Introduction: Why Entrance Matting Matters More Than You Think
First impressions count. Whether you're running a bustling office building, a retail store, or simply want to keep your home clean, the humble entrance mat is one of the most overlooked yet essential investments you can make. Beyond aesthetics, entrance matting serves critical functions: trapping dirt and moisture, preventing slip hazards, reducing cleaning costs, and protecting your interior flooring from premature wear.
Studies show that up to 80% of the dirt in a building is tracked in on people's feet. A well-designed entrance matting system can capture the vast majority of this debris before it spreads throughout your premises. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about choosing, installing, and maintaining the right entrance matting for your specific needs.
The Science Behind Effective Entrance Matting
Not all entrance mats are created equal. The effectiveness of an entrance matting system depends on several key factors that work together to keep your floors clean and safe.
The Three-Zone System
Professional facilities managers often implement a three-zone entrance matting system:
- Zone 1 - Scraper Zone (Exterior): The first line of defence, typically positioned outside the entrance. This zone uses aggressive textures to remove heavy debris, mud, and loose dirt from footwear. Fingertip entrance mats excel in this role, featuring raised rubber fingers that scrape soles clean.
- Zone 2 - Scraper/Wiper Zone (Vestibule): Located just inside the door, this transitional zone combines scraping and moisture absorption. Heavy duty barrier runner mats are ideal here, offering both dirt trapping and water absorption.
- Zone 3 - Wiper/Drying Zone (Interior): The final zone focuses on absorbing remaining moisture and fine particles. Textile-faced mats or high-absorption barrier matting works best in this position.
For optimal results, experts recommend a minimum of 3-4 footsteps per zone, translating to approximately 1.5 metres of matting per zone. Buildings with high foot traffic may require even longer runs.
How Moisture Affects Floor Safety
Wet floors are a leading cause of slip-and-fall accidents in commercial premises. During wet weather, a single person can track in as much as 200ml of water on their footwear. Multiply this by hundreds of daily visitors, and you understand why effective moisture management is essential.
Quality entrance matting acts as a reservoir, absorbing and holding moisture until it can evaporate or be removed through cleaning. The best commercial entrance mats can absorb several litres of water per square metre without feeling saturated underfoot.
Types of Entrance Matting: A Complete Breakdown
Coir Matting (Coconut Fibre)
Coir entrance mats have been a British staple for over a century, and for good reason. Made from the natural fibres of coconut husks, coir offers exceptional scraping ability combined with a classic aesthetic.
Key Benefits:
- Excellent at removing heavy dirt and mud
- Natural, sustainable material
- Highly durable - can last 5+ years with proper care
- Available in various thicknesses (typically 15-25mm)
- Can be cut to custom sizes
Best Applications: Traditional buildings, period properties, country homes, pubs, hotels with classic décor, garden entrances, and mudrooms.
For larger installations, coir matting rolls offer an economical solution, allowing you to cut precise lengths for corridors, vestibules, and recessed mat wells.
Barrier Mats (Polypropylene/Nylon)
Modern barrier runner mats represent the workhorse of commercial entrance matting. Featuring a ribbed or needlepunch construction with a rubber backing, these mats combine dirt trapping, moisture absorption, and anti-slip properties.
Key Benefits:
- Excellent dirt and moisture trapping capacity
- Heavy-duty rubber backing prevents curling and movement
- Easy to clean - vacuum or hose down
- Available in long runner lengths for corridors
- Multiple colour options to match décor
Best Applications: Office buildings, retail stores, schools, hospitals, care homes, community centres, and any high-traffic commercial entrance.
Rubber Entrance Matting
For environments where durability and weather resistance are paramount, rubber entrance matting offers unmatched performance. Broad ribbed rubber matting features channels that trap debris while allowing water to drain away.
Key Benefits:
- Extremely durable - withstands heavy foot traffic and trolleys
- Weather resistant - won't degrade from UV or moisture
- Easy to clean with a pressure washer
- Natural anti-slip properties
- Long lifespan (10+ years typical)
Best Applications: Industrial facilities, warehouses, loading bays, covered outdoor areas, car showrooms, and any location requiring heavy-duty performance.
Logo Mats (Branded Entrance Mats)
Custom printed logo mats combine functionality with marketing opportunity. These mats feature your company logo, branding, or custom messaging digitally printed onto high-quality matting material.
Key Benefits:
- Professional brand presentation at the entrance
- Full-colour printing capabilities
- Same performance as standard entrance mats
- Custom sizes available
- Ideal for creating memorable first impressions
Best Applications: Corporate offices, retail stores, hotels, showrooms, reception areas, exhibition stands, and any business wanting to reinforce brand identity.
Fingertip Mats (Rubber Scraper Mats)
Fingertip entrance mats feature thousands of flexible rubber fingers that aggressively scrape shoes clean whilst allowing debris to fall beneath the surface. The open construction means dirt collects below the walking surface, ready to be removed during cleaning.
Key Benefits:
- Superior scraping action for heavy soil removal
- Self-draining design for outdoor use
- Excellent in wet conditions
- Very easy to clean - simply lift and sweep
- Robust construction for high traffic
Best Applications: Building entrances, factory doorways, swimming pool surrounds, outdoor walkways, and any location where heavy scraping is needed.
Choosing the Right Entrance Mat: Key Considerations
1. Traffic Volume
The amount of foot traffic directly impacts which matting you need:
- Light traffic (residential, small offices): Standard weight barrier mats or coir mats
- Medium traffic (retail, restaurants): Heavy-duty barrier runners with reinforced backing
- High traffic (shopping centres, transport hubs): Commercial-grade rubber-backed matting or recessed mat systems
2. Environmental Conditions
Consider what contaminants your matting needs to handle:
- Urban environments: Fine dust, street grit, moisture - barrier mats excel
- Rural/agricultural: Heavy mud, organic matter - coir or aggressive rubber scrapers
- Industrial: Oil, chemicals, heavy debris - specialist rubber matting with drainage
- Coastal: Sand, salt, high moisture - drainage mats with wash-down capability
3. Indoor vs Outdoor Installation
Outdoor requirements:
- UV resistance to prevent fading and degradation
- Drainage capability for standing water
- Heavy weight or anchoring to prevent wind lift
- Frost resistance for winter conditions
Indoor considerations:
- Colour coordination with interior décor
- Low profile to prevent trip hazards
- Lay-flat edges to meet door clearances
- Sufficient absorption for tracked-in moisture
4. Mat Wells and Recessed Systems
For the most professional and effective entrance matting installation, consider a recessed mat well. These are shallow recesses built into the floor that accommodate the mat, creating a flush surface that eliminates trip hazards and prevents mat movement.
Mat wells are particularly recommended for:
- New building construction or major renovations
- High-profile commercial entrances
- Locations with strict accessibility requirements
- Areas where mat displacement would be dangerous or unsightly
Installation Best Practices
Surface Preparation
Before installing any entrance matting, ensure the floor surface is:
- Clean and free from dust, oil, or debris
- Dry (moisture can prevent adhesive bonding)
- Level (uneven surfaces cause premature wear and trip hazards)
- Sound (repair any cracks or damage first)
Securing Your Matting
Depending on the installation type, you may need to secure your entrance matting:
- Rubber-backed mats: The weight and grip of the rubber backing often provides sufficient anchorage for most applications
- Runner matting: Use double-sided carpet tape at the edges or specialist mat tape
- Coir matting: Can be loose-laid or set into a mat well frame
- Permanent installations: Use appropriate flooring adhesive for the subfloor type
Allowing for Door Clearance
One of the most common installation errors is choosing matting that's too thick for the door clearance. Measure the gap beneath your doors carefully and select matting that allows at least 5mm clearance for smooth operation.
Maintenance and Cleaning
Daily Maintenance
For best results, entrance mats should receive daily attention:
- Vacuum or sweep to remove surface debris
- Check for any displacement and reposition if needed
- In wet weather, consider having rotation mats to swap out saturated units
Weekly Deep Cleaning
Once per week, perform a more thorough clean:
- Barrier mats: Vacuum thoroughly, spot clean any stains with appropriate carpet cleaner
- Rubber mats: Hose down or pressure wash, scrub with mild detergent if needed
- Coir mats: Beat out or vacuum from both sides, allow to dry completely
Periodic Professional Cleaning
For commercial installations, consider professional mat cleaning services on a monthly or quarterly basis. These services can deep extract embedded soil and refresh the appearance of your entrance matting.
Knowing When to Replace
Even the best entrance matting eventually wears out. Signs that replacement is needed include:
- Visible wear patterns or bald spots
- Fraying or unravelling edges
- Loss of absorption capacity
- Permanent staining or odours
- Curling or cupping that cannot be corrected
- Backing deterioration or crumbling
The Business Case for Quality Entrance Matting
Reduced Cleaning Costs
Effective entrance matting can reduce interior cleaning costs by 50% or more. By trapping dirt at the door, you reduce the frequency and intensity of floor cleaning throughout the building. For facilities spending thousands annually on cleaning services, the ROI on quality matting is typically achieved within months.
Floor Protection
Abrasive grit tracked across hard floors acts like sandpaper, scratching and dulling the surface. Over time, this leads to expensive refinishing or replacement. Entrance matting intercepts this grit, extending the lifespan of your flooring investment.
Safety and Liability
Slip-and-fall accidents are a significant source of liability claims. In the UK, employers and building occupiers have a duty of care to provide safe premises. Quality entrance matting with certified slip resistance helps demonstrate due diligence in meeting this obligation.
Professional Appearance
A clean, well-maintained entrance creates a positive first impression. Conversely, dirty or damaged matting suggests neglect. For businesses where image matters, investing in quality entrance matting pays dividends in customer perception.
Specialist Applications
Healthcare Facilities
Hospitals, clinics, and care homes have stringent hygiene requirements. Entrance matting in these environments should be:
- Easy to clean and disinfect
- Resistant to antibacterial cleaning agents
- Low maintenance
- Effective at trapping potentially contaminated debris
Food Service
Restaurants, cafés, and food processing facilities need matting that meets food safety standards. Look for mats that are oil-resistant, easy to sanitise, and won't harbour bacteria.
Retail Environments
Retail matting must balance functionality with aesthetics. Logo mats are popular as they provide branding while still trapping dirt and moisture. Consider the trolley traffic in supermarkets - you'll need heavy-duty matting that can withstand wheel loads.
Educational Facilities
Schools face unique challenges: high traffic volumes, muddy playing fields, and budget constraints. Rubber runner matting in corridors and heavy-duty barrier mats at entrances provide cost-effective solutions.
Environmental Considerations
Modern entrance matting increasingly addresses sustainability concerns:
- Recycled content: Many rubber mats incorporate recycled tyre rubber
- Natural materials: Coir matting is 100% natural and biodegradable
- Durability: Long-lasting products reduce replacement frequency
- Recyclability: Some manufacturers offer end-of-life recycling programmes
When selecting entrance matting, consider the full lifecycle environmental impact, not just the initial purchase.
Conclusion: Investing in the Right Entrance Matting
Entrance matting is one of those rare investments that pays for itself many times over. By trapping dirt and moisture at the door, you protect your floors, reduce cleaning costs, improve safety, and create a professional first impression.
The key is matching the right matting type to your specific needs. Consider your traffic levels, environmental conditions, aesthetic requirements, and budget. Whether you choose traditional coir mats, versatile barrier runners, durable rubber matting, or branded logo mats, quality entrance matting is an investment you won't regret.
At Rubber Matting Direct, we stock a comprehensive range of entrance matting solutions for every application. All our products come with free UK delivery, and our team is always happy to advise on the best solution for your needs.
Ready to upgrade your entrance matting? Browse our complete range or contact us for expert advice.