Monthly Archives: August 2018

Our PVC Backed Coir matting is available in three difference grades and in up to 4 thicknesses. So how do you know which quality and thickness you need?

All coir matting is not the same! It may all be made from coconuts, but there can be vast quality differences in coir matting. As doormat specialists we stock all of the grades at Make An Entrance. We are here to help you understand the differences and therefore choose the correct quality or grade for your purposes.

So what are the main differences in the different grades and quality?

Luxury and commercial grade coir matting has more fibres per metre than the budget grade products. This results in a denser pile, more uniform colour and less shedding - ultimately the luxury and commercial grade products will last longer too.  So how do I know which of the three grades of PVC Backed Coir will best suit my purpose? Here is our brief rundown on the three options:

Commercial / Heavy Duty Grade - For commercial use and when only the best will do.

Our Heavy Duty Commercial Grade PVC Backed Coir is The highest quality cut to size coir matting on the market. This is the material we supply to hotels, restaurants and other businesses. The bristles are packed tightly together to give a very firm brushing action and the colour is uniform. Minimal (if any) shedding after the first 2 weeks. This is also our recommended grade when it comes to ease of wheelchair accessibility.

Available in 17mm, 20mm, and 24mm thicknesses

Superior Grade - Ideal choice for home use.

Our Superior PVC Backed cut to size coir matting is a dense surface and uniform colour which looks very smart. Some shedding is normal with any coir matting but with our superior grade matting this dies down quickly. A noticeably superior grade product.

Available in 17mm, 20mm, 24mm and 30mm thicknesses.

Budget Grade - Choose this when cost is the main concern.

A lower cost option than our superior product, our Budget PVC Backed cut to size coir matting still has an excellent brushing action and is effective at removing dirt.

It does not have a uniform colour, it will shed more and won't last as long as our superior and commercial grades of coir but is ideal when price is the deciding factor.

Available in 15mm or 17mm thicknesses.

What thickness of PVC Backed Coir do I need?

The answer to this question is entirely dependent on the depth of your mat well or recess into which the PVC Backed Coir is being laid. Ideally we recommend that the coir mat is flush with the surrounding floor to avoid any possible trip hazard. Often people make the assumption that the depth is related to the quality or durability of the coir and that the thicker the better. This is not true, the durability and quality is all to do with the density of coir and weave as explained above!

Where can I use Cut to Size PVC Backed Coir?

The short answer is really it is best used in an internal mat well or recess. Why? Because cut to size PVC Backed Coir has an unfinished edge which is designed to be protected by the edge of a mat well or recess to avoid fraying.

The reason it is best for use internally is that the PVC backing does not allow moisture to drain quite like a woven back so for an external mat that is likely to get rained on directly the mat will not dry out properly which can cause it to perish. This is especially important if you choose one of our Premium Grade Coloured Coir options. Exposing it to the elements will cause the dye used to fade and the natural coir colour will soon reappear.

Still have questions about PVC Backed Coir? Why not give us a call!

A common query we get asked in customer services is whether we sell underfloor heating compatible door mats. The answer is yes and we are more than happy to help you find the right doormat to work with your system.
If you have under floor heating you’ll already be familiar with having to give consideration to your heating when choosing floor coverings and your doormat should be no exception. Mats with PVC and rubber backings are not suitable for use with under floor heating as the warmth can cause the matting to stick to the floor.

Our woven backed mats are the ideal solution for use with underfloor heating and are available in a range of standard sizes and thicknesses as well as our Made to Measure Traditional Doormat made to your exact size and shape specifications. We can even personalise your mat with a motif or lettering and for awkward shaped areas can work to a template so you can be sure of an exact fit.

Underfloor Heating Compatible Door Mats for a mat well

If you have a shallow mat well within a floor that has underfloor heating then our Ultra Thin Synthetic Coir (Weave Pile) is ideal. With a heat resistant backing, this product is ideal for use with underfloor heating. It is also a little softer under foot due to it's more looped pile rather than a bristle pile. The backing is made from recycled rubber making, and as the synthetic fibre is very stain resistant, you are likely to be able to keep the same mat for a long time, making this an eco-friendly choice in terms of longevity.

We are asked which doormat is best time and time again by our customers. With us stocking such a wide range of types, sizes and materials, it’s not always a straight forward question. The answer is frustratingly ‘It depends’! On what? Whether it is for indoors or outdoors. Is it going into a recess or mat well? If loose laid on the floor, is there a door opening over it? That is before the simple choice of style preference! Fortunately our customer service staff are here to help if it all gets too much!

So how do you choose which doormat is best for your purposes? Well you could always take a look at our helpful advice page How to Choose the Right Doormat.

Which doormat is best for a mat well?

From our perspective here at Make An Entrance, assuming your mat well is a depth of 17mm or more you just can’t beat Natural Coir. Our wide range of PVC Backed Coir Cut to Size  means that we almost certainly have a product to suit any internal mat well. From a quality perspective our Superior PVC Backed Cut to Size Coir is perfect for households and small offices alike but we also get asked which doormat is best for those commercial properties with a very high footfall. Then we would suggest our Heavy Duty Commercial Grade PVC Backed Coir Matting it just doesn’t get any better or more hard wearing than this!

However if you have a mat well that is very shallow then we would recommend our synthetic coir matting. It is extremely hardwearing, has a great scraping action and is only 12mm thick.

Which doormat is best for loose laying on top of a floor?

The key to this is ensuring that you choose a doormat with a ‘finished edge’. For textile or synthetic mats ensure that they have a rubber border so that they don’t fray and aren’t a trip hazard.

For a Natural Coir Doormat then any of our Standard Doormat Size range are suitable for loose laying on top of other flooring. If there is a door opening over it you just need to check the clearance though. You might like the luxury of a 40mm thick mat but if your clearance is only 20mm you are going to get somewhat frustrated every time you try and open the door! We have standard doormats in thicknesses from 15mm up to 50mm to suit.

If it needs to be an exact size then it will be the Made to Measure Traditional Doormat that you will be after.

Still confused about which doormat is best for your entrance? Why not give us a call, our cheerful customer service staff are always ready to offer a helping hand!

A lot of people enquire about having a doormat with rubber backing. When a textile or carpet mat is loose laid on top of flooring then it is a good idea to have rubber backing and rubber borders which prevents it from being a trip hazard. All of our machine washable textile doormats come with this as standard.

But did you know that if you have a made to measure washable textile or carpet doormat with rubber backing you can also specify whether it is to sit on a carpet or hard floor? The rubber backing can come smooth for use on a hard floor or ‘cleated’ for use on carpets. This ensures that your mat is truly fit for purpose.

A doormat with rubber backing doesn’t have to be boring anymore!  Our personalised synthetic coir scraper mats come with a rubber backing and border and are suitable for indoor or outdoor use. (Outdoor option comes pre-punctured with drainage holes).

Can I have a natural coir doormat with rubber backing?

We also get a lot of enquiries about whether we sell a coir doormat with rubber backing. What most people mean is actually our PVC Backed Coir Matting so the answer is absolutely yes! This is a great product for use in internal mat wells or recesses as it is really easy to trim in situ for the perfect fit.

Our PVC Backed Natural Coir matting is also available in a number of different colours and can even be printed on for a real personal touch! The one thing to remember with cut to size PVC backed coir is that it has an unfinished edge therefore isn’t really suitable for loose laying on top of other flooring.

Where should I use a coir doormat with rubber backing?

The short answer is simply indoors! This is because the rubber or PVC prevents the coir from drying out properly if it becomes saturated. This can result in a bubbling effect and reduce the lifespan of your mat considerably. If it is used in a area prone to damp then puncturing holes in the rubber or PVC backing can help but our recommendation is definitely to have a woven backed natural coir in this case.