How to Pick a Mat for Your Workshop
With all the time you spend in your workshop, you deserve a space with flooring that doesn’t affect your health. The place should also make you feel comfortable and productive. Keep reading to learn how to pick a mat for your workshop.
How to Pick a Mat for Your Workshop
Allen Michael
Whether you have a small workshop or manage a large woodshop with many staff members, installing a high-quality mat can improve the safety of your workers and enhance your workshop’s appearance. However, choosing the right one can be challenging. Here’s what you need to check.
Maintenance
It’s also crucial to pick a flooring option that requires low-maintenance. You should be able to clean it effortlessly using common household cleaning agents. Flooring mats that are easy to install using the right saw for the job also makes maintenance a more enjoyable task.
If you can carry your mat outside, you can also clean it thoroughly. However, shake it vigorously before vacuuming it to remove dirt, dust, and other debris.
Safety
Safety is a factor you cannot overlook. Thus, a good option would be slip-resistance woodshop flooring with some traction because it protects you from slipping. You should also pay attention to moisture if your workshop is built in a damp location. Moisture build-up can develop mildew and mold.
Because of this, you may need to have a raised floor that allows air to circulate under the tiles to prevent moisture build-up. It’s also crucial to keep checking on the tiles to know when to replace it if it’s broken or loose.
Durability
Most woodshop floors are prone to wear and tear. Dropped items such as heavy loads and chemicals degrade your floor. Equipment and furniture also damage the floor. Due to this, you should select flooring that endures any usage.
Fortunately, there are mats designed with durable materials such as vinyl, PVC, and heavy-duty rubber. These materials are more durable than wood and foam. You should also choose mats that can endure heavy traffic and weight, as well as stains and chemicals.
Size
A long or square mat is an ideal option for a large workshop. We also recommend a rectangular mat for counter use since you might spend a lot of time there serving your customers.
Alternatively, you can take measurements and bring them with you to the shop so that you pick a mat that fits your space. There are also custom sized floor mats to meet your different needs.
Anti-Fatigue Mats
Most people rarely think about the effects of standing all day and how it impacts their bodies. Standing for hours can cause severe health problems like fatigue, leg, and lower back pain. However, the effects can be worse when standing on hard concrete than on an anti-fatigue floor.
This type of mat has cushion and shock-absorption abilities and is designed to minimize stress on your muscles and joints. It also eases soreness and discomfort on your back and hips. If you usually spend a lot of time standing in your woodshop, this is a great option to consider.
Cost
This is another essential factor you need to pay attention to. To reduce costs, opt for flooring rolls because they are more economical compared to tiles. Also, you can ask for a discount if you have several rooms or are installing the mat on a large workshop.
Moreover, you can install the mat yourself and save money. Be sure to choose a flooring option that you can install yourself without hiring someone. For instance, you can choose tiles with dry lay mats, simple attachment systems, and flooring rolls as they are easy to install.
Conclusion
Hopefully, the above tips will help you pick a floor mat that suits your woodshop needs. Ensure the mat minimizes trips, slips, falls, and protects your floor from wear and tear.