Mistake 1: Using Mats That Are Too Small
The most common mistake we see. A 3x5 mat at a commercial entrance captures less than 30% of tracked-in dirt. You need 12-15 linear feet of matting coverage — which usually means a multi-mat system, not a single doormat. If you see dirt or moisture on the floor past the edge of your mat, your mat is too small.
Mistake 2: Putting the Same Mat Everywhere
A WaterHog entrance mat and a kitchen anti-fatigue mat do completely different jobs. Entrance mats scrape and absorb dirt. Anti-fatigue mats cushion standing workers. Slip-resistant mats provide drainage in wet areas. Using one type everywhere means every area is underserved.
Mistake 3: Ignoring the Backing Type
Rubber-backed mats grip smooth floors like tile, marble, and polished concrete. Cleated-back mats grip carpet. Using the wrong backing type means your mat slides, creates trip hazards, and potentially damages the floor underneath. Always match backing to floor surface.
Mistake 4: Skipping Mats in "Non-Entrance" Areas
Businesses often mat the front door but forget restrooms, kitchen stations, back entrances, loading docks, and employee workstations. Every area where water, grease, or prolonged standing occurs should have purpose-matched matting.
Mistake 5: Choosing Price Over Performance
A $15 mat from Amazon might look fine on day one, but it won't hold up to commercial traffic. Thin mats curl at the edges (trip hazard), lose their grip (slip hazard), and fall apart in months. Commercial-grade mats from manufacturers like M+A Matting are engineered to last years — and the cost per month of use is actually lower.
M+A Matting
