At this time of year, the sun comes shining through our windows and doors, flooding our buildings and entrances with natural light, making them look and feel so much more appealing.
We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but these beautiful rays of sunshine that brighten up our day, can also bring along some problems. Think about a time when you have spent the day out in the sun, telling yourself you don't need to wear any suntan lotion. It's only when you get home and take one look in the mirror that you notice you've acquired some sunburn lines that don't look so attractive.
Whether we like it or not, excess exposure to the sun's UV rays ages our skin and, believe it or not, it has a similar effect on our mats if they are exposed to direct sunlight, which is sometimes the case when they're placed in entranceways or near to windows. Many people understand the need to ensure their mats are resistant to more wintery weather conditions, such as rain, ice, snow and grit, but few people consider if they are also resistant to the sun.
Whilst we're not suggesting that you make your entrance mats in sunscreen, if you want your mats to remain in a good condition, we do recommend that when you purchase your mats you check that they have the protection in place to prevent the colour fading in them. Mats with little or no UV resistance will start to look old very quickly when exposed to the sun. Certainly, after a year, the mat will look very different from the day you bought it. Ensuring your entrance mat has some level of UV protection will keep your mat looking as colourful as when you purchased it for many more years to come.
Most entrance matting on the market will claim to have some sort of UV protection, however some of the higher quality mats use solution dyed yarn, which often comes with at least a 10-year colour fast guarantee. If you will be placing your mat in direct sunlight, it will definitely be worth purchasing a mat that has this guarantee, to ensure your mat remains vibrant, colourful and attractive to both your guests and to yourself for many years to come.
At Mats4U we have a range of entrance matting with a colour fast guarantee; to help you keep your entrances looking inviting for many years, see our range of entrance mats on our website here. If you are unsure as to which mat you require for your premises, or you would like some further advice, then you can always speak to one of our friendly advisers on the phone, who will be more than happy to help you.
