kind of mat positioned at your door. These mats fall into a few different categories: indoor entrance mats, outdoor entrance mats, waterhog mats and well / recess mats. The differences lie in their placement, material and properties, however, they each have the same overarching purpose: to protect flooring and enhance safety.
What Is Entrance Matting Made Of?
This mat is used to remove damp and dirt, and so it should always be made with durable and easily cleaned materials. The most common materials include: cotton, nylon, coir, polypropylene, rubber and vinyl. Some mats are made of more than one material - for example, many of our mats have a rubber or vinyl backing, to prevent movement.
The mat that you choose will depend on which material is best for your placement and purpose. There can be many influencing factors, such as the amount of space you have to play with and the volume of foot traffic. Below are two of our best-selling entrance mats, so that you can see the benefits of different materials.
Tri Grip Heavy Duty Mats
The Tri Grip Heavy Duty Mat is made from nitrile rubber and nylon. The nitrile base keeps it in place and is very hard wearing, while the twisted nylon face is aesthetically pleasing and prevents the mat crushing. Some of the main benefits of these materials are as follows:
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Extremely long-lasting
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Capable of enduring heavy foot-fall
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Offers value for money
Supercoir Heavy Duty Coir Coconut Roll
You may be familiar with the Supercoir Heavy Duty Coir Coconut Roll if you’ve read one of our previous blog posts; in What Is Coir Matting, we outline everything there is to know about this kind of mat. It is made from twisted coir fibres and has a PVC backing. Some of the main benefits of this material include:
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Good durability for coir mats
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Easily scrapes away dirt (due to the coarse fibres)
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Traditional look
Who Can Use Entrance Matting?
As it is hugely versatile, in shape, size and material, entrance matting can be used by anyone, whether you’re a homeowner or a business owner. Slip hazards and dirty footprints are a thing of the past once you have selected the right mat for your needs.
Entrance Matting: Domestic
Having a mat outside your door, in your porch or in the hallway can make it much easier to keep a clean and tidy house. This is especially true if you have a lot of people coming in and out, and if you have pets, as it’s a reminder to take your shoes off before coming into the house, or an opportunity to clean them before going any further. At Mats4U, our mats are accompanied with many options. Take the Tri Grip Standard Mat as an example: you can select the colour, size and backing, which means that you can tailor it to the exact requirements and colour scheme of your home.
Entrance Matting: Commercial
Having commercial entrance matting can be invaluable, especially when it comes to the safety of customers and clients. Perhaps more importantly, it can also ensure that your premises is in compliance with rules and regulations regarding public health and safety. We have many customers seeking mats for commercial application, in every sector from retail to restaurants. This means that we can also help to advise you on the best mat for you.
Entrance Matting: Industrial
Industrial entrance matting is in high demand because it is pivotal in ensuring the safety of people, both while on foot and while operating machinery. Take a look at our Warehouse Safety Tips if you’re interested in reading more about it! At Mats4U, our cut to order entrance matting means that you can purchase the exact amount that you need - easily covering large entryways.
How To Measure For Entrance Matting
Before purchasing a new mat, you need to know the measurements that you require.
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Decide how much space you need the mat to cover. You can judge this by seeing how far dirt and debris is tracked into the building, as this will tell you how much coverage you need.
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Measure the space, using a tape measure. You will need to know the length and width, in centimeters or millimeters. This can be slightly more difficult for wells and recesses, as mats are typically fitted wall to wall and are not always perfectly rectangular- but it’s still possible.
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Select your matting. Now that you know the measurements you need, you can easily pick between the mats that match your requirements or choose custom size mats if you need an exact fitting.
Measuring for entrance matting is really practical, and something that we suggest to all of our customers. It saves you time and stress in the long run, as you don’t need to deal with a mat that is too big or too small - meaning that it becomes a worthwhile investment from day one.
How To Fit Entrance Matting
Once you have purchased and received your entrance matting, you need to make sure that it’s fitted properly. It’s normally a case of just placing it where you want it. The exceptions to this are where you need to trim to fit your mat or if you have modular matting - such as the Waterhog Classic Modular Tile System. When purchasing, you need to select the amount of tiles you need to cover the total area. Then once it arrives, you need to place and cut the tiles to fit the area. Even this is still nice and easy with the right tools, with no professional installation required.
Does Entrance Matting Require Underlay?
Whether entrance matting requires underlay depends on the kind of mat that you have chosen. It is largely dictated by the material, as mats with some kind of backing are equipped with a stability and reliability that erase any need for an underlay. On the other hand, if you have chosen a mat without backing, underlay can be a great investment, as it makes it much safer - there’s no risk of it moving or bunching up.
Entrance Matting With Mats4U
That’s everything that you need to know about entrance matting, in one readily accessible online space. Hopefully you’ve found it helpful, because we want to be able to support you on your journey to purchasing the right entrance matting and beyond.
If you’re looking for an entrance mat, be sure to take a look at the different options that we have available. Our matting experts are only a few clicks away, and happy to offer any advice or support - so get in touch today. And in the meantime, be sure to take advantage of our other blog posts, because we pride ourselves on being a reliable source of information for people across the globe.
