A guide to matting for businesses

All businesses want to look good to their customers but sometimes the dirt, mud and debris that gets brought indoors from outside can ruin clean floors. Doormats can help to eliminate this problem and keep your premises sparkling clean, even on the wettest of days.

Below, we’ve outlined the different types of matting that you can install in your business, so if you are in the market but unsure of what to get, keep reading.

Anti-fatigue matting

Standing for long periods of time ultimately has an effect on our bodies and therefore it can make certain jobs uncomfortable for your staff. An anti-fatigue mat can help to increase comfort levels to make sure employees are happy and relaxed when they work.

Anti-fatigue mats can improve productivity and concentration among your workers by improving their posture and helping to minimise issues with swollen feet and ankles after a long day. The softer surface encourages small leg movements that improve posture and keep muscles and joints mobile. As leg muscles relax and contract, it helps the flow of blood around the body meaning the heart has less work to do, resulting in less fatigue.

Lighter duty anti-fatigue matting is more suitable for retail and packing environments where people are on their feet but do some moving around their workspace. 

Heavy duty track mats are much more suited for industrial or hospital applications where members of staff are standing in the same position for very long periods of time, whether that be lengthy surgeries or intricate project work in a workshop. 

Kitchen matting

Installing the right matting in your kitchen environment, from restaurants to schools, is really important so you can comply with the relevant health and safety requirements.

Heavy-duty kitchen matting performs a variety of functions that increase safety and functionality in cooking, food preparation and storage areas.  It’s a simple and cost-effective way to ensure the safety of your staff members, as well as protect floors and provide drainage in wet areas.

Forklift matting

Built-up dirt on forklift wheels can track dirt and other debris into your premises. This not only makes your floors look dirty and messy, but it can also cause a slip hazard for anyone walking past, especially on wet days.

Forklift matting helps to avoid this, as well as prevent any damage from occurring to your forklift vehicle or any goods that it is carrying. Placing this type of matting where forklifts enter and exit the premises can prevent skidding by scraping and wiping the tyres as they move across the mat.

Entrance matting

This is one of the most common types of matting that can be found in business across the country. There are many different types of entrance matting, including the ones we’ve outlined below:

• Coir – a traditional type of matting made from coconut husks. Its durable construction makes it a great option for high traffic and public areas such as clubs, pubs, offices, and restaurants.
• Cotton – ideally suited for light use around the home to wipe muddy pet feet, boots and shoes. The cotton construction is super absorbent, flexible and can be rolled up and transported very easily.
• Rubber – available in several designs including honeycomb and ribbed. It is ideal for heavy-duty use, as the strong construction provides excellent crush and soil resistance.
• Microfibre – very absorbent and lightweight, which means you can transport the mat from place to place more easily. Microfibre is very absorbent, yet also dries very quickly ready to be used again.
• Ribbed – perfect for use in heavy-duty entrance areas, ribbed matting is attractive, durable and the ideal choice in large spaces such as airport floors. Most mats made from this material are also UV-resistant and flame retardant.

Each one of these types of entrance matting materials is suitable for certain applications. If you want to install entrance matting in your business, it’s best to think about how much traffic will be crossing it every day and the environment it will be placed in. These factors can help you to make an informed decision about which type will be the best fit. 

Logo matting

Having a logo mat at the entrance to your business can help keep all your staff and customers safe by ensuring floors are dry and clean at all times.

And, because an entrance mat is one of the first things customers see when they walk into your premises, you can use it as a way to show off your company’s personality. By having your branding printed right at their feet, you can create a large impact in a professional way.

You can have your company’s logo printed on most types of entrance mats. You could even have it made to complement your signage to expand your brand awareness even further.