FAQ - Where Have I Heard That?

WE’RE ALWAYS INTERESTED IN YOUR THOUGHTS

Here are some common questions we encounter in the field:

I use duct tape to hold my mats in place.

There are many solutions to a mat moving or waving.  Duct tape is not on our list of fixes. 

We’re very budget conscious.  We rent all our mats.

Fill out a quick questionnaire to see the comparison between owning your mats and renting. (click here to go to that form)

What’s the difference between rubber or vinyl backed.

Rubber mats are more expensive--usually.  We stand by our vinyl mats for 3 to 5 years.  Rubber mats last twice as long.  Rubber mats will conform to the floor they are on about 20 minutes after they are placed.  A vinyl mats can have a long memory and may look like they just came long after they are unboxed.  Vinyl is brittle when compared to rubber.  As vinyl ages sometimes the edges begin to “bacon”.  If a new rubber mat bacons or looks like it’s been in a rolled up position, Mat Solutions we replace it immediately.  All that being said, there is still a place for vinyl mats in the industry.

What the heck is the “slip co-efficient of a floor”?

A slip can occur when you push with more force than the surface can resist. Coefficient of Friction (COF) is a mathematical term used to describe the effect of dragging one substance over another. The DCOF (Dynamic Co-efficiency) test relates to slips occurring while a person is walking. A slip coefficient of .5 is less slippery than a coefficient of .4.

How long can I tell my boss these mats will last?

Mat Solutions offer a 100% satisfaction guaranty on all the products we sell. Particles of sand deep in the mat are the greatest threat to the mat.  Constant, care on your part is the best way to get a long life out of any mat.  Mats should be thoroughly vacuumed daily employing a beater bar whenever possible. Seasonally they should be thoroughly cleaned.

We get our mats from the guy who sells us toilet paper.

The matting industry is boring and confusing.  Your salesman can not possibly know all the types of mats available.  His company probably offers standard sizes. 3’X5’, 4X6, 3’X10’, 4’X8’.   Will the mat fit under the door when it swings?  If “your” guy walks in without a tape measure and instead paces the lobby, or “counts the tiles”.  Is he the right mat guy?

What’s the best anti-fatigue for a bank teller?

What goes into the decision to purchase safety for your staff? For a fraction of the cost of a pay raise, you can show staff you appreciate them by finding out what cushion mat works best them.  Mat Solutions will bring in samples of mats and leave them for your employees to assess.  We’ll size and price them and explain the benefits of each.

What is a bi-level entrance mat?

Check out the short video below demonstrating how a bi-level mat works.  There many examples of bi-level mats including the famous Waterhog.

How long have you been in business?

Mat Solutions was created out of a barn in Western Maine 23 years ago by 2 salesmen.  Today we operate in all of New England as well as California, Wisconsin, Texas, and NY. 

I buy my mats at one of the big box stores.

Our mats are not always the cheapest…but, they are the least expensive!  We’ll show you a range and tell you why they are different.

All of our machinists have good anti-fatigue mats except near the welding shop.

Just as “one size doesn’t fit all”, one type of mat may not work in every setting.  Mat Solutions provides anti-static mats, grease-proof mats, drain-thru mats, weld-safe mats, anti-bacterial mats.  Mats with messages, mats with safety borders, modular mats, and grounded mats.  

Are entrance mats environmentally sound?

The first answer to this query is “YES!”  Many of our mats are made from recycled plastic beverage bottles.  Ask about our Leeds Program compliance.  The second answer to this query is also “YES”.  One pound of sand, once it enters your building, will cost $1200 to remove.  That cost is made up of labor, industrial chemical use, electricity, equipment, and parts to maintain that equipment.  A building with a good mat program is healthy for its occupants and for the environment.

My housekeeping budget is out of hand.  I cut out all mats as too expensive a couple of years ago.

There isn’t a chemical, machine, technique, or labor-saving device that can save you more money than a good mat program.  We can prove it.