Difference between a ‘good mat’ and a not so good mat

If you’re searching for floor mats for your business, cheaper is not always your best option when looking for a quality item to do the job you’re asking it to do. It may save you a few bucks in the beginning, but poorer quality floor mats generally lead you to more serious costs down the road.  We’ve listed things that separate a good quality mat, from a cheap, not so good mat.

Durability: Depending on usage and maintenance, commercial floor mats last between 1 and 3 years. If you’ve chosen a cheap mat, then you can hope for it to last at least to the earlier part of that scale and hopefully it did the job you required it to in the first place.

A big part of the durability is whether you chose the right mat, from the beginning.  This is why using an expert like Mul-T-Mat is a good idea. Quality floor mats are made with better, more durable materials so they are less likely to thin, curl, or fade within the first year of constant use.

Appearance: Floor mats can only look as good as the quality of the materials they were made from.  Cheaper floor mats have a distinctly unappealing appearance about them; they are thinner, rougher and the fibres of the scraper mats are softer and brittle easily. 

The appearance is especially important when using your mat in an entrance, particularly with a logo mat. Would you really risk skimping on something that showcases your logo or welcomes your clients? It surely doesn’t give the first impression you bought it for.

Safety: This is the part where things get serious. With poor-quality materials, and lower standards on manufacturing, cheaper floor mats tend to have less traction and absorption. This can not only be potentially dangerous from a safety perspective, but also detrimental to your user.

With poorer traction and a less capacity for wear, cheaper floor mats are likely to become slippery with minimal foot traffic, or in the case of an entrance mat, less absorbent. Slip and fall accidents can occur and claims from these accidents are not only unfortunate, but also very costly in the long run.

Functionality: Cheaper floor mats are no match against the functionality of a proper quality one. In the case of scraper mats for example, cheaper floor mats will not as effectively brush off tracked in dirt and soil, as they are made of softer materials and usually wear or break off after minimal use. This same dirt is now tracked into your space, causing higher costs in maintenance. This problem is magnified with Anti Fatigue mats, these are designed and constructed with material that forces micro-movements in the feet, promoting better circulation and weight distribution.  They are designed to reduce muscle and bone strain in the lower limbs. Lower quality floor mats can’t provide the same benefits for your workers.

All in all, your decision to purchase a mat can be tricky, but don’t let it be costly, in the long run. Buying a ‘good mat’ is your best option and using a company that knows what they are talking about, is of most importance.