How to Install Entrance Matting

The step-by-step guide to tackling entrance mat installation.

If you have ever bought an entrance mat to sit in a recess, or if you are thinking of buying one, you will need to install it properly rather than just flopping it on the ground.

Entrance mats don’t come with a quick setup guide so, if you don’t know what you’re doing, you can end up making a big mess. Many of our customers take advantage of our installation service to make sure their entrance matting is installed professionally.

So, here is what to expect when Matshop installs your entrance mat. If you want to have a go yourself, use these as a guide.

 

1. Check the mat fits

This sounds like an obvious one, but we’ve had occasions where we skipped this step and ended up with no mat fitted and an ugly, empty recess. In the worst cases, a new mat wasn't immediately available, so an empty recess ends up being the first thing customers saw.

You can either measure with a measuring tape or place the new mat over the old one and check that way. Just make sure you check. Your mat should be slightly larger than the recess – remember you can always cut your mat but you can’t add more.

 

2. Remove the existing mat

If this is the first mat to sit in the space then you can skip this step, but we will probably have to remove the mat that is currently in your recess.

Use a Stanley knife to cut away at the corners and get leverage. Then pull the corner up and cut away at the underneath part. You definitely want to wear gloves doing this as the carpet can cause friction burn and callouses. You’re welcome.

How to dispose of your old mat depends on its material. Aluminium – despite being cited as environmentally friendly – is notoriously hard to recycle. Coir and some other eco-friendly mats can be added to your compost heap as it completely biodegrades.

For information on disposing of other materials, get in touch with the team.

 

3. Smooth the recess

Now we’ve got the old mat up, there will be a lot of old adhesive and remnants underneath, in the recess. We need to make the mat well as level as we can before we fill it in, so we use a scraper to scrape the adhesive off.

Try and use long, straight scrapes to get as much off in one go as possible. This is a strenuous part but stick with it and the next step will be easier.

If you do not have a scraper, reach out to the team for information about installation services. We need the recess to be completely level, which no amount of scraping can achieve, so next, we need to self-level.

 

4. Self-level the recess

You can buy self-level from bunnings and it’s pretty cheap. If you haven’t done this before it’s easy – just pour it into the whole recess and it will level the floor completely. Make sure there are no gaps, that is the most important thing.

Actually, the most important thing is to make sure you leave a space to step off. If your mat recess has walls on any edges, do them first so you can step out easily. Otherwise, you might end up trapped against the wall while you wait for it to set.

You need to wait for the level to set completely before moving on to the next step. It might take a while, so maybe take lunch while you wait.

 

5. Fit the mat in the recess and trim to size

Once – and only once – the level is completely set, you are ready to fit the mat. Carefully lower it over the recess and trim to size! This part is easiest if the mat is slightly larger than the recess. And this is also the part where you realise you messed up if you didn’t do step 1!

Use a Stanley knife to cut the mat to perfect size, you want it to completely fill the recess when laid flat on the group - with no gaps and no bumps. Once it is perfectly fitted, lift the mat back out of the recess so you can put the adhesive down.

 

6. Apply adhesive and go!

The last step depends on the adhesive you are using, so just follow the instructions on the packet. Once the adhesive dries your new mat is good to go, but that length of time depends on the adhesive you use.

Matshop adhesive allows for your mat to be walked on instantly, minimising downtime almost completely and making the whole installation process much faster. Get in touch with our sales team if you would like to try it out for yourself.

Once your adhesive is down, you can lower the mat into the well for the last time. Press it down firmly at every point and step back to admire your handiwork.

 

Installing an entrance mat yourself

Now you know how to install entrance matting, you are ready to give it a go. Once you’ve followed all these steps, hopefully, you can step back and admire your perfect handiwork.

It’s pretty simple to do, but some parts can be tricky. So, if this all sounds too complicated, or you don’t have the time, our team of expert installers here at Matshop are happy to do it for you free of charge.

Our service includes measuring, delivery and installation, so all you need to do is decide which mat suits your application best. If you only need help measuring or installing, let us know and we will provide a bespoke service to suit your needs.

As always, the Matshop team are happy to talk to you about your specific applications. Feel free to reach out by calling 1300 628 746, emailing [email protected] or using the chat function below.