Rent or Buy Floor Mats? 4 Things You Must Consider

Facilities must take a different approach when assessing the initial investment of the flooring. First, they should look at the warranty, and second, they need to determine the labor and material cost associated to maintain the flooring at the desired level of clean. The first line of defense is proper matting. It costs the facility $600 to remove one pound of (dirt) soil. That number is staggering when you think about what that soil is doing to your desired level of clean let alone the timeline on the warranty. Facilities of all sizes need scraper maps and wiper mats, maybe a combo mat, anti-fatigue mats and anti-slip mats. The possibilities and use cases are seemingly endless. But how should you go about acquiring them?

While renting floor mats may seem like a low-maintenance, cost-effective solution, renting is a huge cost that is overlooked for the convenience. Typically rental mats are of a less quality and have been placed in areas without the proper walk-off consideration of 12-15 feet. The life of a new quality mat will provide you 5-10 years of protection, while a rental mat will bleed your budget. If you decide to purchase your company’s mats, you will not only see multiple benefits over time but also a good return on your investment. Mats are used to provide flooring protection and a slip-resistant walking surface by absorbing liquid, removing dirt and debris and liquid from shoes. Mats are only effective if properly used and maintained. By owning you get a high-quality mat with your brand colors to match your decor and you save a substantial amount of money from renting.

Substantial cost savings

By purchasing your mats, your business will be in control of your flooring outcome and appearance. Since your business owns the mats, you will not need to pay typical rental fees and other miscellaneous such as delivery fees, fuel surcharges, maintenance and cleaning fees. Standard rental service calls vary from weekly to monthly, but businesses should maintain mats daily with a quick vacuum. You are probably doing the rental companies job by vacuuming the mats daily or paying your contract service company to perform the vacuum task. By not paying attention you could conceivably be paying for both for daily upkeep. Instead of paying the rental company and your employees for the same maintenance service, you can cut expenses, purchase your mats and only pay your employee or contractor for the upkeep. You have to ask the question who daily vacuums my rental mats? We live in a climate zone that traditionally winter is 4 out of 12 months. There are systems that are simple and cost-effective to maintain your own mats. The reality is 66% of the year it’s just vacuuming. Scroll to the bottom of this post to see a cost calculator on renting versus buying that you can personalize to your specific needs. Not only could matting cost you thousands in random fees, it could also cost you your compliance.

In 2012, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) B101 Committee on slip, trip, and fall prevention released an update to walkway safety standards. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also released a new set of updates that are related to slips and falls, 29 CFR 1910, subparts D and I called “Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment (Fall Protection Systems).” If a slip and fall accident occurs at your business (worker or patron), you may have a difficult time defending your operation if you did not execute your due diligence by providing a safe environment and matting program complying with standards. The average cost associated with a slip fall is greater than $40,000 is accumulated costs. A recent NSFI study showed that the industry spends a little over $2 billion on slips and falls injuries every year.

Environmentally Friendly

Rental companies use fuel and charge for that fuel upon delivery, pickup, and maintenance. By purchasing mats outright and avoiding the service and delivery trips by the rental company you will be positively impacting the environment and save on those surcharges. Also, since rental mats tend to be older and not properly maintained, more water and energy must be used for washing and drying. You pay the price! FlexPAC’s high-performance mats made out of recycled material have a high-performance rating for 5 years to 10 years with proper upkeep. These mats are more economically and environmentally friendly than ones typically used by rental companies. Also, due to the nature of the high-performance mats and fibers used, most days the matting will need only a simple vacuuming to keep clean.

Improved safety

Matting should be a key component in your STF (slips, trips, and falls) strategy. Rental mats can range from brand new to 10-years-old. When renting, you never know exactly what you will get. If the mat is older, the mat will be run down, need more frequent cleaning and will create safety issues. The fibers on rental mats can also get run down extremely quickly causing dirt and water to track through the building, creating a mess and a safety hazard. Are you thinking about renting multiple mats from the same company? The mats could be in completely different conditions. Some mats may come in sizes that do not fit properly where you need them. Using more than one mat in an area creates tripping hazards. Most outside scraper mats, anti-fatigue mats, and kitchen mats are never changed by the rental company, and on top of that, the mats are likely old. Your image is questioned and your risk of a slip fall is elevated. When purchasing a new mat, the mat’s border keeps dirt and water on the mat, and the high-quality fibers eliminate crushing. Owning a mat will provide you with years of high performance and consistent safety for your employees.

Customized for your business

Purchasing your mats will allow your business to choose colors and specific sizes that will complement your interiors, match your branding and will ensure all mats look uniform. Purchasing mats also will allow you the option of adding your logo or marketing message to help drive your branding home. Since the quality and appearance of rental mats can differ you are taking a significant risk when renting. Working with FlexPAC helps to take the guesswork out of your fall prevention program. We will come in, conducting an audit of your facility and identify risk areas, matting wear patterns, and other aspects that impact the placement and laying of your mats. FlexPAC can also provide a safe and compliant purchasing option for your matting needs.

Be sure to use the free Purchase vs. Rent Cost Calculator below to compare pricing.