Entryway Matting

This customized mat is ideally positioned to protect the acid-stained concrete outside this Marriott hotel. Photo courtesy of: KBA Marketing, Inc. of Vero Beach, FL.

This customized mat is ideally positioned to protect the acid-stained concrete outside this Marriott hotel. Photo courtesy of: KBA Marketing, Inc. of Vero Beach, FL.

Mats are essential for an acid-stained concrete floor with an exterior entrance.  Sand, dirt, leaves, twigs, pieces of stone, plastic, wood and metal, along with moisture and outdoor contaminants, such as deicers, anti-freeze, fertilizer and oil pose an ongoing, significant threat of scuffing, gouges, and other related damage to an acid-stained concrete floor, no matter how durable the sealer.  Mats should be used both inside and outside exterior entrances.  Studies show that a good matting system will reduce dirt accumulation on interior floors by 85% or more, and is an easy way to simplify and reduce the maintenance.

The best mats to use outside are those made of rope, hemp, or other heavy absorbent synthetic or natural fabric that has a high friction open surface designed to knock grit particles off of shoes and entrap them.  Inside, more densely fabricated mats, such as soft, shag carpets are effective for removing any remaining moisture and debris on footwear.  Whatever mat you choose, it should have a solid backing so that it is easy to shake out.  This backing should be of a good quality nitrile rubber or vinyl so that the mat does not stick to the floor, or leach plasticizers that can stain it.  Rubber mats can be cleaned in a washer and dryer.  Vinyl mats should be hosed off and allowed to air dry.

An example of a properly designed “scrape, scrub, and wipe” walk-off mat system from the Roppe Corporation, of Fostoria, Ohio.

An example of a properly designed “scrape, scrub, and wipe” walk-off mat system from the Roppe Corporation, of Fostoria, Ohio.

For high traffic entryways, the standard is to use at least 15 feet of matting.  This allows each foot of visitors, guests or customers to touch the matting at least 3 times, and is proven to be the most effective means of removing the majority of incoming dirt and moisture.  Some flooring companies even recommend a more intricate matting system called, “Scrape, Scrub, and Wipe”. This system consists of a series of three mats, in sequence, beginning outdoors and continuing into the interior, where the first mat is one constructed of heavy fabric intended to remove large pieces of debris stuck in the bottom of people’s shoes. The second mat is composed of a lesser coarse material that helps break the bond between dried dirt and the bottom of shoes. The third and last mat is designed specifically for “wiping” moisture and liquid residue or chemicals.

The Koffler Sales Company in Lake Zurich, IL, carries a wide selection of floor mats perfect for residential or commercial acid-stained concrete flooring, as does Consolidated Plastics.