Building Managers Should Think Twice About “No Thought About It” Mats
Many
building owners and facility managers decide to rent their floor mats
because they don’t have to think much about it. In most cases, rental
mats are selected based on appearance, and that’s about all.
Then,
the rental service takes it from there. Every week or so, for what
appears to be a low monthly fee, the old mats are picked up and cleaned
mats are installed. This is called the “no thought about it” matting
system. Its major benefit is that it is one less thing building
owners/managers have to deal with.
Everything is hunky dory until someone pulls out a calculator and
takes a closer look at that “low monthly fee.” While the figures may
vary, whenever the costs to rent a mat are compared to the costs to
purchase a mat, invariably purchasing a mat is the most cost-effective
way to go.
For instance, Crown Matting Technologies conducted a cost comparison study that involves five, 3 x 5 used at building entries over a one- and five-year period. The results of the study are as follows:
• Cost to rent the five mats: 1,300.00
• Cost to purchase the five mats: 775.50
• Savings by purchasing the mats instead or renting them: 524.50
However, this is just the beginning. After five years, those five “no
thought about it” mats cost more than ,500 to rent. Because purchased
mats are typically of much higher quality and designed to provide years
of service, after five years, building owners and managers can save
more than 5,700 by purchasing mats instead of renting them.
There is yet another cost savings possible when purchasing mats. Purchased mats
are far more effective at keeping facilities cleaner and healthier.
They do this by catching soils before they enter the facility.
Researchers at ISSA,
the worldwide cleaning association, have concluded this is an
intangible benefit that can save building owners/managers thousands of
dollars annually on cleaning costs.
But wait, there’s more!
Along with the extra costs, tangible and intangible, “no thought
about it” mats have some specific disadvantages. They are essentially
throw-away mats designed to last a few months. As they are used, they
become thinner and tend to wrinkle, flip, and curl at the ends.
One of the key purposes of installing an entry mat system is to help
prevent slip-and-fall accidents. However, when a rental mat becomes
thinner, wrinkles, and the corners curl, the mat can cause an accident,
becoming a liability for building owners/managers.
Here’s what we suggest: Building owners and managers should do their
due diligence by pulling out their calculators and running the numbers.
End the “no thought about it" routine, and think twice about before
selecting rental mats. More than likely, you will find purchasing mats
is the far more economical way to go.
For more information the benefits of purchasing floor mats for all kinds of facilities, contact your Crown Matting Specialist at 616-847-9463.
