What the Scraper Does Before the Building Ever Sees the Shoe

Scraper mats are the first defender outside the building — the outdoor entrance mat that takes the heavy debris off the shoe before any indoor matting or interior flooring has to deal with it. ISSA field data shows 12 times more dirt enters a building during wet weather, and the scraping zone at the exterior threshold is where the bulk of that load is supposed to get knocked off.

A scraper mat that's the right construction for the exposure removes mud, gravel, snow, and grit before they cross the threshold — which is what lets the indoor mat on the other side of the door actually do its moisture-absorption job instead of being overwhelmed by debris.

The Mistake That Burns Outdoor Scraper Buyers

The most common mistake at scraper placements is undersizing the mat or using an indoor-rated construction at an exterior threshold. Indoor mats with carpet faces fade and curl within months of UV and freeze/thaw exposure, and a too-small scraper mat at a wide entrance lets most of the inbound traffic bypass the scraping action entirely.

The downstream consequences compound: heavy debris rides shoes onto the interior flooring, accelerating wear on the floor finish and overwhelming the indoor matting that was supposed to handle moisture. Slip-and-fall risk that NFSI tracks at building entrances spikes when scraper mats fail or are absent — wet shoes carrying mud and grit onto interior flooring is one of the most consistent commercial liability sources at the threshold.

Matching the construction to the exposure and sizing for the actual entry width is what avoids the cycle.

How the Four Options Compare

Each option in the grid handles a different scraping problem. Picking between them comes down to what the entrance is actually fighting and what role the mat plays at the door.

Super Scrape Rubber Mats use molded surface cleats to dig into shoe treads and dislodge mud, gravel, snow, and heavy debris on contact. All-rubber construction handles UV, freeze/thaw cycling, and the slip resistance that wet exterior conditions demand. Strongest fit for high-volume commercial entries where aggressive dirt removal is the primary job — schools, healthcare facility exteriors, retail storefronts, government buildings, and any threshold where heavy debris arrives daily.

Super Scrape Rubber Logo Mats combine the cleated scraping action with a custom logo molded into the all-rubber surface. This is an unusual combination — most logo mats use carpet faces that won't survive exterior UV and weather, so they're indoor-only. The Super Scrape Logo construction is rubber throughout, which gives you the scraping function of a commercial outdoor mat plus brand presentation at the threshold.

Right pick for customer-facing main entrances where the outdoor mat is part of the building's first impression — retail storefronts, hospitality entries, corporate main lobbies, and schools where the institution identity belongs at the exterior door.

Mat-A-Dor Mats use hundreds of resilient rubber fingers that scrape shoes automatically on contact — the fingers go to work the moment they're stepped on. Beveled borders prevent tripping, and the construction hides trapped dirt rather than displaying it. Distinctive feature: the rubber-finger surface doubles as anti-fatigue cushioning, which makes Mat-A-Dor a strong fit for exterior placements that also serve as stand-up work zones — guard stations, valet stands, drive-through windows, and entry-adjacent posts where a worker stands for extended periods.

Safety Scrape Rubber Mats prioritize maximum traction alongside scraping action. Built for environments where stable footing is the safety priority — kitchens with grease and water on the floor, locker rooms, inclined surfaces, behind counters, production areas, and exterior building entrances where wet or oily conditions are constant. Right pick when slip-and-fall risk is the dominant problem and the mat needs to keep the walking surface grippy in conditions that would make other mats slick.

Three Things to Check Before You Pick

First, what the entrance is actually fighting. Heavy mud, gravel, or snow at a high-volume commercial threshold calls for the most aggressive cleated scraping — Super Scrape Rubber. Wet, oily, or sloped exterior conditions where traction is the safety priority — Safety Scrape Rubber. Customer-facing entrance where the scraper also needs to carry the brand — Super Scrape Rubber Logo. Entry that doubles as a stand-up work zone — Mat-A-Dor.

Second, size. ISSA's six-to-eight-footstep rule applies at the scraper zone too: a small mat at a wide entrance lets the bulk of inbound traffic bypass the scraping action. Match the mat width to the entry width, and size the length to catch at least three or four steps before the threshold.

Third, what comes after the scraper. Scraper mats handle debris removal but aren't built for moisture absorption — they need to be paired with indoor matting on the other side of the threshold for the full entrance system to work. If the scraper is doing the entire job alone, the indoor flooring will pay the price within a few months.

Why Mats Inc.

The four scrapers in the grid above are what's stayed on the floor across decades of watching what survives at exterior thresholds. Constructions that didn't hold up to UV, freeze/thaw, and continuous debris exposure retired from the catalog. The ones still here are the ones we'd put outside our own front door.

Getting the scraper spec right at the start is what keeps the indoor matting on the other side of the threshold from being overwhelmed by debris — and that's what keeps the floor inside the building from absorbing wear it was never built for. Spec consultation available if you want a second opinion before committing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I tell which of the four scrapers fits my entrance?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

Start with what the entrance is actually fighting. Heavy mud, gravel, or snow at a high-volume commercial threshold — Super Scrape Rubber Mats with molded surface cleats do the most aggressive dirt removal. Same situation but the entry needs to carry the brand — Super Scrape Rubber Logo Mats combine cleated scraping with a molded logo, which is unusual for scraper-grade construction.

Entry where the mat doubles as a stand-up work zone — Mat-A-Dor's rubber fingers scrape on contact and provide anti-fatigue underfoot. Wet, oily, or sloped exterior conditions where traction is the safety priority — Safety Scrape Rubber Mats keep the walking surface stable in conditions that make other mats slick. Send the entry details if you can't tell which fits.

Where should the scraper mat actually go at the entrance?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

Directly outside the door, oriented so the bulk of inbound traffic crosses the mat before reaching the threshold. ISSA research shows it takes six to eight footsteps to wipe a shoe clean — the scraper mat needs to be sized to catch at least the first few of those steps. Standard placement is right at the exterior threshold with the long dimension aligned to the natural traffic path.

For high-volume commercial entries, pairing the scraper outside with an indoor mat or runner inside gets the full six-to-eight-step coverage. Undersizing the scraper is the most common placement mistake — a small mat at a wide entrance lets most of the inbound shoes bypass the scraping action entirely, which means the heavy debris ends up on the interior flooring anyway.

Can I get a scraper mat with a logo for a customer-facing entry?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Yes — Super Scrape Rubber Logo Mats in the grid above are specifically built for that, which is unusual for scraper-grade construction. Most logo mats use carpet faces that won't survive exterior UV, weather, and freeze/thaw cycling, so they're indoor-only. The Super Scrape Logo construction is all-rubber with the logo molded into the surface, which gives you the scraping action of a commercial outdoor mat plus brand presentation at the threshold.

For customer-facing entries at retail storefronts, hospitality entries, corporate main lobbies, and schools where the outdoor mat is part of the building's first impression, branded scraper matting at the door reinforces brand identity in a way an unbranded scraper can't. Color options on rubber logo mats are narrower than indoor carpet-faced options because the compound chemistry has to prioritize weatherability, but the branding capability is real.

How long should an outdoor scraper mat last?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

Three to five years at moderate-traffic commercial entries, two to three years at the busiest high-volume entrances. Three things end the lifespan early: undersizing (the mat takes traffic concentrated in a small area and wears unevenly), skipped maintenance (debris accumulates underneath and breaks down the backing from below), and wrong placement (mat sits where the bulk of traffic doesn't actually cross it, which means the scraping action degrades through partial use rather than full use).

Rubber scraper construction handles UV, freeze/thaw, and weather exposure well, so the construction itself typically isn't what fails — it's the application around the mat. Lift the scraper monthly to clear accumulated grit from beneath, and the mat hits the upper end of the range.

Do scraper mats look out of place at a customer-facing entry?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Depends on the construction. The molded cleat surface on Super Scrape Rubber Mats reads as functional but tidy — appropriate at schools, healthcare, government, retail entries, and commercial thresholds where utility matters more than decorative presentation. Mat-A-Dor's rubber-finger surface has a distinctive appearance that reads as intentional commercial rather than strictly utilitarian. Safety Scrape Rubber Mats have the most utility-focused look — best suited for service entries, loading docks, and industrial thresholds, less so at hospitality or corporate main lobbies.

For customer-facing main entrances where brand presentation matters, Super Scrape Rubber Logo Mats are the option in the grid that combines scraping function with intentional visual presence. The other three constructions fit better at secondary, service, or operations-focused entries.

Can I get scraper mats in custom sizes for non-standard entries?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Yes, with options across all four constructions. Super Scrape Rubber Mats and Safety Scrape Rubber Mats support custom rectangular sizing within standard manufacturing tolerances. Super Scrape Rubber Logo Mats are inherently custom — the logo, sizing, and color configuration are specified per order based on the design. Mat-A-Dor Mats are available in multiple standard sizes; custom dimensions are possible with longer lead times.

For irregular entry shapes — angled thresholds, recessed entries, wide commercial entries that need multiple connected mats — send us the dimensions and design intent and we'll confirm what's manufacturable. Custom orders typically take two to four weeks depending on construction and complexity.

By Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing, Mats Inc.

Super Scrape Rubber Logo Mats put your logo on a mat that earns its place at the door. The nitrile rubber surface uses raised circular cleats to scrape dirt and water off shoes before they reach your floors, and the artwork is set into the rubber rather than coated on top — so the branding holds up through heavy traffic instead of scuffing away. They're among the most rugged of our outdoor logo mats, built for real commercial use indoors or out.

The logo is digitally printed on a polymeric film, then heat-pressed into the nitrile rubber so it becomes part of the mat. That process reproduces photo-realistic detail — multi-color artwork, tones, and gradients all come through cleanly, which is what separates these printed floor mats from simple one-color welcome mats. You get 150 standard colors to work from, with PMS matching available — up to four PMS colors per design — when a logo has to be exact.

The raised cleats give the mat a high-traction surface that's certified by the National Floor Safety Institute, which matters at a wet entrance where a slip turns into a liability claim. The all-nitrile build also resists oils and chemicals, so the mat holds up at tougher doorways — entries near commercial kitchens, service bays, and manufacturing floors — not just clean lobby entrances. It works indoors or out, though under constant direct sun the printed color softens over time.

The mat comes in standard sizes from 2.5' x 3' up to 6' x 8', so most entrances are covered without custom cutting — what's custom is the artwork, built to your logo and colors. Cleaning is simple: shake or sweep off loose debris and hose it down, or have it commercially laundered. Plan to replace it when the cleats wear smooth or the printed color has faded enough to lose its punch at the door.

Frequently Asked Questions

How well does the logo hold up outdoors and under heavy traffic?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

Better than a surface-printed mat. The artwork is printed on a film and heat-pressed into the nitrile rubber, so it's set into the mat instead of sitting on top as a coating that can scuff or peel. Under heavy door traffic, the raised cleats usually wear smooth before the logo gives out. Outdoors, direct sun is the limiting factor — the color softens gradually over the years rather than failing all at once.

Can you match our exact brand colors?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Yes. There are 150 standard colors to work from, which covers most logos as they are. When a brand needs precise color, PMS matching is available for up to four colors per design. Because the image is digitally printed before it's pressed into the rubber, photo-realistic detail holds up — multi-color marks, gradients, and fine type come through cleanly instead of being simplified into flat blocks.

What artwork do you need from us, and how detailed can the logo get?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Print-ready artwork works best — vector files or high-resolution images reproduce most cleanly. The process handles real detail, including photo-realistic images, multi-color designs, and shaded tones. As a rule of thumb, keep text at least half an inch tall and lines at least a sixteenth of an inch thick so they hold up in production. Send us the logo and the size you need, and we'll confirm how it reproduces before anything is made.

Can these go near kitchens or areas with oil and chemicals?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

Yes — that's one of the real advantages of nitrile rubber. Standard rubber softens and breaks down with regular oil and chemical exposure, while nitrile resists both. That lets the mat hold up at doorways near commercial kitchens, auto and service bays, manufacturing floors, and food-service areas, where a standard logo mat would degrade.

By Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO, Mats Inc.

The Perfec Clean 3/8" Rollup Mats — Aluminum Hinge is a recessed walk-off mat engineered for the busiest commercial entrances. The aluminum tread-rail surface scrapes dirt off incoming shoes and channels water and snow down into the well below, so the threshold stays presentable while the debris stays out of sight. What sets it apart is the structured aluminum hinge — it rolls up cleanly for cleaning and lays back flat without requiring any particular technique from the maintenance team.

The construction is built for volume. Tread rails are 6063-T52 aluminum, spaced 2 inches on center and connected by a size-retentive aluminum hinge with slotted holes for maximum drainage. The system carries a 400-pound-per-wheel rolling load rating, so luggage carts, hand trucks, and wheeled equipment cross it without deflecting the rails. It's made in America and meets Buy American Act requirements — which matters when the specification runs through government or institutional procurement.

It installs two ways. Recessed, it seats into a well between 3/8 and 7/16 inch deep and finishes flush with the surrounding floor — the clean, continuous look a recessed mat in a tiled floor is specified for. Surface-mounted, it needs a beveled perimeter frame so the raised edge doesn't become a tripping hazard at the threshold. Send the measured well depth, or tell us you're mounting on the surface, and we'll spec the right frame to match.

This is the workhorse end of the recessed grate systems range — the right call for high-traffic commercial floor grates at corporate lobbies, hospitality entries, transportation hubs, and institutional front doors. Aluminum finish, tread insert type, and insert colors are all configurable, so the entrance reads as an intentional design element rather than a utility mat. The aluminum structure runs for decades; the tread inserts are the wear component and get replaced when they show it, without pulling the whole system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can this be recessed or surface-mounted, and what depth does the well need?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

Both. For a recessed installation, the well should be 3/8 to 7/16 inch deep — the mat seats into it and finishes flush with the surrounding floor. For a surface-mounted installation, you add a beveled perimeter frame so the raised edge doesn't create a tripping hazard at the threshold. If the well is already built, send the measured depth and we'll confirm the fit; if it's still in the design stage, plan it to the 3/8-to-7/16-inch range.

How much traffic and rolling load can it handle?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

It's rated for 400 pounds per wheel, which covers luggage carts, hand trucks, wheelchairs, and most wheeled service equipment without the rails deflecting or the hinge loosening. The 6063-T52 aluminum tread rails are built to take continuous foot and wheeled traffic at the heaviest commercial entrances. The aluminum structure itself lasts for decades; what wears is the tread insert, which is designed to be replaced on its own without removing the rail system.

What finish and insert options are available?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

You can specify the aluminum finish, the tread insert type, and the insert colors — that's where the entrance gets its character. Neutral inserts in matching tones read quiet and refined; higher-contrast or color-blocked inserts make the threshold a deliberate design feature; scraping-style inserts lean functional for heavy-debris entries. Send your color palette or brand standards and we'll lay out the insert combinations that fit the space.

Does an aluminum grate look industrial, or can it suit a high-end entrance?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

It can read very refined. The visible aluminum rails between textile insert bands give the threshold an architectural, intentional look that fits corporate lobbies, hospitality grand entries, and museum or institutional thresholds where the entrance is part of the design. The insert choice drives the final impression more than the metal does — quiet tones for restraint, contrast for a modern statement. It only reads industrial if you spec it that way.

By Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO, Mats Inc.

A recessed rubber-hinged mat sits flush in a well at your entrance and does two jobs at once: it scrapes grit and water off shoes into the recess below, and its soft vinyl hinges cushion each step so foot traffic lands quietly. It's the lighter, quieter version of a recessed entrance grate, made for entries that see steady but not punishing traffic.

What a recessed rubber-hinged mat does before grit reaches your floor

A recessed walk-off mat seats in a well cut into the floor at the door, so people cross it as they come in. The tread scrapes dirt and pulls moisture off shoes, and the open construction lets both fall into the recess below instead of spreading across your floor. What sets this one apart is the soft hinge between the rails, which takes the hard click out of footsteps.

Getting that capture right at the door matters. ISSA field data shows it takes about six to eight footsteps to remove most of the soil on a shoe, so a mat long enough to cover those steps keeps grit and water in the well rather than on your finished floor. Size it too short and the dirt simply walks past it.

Why soft vinyl hinges, and why this one

The mat is built from aluminum tread rails, but instead of linking them with metal hinges, this version joins them with flexible vinyl. That soft hinge flexes underfoot and absorbs the noise of foot traffic, so the mat is quieter to walk across than an all-metal grate. It's also lightweight, which makes it easy to roll back for cleaning the recess underneath.

The trade-off is traffic. The vinyl-hinged build is made for light-to-medium pedestrian entrances, not the busiest doors in a building. In return you get a mat that's quieter underfoot and gentler in spaces where a clattering metal grate would feel out of place.

The 3/8" profile keeps the mat low, so it suits a shallow recess. You still choose the tread that rides on the rails — bare serrated aluminum, a nylon carpet insert, Diamond Peak vinyl, or a polypropylene brush — depending on how much scraping the entrance needs and how you want it to look.

Where it belongs, and what it is not

This mat fits entrances that stay busy but civilized — office lobbies, hotels, clinics and healthcare waiting areas, boutiques, and other spaces where quiet matters and the traffic is light to medium. It's part of our lineup of recessed grate systems, set flush so there's no lip at the door.

It is not the mat for your busiest, grittiest doors — that's where an all-metal hinged grate earns its place. And it is not a soft drying mat or a logo mat. It handles the first scrape-and-drain step at a quieter entrance; pair it with an absorbent mat a few steps inside to finish drying shoes.

Three things to check before you spec it

First, match it to your traffic. This is a light-to-medium-duty mat, so the most common mistake is putting it in the hardest-working door in the building. In a high-traffic entrance it will wear faster than it should; in the office, hotel, or clinic doorway it's built for, it holds up and keeps things quiet.

Second, check the recess depth and frame. Seated flush in a properly cut well, the mat sits level with the floor and there's no trip lip. If you can't cut a recess, a surface-applied frame with a ramped edge sets the mat on top of the existing floor instead.

Third, pick the insert for the entrance. Brush knocks off coarser grit, carpet holds fine moisture and reads softer underfoot, vinyl gives a wipeable surface, and bare aluminum scrapes hardest. The same frame takes any of them, so you're matching the tread to the door, not changing the mat.

Why Mats Inc.

We've specified entrance flooring since 1964, and the rubber-hinged mat is a good example of why the spec matters — pick it for the right door and it's quiet, easy to maintain, and long-lived; drop it into a high-traffic entrance and it's the wrong tool. We help you match the mat, the recess depth, and the insert to your actual entrance, then ship it made to your opening. Mats Inc. specifies the system; your installer sets it into the prepared recess.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a rubber-hinged mat different from an all-metal one?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

Both use aluminum tread rails, but this one links those rails with soft vinyl hinges instead of metal ones. The vinyl flexes as you step, which absorbs the noise of foot traffic and gives a little underfoot, so the mat is quieter and softer than an all-aluminum grate. It's also lighter, so it's easy to roll up when you want to clean the recess underneath.

The metal-hinged version trades that quiet for the ability to take heavier traffic. Which one is right comes down to how busy the door is.

How long will it last, and what wears it out?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

The biggest factor is whether it's matched to its traffic. This is a light-to-medium-duty mat, so used in the entrance it's built for, the aluminum rails don't rust and it holds up for years. Put it in a high-traffic door and the hinges and tread wear faster than they should.

After that, maintenance decides the rest — rolling the mat up to clear grit out of the recess keeps it working and looking right far longer.

Can it be installed without cutting a recess into the floor?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

Yes. The cleanest install seats the mat flush in a recessed well, so it's level with the floor and there's no lip to catch a toe. When recessing isn't an option — a slab you don't want to cut, or a fast retrofit — a surface-applied frame with a ramped edge mounts the mat on top of the floor instead. Recessed is the better look where you can do it; surface-applied gets you the same mat where you can't.

What insert and color options does it come with?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

The tread comes in four styles — bare serrated aluminum, nylon carpet, Diamond Peak vinyl, and polypropylene brush — and most offer a range of colors, from charcoal and black through warmer browns, with anodized finishes on the aluminum.

Because color looks different on a screen than in person, we send a sample card before you order, which helps when you're matching the mat to a floor or a brand palette.

Can it be made to fit an odd-shaped or oversized entry?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Yes — the mat is made to your opening rather than pulled from a few stock sizes, so a wide vestibule or an entry that isn't a tidy rectangle can still get a mat that runs the full walking path. Send the recess dimensions, or the opening if you're surface-mounting, and we build the mat and frame to suit. Settling the fit at the order stage is what keeps it sitting flush and covering every step into the door.

Is it quiet enough for an office or hotel lobby, and how do I know it's the right pick?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

That's exactly the entrance it's made for. The soft vinyl hinges take the sharp click out of footsteps, so it suits places where a noisy metal grate would feel jarring — quiet lobbies, hotels, healthcare waiting areas, upscale retail.

The thing to confirm is traffic volume. If the door is light to medium, this mat is the right call; if it's one of the busiest in the building, step up to the heavier all-metal grate instead.

By Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing, Mats Inc.

A recessed roll-up grate is the heavy-duty option for a busy entrance: a deep, open grate that scrapes grit and drains water into a pit below, holds up under rolling loads like carts and luggage trolleys, and still stays quiet underfoot thanks to rubber hinges between the rails. It rolls up in one piece so the pit underneath is easy to clean out.

What a recessed roll-up grate does before dirt and wheels reach your floor

A recessed walk-off grate sits flush in a pit cut into the floor at the entrance, so everyone crosses it on the way in. The open rails scrape grit and let water drop into the pit below, keeping both off your finished floor. Because this grate is built deep, the pit holds a lot more debris before it needs clearing.

That capacity matters most when the weather turns. ISSA field data shows about twelve times more dirt comes into a building during wet weather, so a deeper pit that holds more grit and melt between cleanings keeps a heavy entrance working instead of overflowing onto the floor.

Why a 3/4" rubber-hinged grate, and why this one

This grate is built thicker and deeper than a standard recessed mat — a 3/4" profile that gives it the strength to take rolling loads. The rubber hinges between the aluminum rails do two things at once: they soften the noise of foot traffic, and they hold the grate together under wheels rated to 1,000 pounds per wheel.

That combination is the point. Usually you pick between a quiet mat and one that can take a beating; here the rubber hinge gives you both, which is why it suits entrances with carts, luggage trolleys, or wheelchairs rolling across all day.

You also choose the tread, and you can mix them. Run grit-scraping treads like brush or bare aluminum where shoes hit first, then moisture-holding carpet behind them, so one grate both knocks off debris and soaks up the water it loosens.

Where it belongs, and what it is not

This is the grate for the hardest-working doors — busy retail and grocery entrances, hotel and convention lobbies, hospital and transit entrances, anywhere foot traffic mixes with wheeled traffic and weather. It belongs to our range of recessed grate systems, dropped into a pit so the surface finishes flush with the floor around it.

It is not a light-duty or surface-laid mat — it needs a recessed pit, and it's more grate than you need for a quiet, low-traffic side door. And it's not the soft mat that finishes drying shoes; it does the heavy scrape-and-drain at the threshold. Pair it with an interior absorbent mat a few steps in.

Three things to check before you spec it

First, confirm the pit depth. This grate is deeper than a standard recessed mat, so the pit has to be cut to suit it. On a new pour that's easy to plan; on an existing slab, check that you can cut a pit deep enough before you commit to this grate over a thinner one.

Second, size it to the rolling loads. The grate holds its shape under wheels up to 1,000 pounds each, which covers most carts, luggage trolleys, and mobility equipment. If your entrance sees heavier rolling loads than that, tell us, and we'll confirm it's the right grate before you order.

Third, plan the tread mix. Because you can alternate treads, decide where the scraping happens and where the moisture gets held. A common setup runs aggressive brush or bare aluminum at the leading edge and carpet behind it, so the grate both cleans and dries across its length.

Why Mats Inc.

We've specified entrance flooring since 1964, and a heavy-duty roll-up grate is one of the products where getting the spec right up front saves the most grief — the pit depth, the frame, the rolling-load rating, and the tread mix all have to suit the door before anything is cut into the floor. We help you settle those, then ship the grate made to your opening. Mats Inc. specifies the system; your installer sets it into the prepared pit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a roll-up grate handle heavy rolling loads and still stay quiet?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

The grate is made of aluminum rails linked by rubber hinges. The rubber does double duty — it flexes to absorb the noise of footsteps, and it holds the rails together under wheels, so the grate keeps its shape under rolling loads up to 1,000 pounds per wheel.

When it's time to clean, the whole grate rolls up so you can clear the pit underneath, then lays back down.

How much weight can it take, and what wears it out?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

It's rated to hold its integrity under rolling loads of 1,000 pounds per wheel, which covers most carts, luggage trolleys, and mobility equipment that cross a commercial entrance. The aluminum rails don't rust, so weather isn't the enemy — letting grit build up in the pit is.

Roll the grate up on a regular schedule, clear the pit, and a heavy-duty grate like this stays in service for the long haul.

Can it be surface-mounted, or does it need a pit?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

This one needs a recessed pit. It's a deep, heavy-duty grate, so it's designed to drop into a pit cut into the floor rather than sit on top with a ramp. That deeper pit is part of what makes it work — it holds more debris between cleanings. If you can't cut a pit deep enough, a thinner recessed mat is the better route, and we can point you to one.

What insert and color options does it come with?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

The tread comes in four types — bare serrated aluminum, nylon carpet, Diamond Peak vinyl, and polypropylene brush — each with a range of colors, plus anodized finishes on the aluminum. What's a little different with this grate is that you can combine treads in one unit, so the look can shift across its length.

We send a sample card before you order so the colors you pick match the floor or your brand.

Can it be built to fit a wide or unusual entrance?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Yes — the grate is made to your opening rather than sold in a few fixed sizes, so a wide vestibule or a long entry corridor can get a grate that runs the full path. Send us the pit dimensions and we'll build the grate and frame to match. With a heavy-traffic door especially, you want the grate covering the whole width so no one steps around it onto the bare floor.

Is a heavy grate like this too industrial-looking for a nice lobby?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

It doesn't have to be. The same grate that takes 1,000-pound rolling loads can be finished to suit a polished space — a carpet insert in a tone that picks up the floor softens it, while anodized aluminum reads clean and architectural. Plenty of upscale hotel and retail entrances use a heavy-duty grate precisely because it's quiet underfoot and holds up to constant traffic without looking worn.

By Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO, Mats Inc.

The 1-5/8" rigid grate is the heaviest-built recessed entrance grate we carry — aluminum sections locked and welded into one solid surface, set into a deep pit that scrapes grit and drains water well below the floor. It's the grate you spec for the busiest entrances, where you want maximum strength underfoot and a pit deep enough to hold a season's worth of dirt between cleanings.

What a rigid recessed grate does before grit and water reach your floor

A recessed walk-off grate sits flush in a pit at the entrance, so everyone crosses it coming in. The open surface scrapes dirt off shoes and lets rain, snowmelt, and grit fall into the pit below instead of tracking across your floor. This grate is built deep, so that pit holds a large amount of debris before anyone needs to clear it.

At a busy door, that keeps more than the floor clean. A flush grate that drains water away leaves less standing moisture at the threshold, which is where slips happen. NFSI ties a meaningful share of slip-and-fall claims to building entrances, so pulling water off shoes and into the pit is a safety measure as much as a cleaning one.

Why a rigid welded grate, and why this one

Where the roll-up versions flex, this grate is rigid. The aluminum sections are locked and welded together into a solid structure built for maximum strength, which is what suits it to the heaviest, most constant traffic. There's no hinge to flex underfoot — it's a firm, stable surface.

It still comes apart when you need it to. Each section undocks on its own, so a crew can lift out a panel to clear the pit underneath or to handle the grate during maintenance, then lock it back in. You get the strength of a welded grate without it being a single immovable slab.

At 1-5/8", it's the deepest profile in the line, and the depth is the feature. A deep pit gives rain, snow, dirt, and debris room to collect at a high-traffic entrance, so the grate keeps working longer between cleanings instead of filling up and pushing grit back onto the floor.

As with the rest of the line, you choose the tread — bare serrated aluminum, nylon carpet, Diamond Peak vinyl, or a polypropylene brush — to match how much scraping the entrance needs and the look you want.

Where it belongs, and what it is not

This is the grate for the highest-traffic, most permanent entrances — major retail and grocery doors, transit hubs, convention and hospital entrances, anywhere a steady crowd and the weather come through all day. It's one of our recessed grate systems, set into a deep pit so the surface finishes flush with the floor around it.

It is not a surface-laid or light-duty mat — it needs a deep recessed pit, so it's a poor fit for a slab you can't cut into or a quiet, low-traffic door. And it's not the soft mat that dries shoes; it does the heavy scrape-and-drain at the threshold. Pair it with an absorbent interior mat a few steps inside.

Three things to check before you spec it

First, confirm the pit depth. This is the deepest grate in the line, so it needs a pit cut to suit it. On a new pour that's straightforward to design in; on an existing slab, make sure you can cut a pit deep enough before choosing this grate over a thinner one.

Second, plan how it gets cleaned. A deep pit holds a lot, but it still has to be cleared. The sections undock so a crew can lift them out and clean the pit, so think about access and who handles maintenance on a wide or heavy grate before you finalize the size.

Third, pick the tread for the entrance. Brush knocks off coarse grit, carpet holds fine moisture and reads softer, vinyl gives a wipeable surface, and bare aluminum scrapes hardest. The grate takes any of them, so you match the tread to the door without changing the grate.

Why Mats Inc.

We've specified entrance flooring since 1964, and a rigid recessed grate is a long-term commitment to the floor — once the pit is cut and the grate is set, it's there for years, so the spec has to be right the first time. We help you size the pit, choose the frame and tread, and plan for maintenance before anything gets cut, then ship the grate built to your opening. Mats Inc. specifies the system; your installer sets it into the prepared pit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes this a rigid grate instead of a roll-up?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

The difference is in how the sections are joined. A roll-up grate uses hinges so it can curl up for cleaning; this one locks and welds its aluminum sections together into a solid, rigid surface built for maximum strength, with no flex underfoot.

When you need to get into the pit, the sections undock individually, so a crew can lift them out, clean underneath, and lock them back in place.

How tough is it, and what shortens its life?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

The welded aluminum construction is built for maximum strength, which is why it's the grate for the busiest, most permanent entrances. Aluminum doesn't rust, so the structure isn't fighting the weather.

What actually shortens a grate's useful life is neglect — a deep pit that never gets cleared fills with grit, and once it's full it stops capturing dirt and starts pushing it back onto the floor. Keep the pit cleaned out and a rigid grate lasts a very long time.

Does it need a recessed pit, or can it sit on top of the floor?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

It needs a recessed pit. This is the deepest grate in the line, designed to drop into a pit cut into the floor rather than sit on top with a ramp — and that depth is the whole point, because it gives dirt and water room to collect at a busy door. If you can't cut a deep enough pit, a thinner recessed mat is the better fit, and we can steer you to one.

What insert and color options does it come with?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

The tread comes in four types — bare serrated aluminum, nylon carpet, Diamond Peak vinyl, and polypropylene brush — each in a range of colors, with anodized finishes available on the aluminum. So even though it's a heavy structural grate, you have real say over how it looks.

Because screen colors aren't exact, we send a sample card before you order so the tread matches your floor or your brand.

Can it be made to fit a wide or unusually shaped entrance?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Yes. The grate is built in sections to your opening rather than sold in a few stock sizes, so a wide vestibule or a long entry run can be covered fully — the sections lock together across the span. Send us the pit dimensions and we'll build the grate and frame to fit. On a busy door you want it spanning the whole width so traffic can't step around it onto the bare floor.

Will it still look good in a high-traffic lobby a few years in?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

That's where a heavy grate earns its keep. A flush, rigid grate doesn't curl, ripple, or shift the way a lighter mat can once thousands of people have crossed it, so it tends to keep a clean, intentional look over time.

The tread does the visible aging — carpet shows wear sooner than brush or aluminum — so on the most punishing doors, a harder-wearing tread keeps the entrance looking sharp longer.

By Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO, Mats Inc.

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Berber Logo Mats put your logo at the door on a looped berber surface — a tight, low-profile weave with a subtle hobnail texture that reads as upscale rather than promotional. The logo is digitally printed in high definition, so the artwork stays crisp, and the same tight weave that holds the print also scrapes dirt and moisture off shoes before either reaches your floor.

What a Berber Logo Mat Does Before Your Brand Looks Tired at the Door

A logo mat is doing two jobs from the moment someone walks up: it shows your brand and it protects the floor. ISSA field data shows a building takes on up to 12 times more dirt during wet weather, and it takes six to eight steps to walk a sole dry. A mat that catches that grit keeps your entrance clean — and keeps the logo from sitting in a smear of tracked-in dirt.

The looped berber weave is tight enough to scrape and hold dirt and moisture, so the floor past the mat stays cleaner and the logo stays legible instead of muddy. That matters because a worn or grimy logo mat does the opposite of its job — it makes the brand look neglected at the exact spot where a visitor forms a first impression.

Why Berber Loop, and Why This One

The surface is needle-punched PET fiber, about 44 ounces per square yard, made with at least 80% recycled content reclaimed from plastic bottles. The loop-pile berber has a smooth, even face, which is what lets the logo print crisply — the artwork is built up in layers of color and matched to a standard palette of 56 colors, so edges and lettering stay sharp.

Berber's tight weave is the durable part. It stands up to heavy foot traffic without the surface breaking down, and the hobnail texture gives it an upscale look that plain printed mats miss. The fiber is naturally stain- and fade-resistant, so the logo holds its color through regular cleaning rather than washing out after a season.

Underneath is an SBR rubber backing that contains 20% recycled tire content and keeps the mat in place to cut slipping. You can spec a universal cleated backing for carpet or a smooth backing for hard floors, and the whole mat sits low — easy to clean by vacuuming or hosing off, and low enough not to catch a door swing.

Where It Belongs (and Where It Doesn't)

This is a branding mat for indoor and covered-outdoor entries — lobbies, front desks, storefronts, building entrances, and anywhere you want a company logo greeting people as they arrive. As premium carpet logo mats go, the berber loop is on the upscale end, and it works equally well as commercial rugs with logo inside reception areas and retail floors.

What it is not is a full-sun outdoor mat. The print fades in direct sunlight, so it belongs under a canopy, an overhang, a vestibule, or indoors — not exposed on an open sidewalk. It's also a branding mat that catches dirt and moisture, not an aggressive scraper for mud and gravel; keep the heaviest debris to a coarse outdoor mat and let the berber handle the finish and the logo.

Three Things to Check Before You Spec It

Three things decide whether a berber logo mat is the right call.

First, the light. The print fades in direct sun, so this mat is for covered or indoor spots only. If your entrance faces open sky for hours a day, a different construction will hold its color better — be honest about the exposure before you commit the logo to it.

Second, the artwork. Logos print best with text at least 1.5 inches tall and lines no thinner than a quarter inch, and very fine detail or pale backgrounds don't translate well — light colors also show dirt faster. Simple, bold artwork in darker or neutral tones reads cleanly and stays looking sharp.

Third, the floor and the size. Choose a cleated backing for carpet or a smooth one for hard floors, and size the mat to the traffic, not just the doorway — aim to cover the six-to-eight steps it takes to dry a sole. Standard sizes run up to 6'×12', with custom lengths to 20 feet.

Why Mats Inc.

Mats Inc. has specified commercial matting since 1964, so when you're putting your brand on the floor, you're working with people who know which logo construction survives your specific entrance — and which will fade or flatten in it. We help you set up the artwork inside the print limits, pick the backing for your floor, and size the run so the mat protects as well as it presents. For the rest of the range, start with our commercial entrance mats.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the logo actually printed, and will it stay sharp?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

The logo is built up in layers of color on the smooth berber surface and matched to a standard palette of 56 colors. That layering is what gives the high-definition look — crisp edges and clean lettering — as long as the artwork respects the print limits: text at least 1.5 inches tall, lines no thinner than a quarter inch, and no fine tints or transparencies. Bold, simple artwork holds up best. The fiber is naturally stain- and fade-resistant, so the print stays sharp through regular cleaning rather than washing out.

How well does it hold up to heavy traffic?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

The tight berber weave is the durable part — it's built to take heavy foot traffic without the surface breaking down, and the hobnail loop holds its texture rather than crushing flat the way a softer pile would. A mat that mats down stops scraping and starts looking worn, so that crush resistance is what keeps both the logo and the floor protection working.

The one thing that shortens its life is sunlight: the print fades in direct sun, so a covered or indoor spot is essential. Used under cover and cleaned regularly — vacuumed, or hosed off and hung to dry — it holds its look for years.

Can I put it outside?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

Only under cover. Berber logo mats are made for indoor and covered-outdoor entries — under a canopy, in a vestibule, or inside a lobby. They're not built for full sun, because the print fades when it's exposed directly, and they're branding mats rather than coarse scrapers for mud and gravel. The best setup outdoors is a rugged scraper mat first to take the heavy debris, with the berber logo mat just inside or under the overhang where it stays clean, dry, and out of direct light.

What sizes can I get?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Standard sizes run from 2'×3' up to 6'×12', and custom lengths are available in standard widths up to 20 feet — useful for a wide storefront entry or a long lobby walkway.

Size it to the traffic, not just the door opening. Aim to cover the six-to-eight steps it takes to dry a sole, so the mat protects the floor and shows the logo at full size rather than getting walked past in a stride or two.

What does it look like, and what colors are there?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

It has an upscale, low-profile look — the looped berber weave with a subtle hobnail texture reads as refined rather than promotional, which suits a polished lobby or reception area. There are 56 standard colors to build the logo and background from, so you can match a brand palette closely. One tip: skip very light background colors, since pale tones show tracked-in dirt faster — darker or neutral backgrounds keep the mat looking clean longer between cleanings.

Can it match our exact brand colors, and what artwork works best?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Colors are matched to a standard 56-color palette rather than exact PMS values, so it's a close brand match within that range rather than a precise ink match — worth knowing if your brand standard is strict. For artwork, bold logos and clear lettering reproduce beautifully; very fine detail, thin lines, gradients, and transparencies don't translate well to the woven surface. Send us your logo and we'll tell you straight whether it'll read well at mat scale or needs a small adjustment first.

By Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing, Mats Inc.

Rely-On Olefin Matting

Rely-On Olefin Matting offers a practical and economical solution for floor protection in light-traffic areas. Made from durable olefin carpet fibers, this matting is designed to capture dirt and moisture, helping to maintain a clean and safe environment. Its low-profile design allows for easy placement in entryways, lobbies, and other indoor spaces.

Key Features of Rely-On Olefin Matting

• Durable Olefin Fibers: Made from tough olefin fibers, this matting is built to handle light foot traffic while effectively trapping dirt and moisture.
• Moisture Absorption: The olefin carpet fiber quickly absorb moisture, keeping floors dry and reducing the risk of slips and falls.
• Low-Profile Design: The slim design ensures easy placement in doorways and prevents tripping hazards, making it ideal for entryways and lobbies.
• Easy to Clean: Designed for minimal maintenance, this matting can be vacuumed or shaken out to remove debris, ensuring it remains functional and attractive.
• Cost-Effective Solution: A budget-friendly choice for maintaining cleanliness in indoor spaces without compromising on quality or performance.
• Versatile Applications: Perfect for use in offices, commercial buildings, or residential settings where light traffic is expected.

Perfect for Light-Traffic Areas

Rely-On Olefin Matting is the ideal choice for keeping light-traffic areas clean, dry, and safe. Its durable construction and moisture-absorbing capabilities make it a reliable and cost-effective option for maintaining floor cleanliness in various indoor environments.

Cross-Over Matting is a loop-pile entrance mat that scrapes debris and moisture off shoes at the door while starting to dry them — the middle step in a layered entrance setup, between the coarse mat outside and the absorbent mat inside. The looped olefin surface is abrasive enough to clean shoes and resilient enough to hold its look in steady commercial traffic.

What Cross-Over Matting Does Before Dirt and Water Reach Your Floor

Dirt and water come into a building on shoes — and one mat at the threshold usually can't catch all of it. ISSA field data shows a building takes on up to 12 times more dirt during wet weather, and it takes six to eight steps to walk a sole dry. The most effective entrances use more than one mat to catch debris in stages.

Cross-Over is built to be the middle of that sequence. Its abrasive loop-pile surface scrapes off the grit and moisture a coarse outdoor mat leaves behind, and the sturdy olefin fibers begin drying the shoe before someone steps onto the floor or onto a softer absorbent mat further in. It's non-absorbent by design — it cleans the shoe and passes it along rather than soaking up and holding water.

Why a Loop-Pile Olefin Surface, and Why This One

The surface is a loop pile built from polypropylene ribbon yarn and continuous filament yarn — a combination that gives it an abrasive, hard-wearing texture rather than a soft plush one. That loop scrapes debris off the bottom of shoes and resists crushing, so it keeps its cleaning bite and its appearance instead of matting down into flat lanes under traffic.

The olefin fiber resists fading and crushing, which is what lets a loop-pile mat keep a tidy, finished look at a visible entrance over time. The loop construction reads richer than a flat ribbed mat, so it suits a lobby or front-of-house spot where appearance counts — while still doing real scraping work.

Underneath is a DINP-free PVC vinyl backing that grips the floor and protects it from whatever the mat scrapes off. It holds the mat flat on hard floors and low carpet, and at 5/16 inch the whole mat stays low enough not to catch a door swing or trip a foot at the edge.

Where It Belongs (and Where It Doesn't)

Cross-Over fits interior, medium-traffic entrances — convenience stores, restaurants, hotels, theaters, museums, and convention centers, where a steady stream of people crosses the threshold and the entrance is on view. It's certified high-traction by the National Floor Safety Institute, so it gives a safe surface where shoes arrive wet.

Where it falls short is as a building's only mat or as an outdoor scraper. It's the middle of a system, not the whole system: against heavy mud it wants a coarse scraper ahead of it, and because it's non-absorbent, a wet climate benefits from an absorbent mat inside it to finish the drying. Outdoors and in full weather, it isn't the right construction.

Three Things to Check Before You Spec It

Three things decide whether Cross-Over fits your entrance.

First, the rest of your matting. Cross-Over works best as the middle mat — a coarse scraper outside, this loop-pile mat at the door, and an absorbent mat inside. If it's going in alone, be honest about how much dirt and water it'll face, because one mat rarely catches it all.

Second, the size. Standard sizes run from 2'×3' up to 6'×10', and larger sizes over 6 feet — up to 11'9" — are made by seaming. Plan for that seam on the widest runs, and size the mat to cover the steps it takes to dry a sole, not just the doorway.

Third, the floor and the finish. The vinyl backing suits hard floors and low carpet and protects the surface beneath. If the mat will sit out in the open rather than wall-to-wall, order edged ends — standard rolls ship without edging unless you ask for it.

Why Mats Inc.

Mats Inc. has specified commercial entrance matting since 1964, so we don't just sell you a mat — we help you build the entrance. For a real front door we'll map the whole sequence, from the coarse scraper outside to the loop-pile mat at the threshold to the absorbent mat inside, and tell you where Cross-Over fits in yours. We match construction to traffic and size to the doorway. For the rest of the indoor range, see our all indoor entrance mats.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a loop-pile mat clean shoes?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

The surface is a loop pile made from polypropylene ribbon and filament yarn — a tough, slightly abrasive texture rather than a soft plush one. As a shoe crosses it, the loops scrape grit and surface moisture off the sole, and the olefin fibers start drying the shoe. It's non-absorbent on purpose: instead of soaking up and holding water like a plush mat, it cleans the shoe and passes it along, which is why it works best as one mat in a layered entrance rather than the only one.

Will it crush down or fade in a busy entrance?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

It's built to resist both. The loop-pile construction is crush-resistant, so it holds its texture instead of matting flat into shiny traffic lanes, and the olefin fiber resists fading, so the color stays even at a visible entrance. Those two things are what usually go first on a loop mat, and they're the ones this construction is made to hold.

It's rated for medium interior traffic — convenience stores, restaurants, hotels, and similar spots. Pushed past that, or left to face heavy mud alone, any loop mat loads up and wears faster, so the way to get years out of it is to keep it to medium traffic with coarser debris handled ahead of it.

Can I use it by itself, or outdoors?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

It's designed as the middle mat in a layered entrance, not a standalone or an outdoor mat. The best setup is a coarse scraper outside to take heavy debris, Cross-Over at the threshold to scrape off what's left and start drying, and an absorbent mat just inside to finish — because Cross-Over is non-absorbent, it doesn't hold much water on its own. Used alone at a busy or wet door, more gets past it than you'd want; outdoors, it isn't built for the weather.

What sizes can I get?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Standard sizes run from 2'×3' up to 6'×10', and it comes in 60-foot rolls. Larger mats over 6 feet — up to 11'9" — are made by seaming panels together, so a wide lobby run is possible, just with a seam in it.

Size the mat to the traffic path, not only the door, so it covers the steps it takes to dry a sole. If it'll sit out in the open rather than wall-to-wall, ask for edged ends — standard rolls ship without edging unless you specify it.

What does it look like, and what colors are there?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

The loop-pile surface has a richer, more textured look than a flat ribbed or rubber mat, which is why it suits a front-of-house entrance — a hotel lobby, a restaurant, a museum — where the floor is on display. It comes in two two-tone colors, Brown and Gray, both designed to blend with common interior schemes and hide tracked-in dirt between cleanings. The two-tone effect helps the mat read as finished rather than utilitarian while it does its work.

Can I get it in a custom size or with our logo?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

On size, yes within limits — beyond the standard sizes, widths over 6 feet up to 11'9" are made by seaming, so you can cover a wider entrance with a seam in the mat. On a logo, no: Cross-Over is a plain two-color loop mat, not a printed or logo construction. If you want branding at the door, that's a different product — a logo mat — and we can point you to one. For a clean, hard-wearing mat that looks the part at a front entrance, Cross-Over does that without the artwork.

By Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO, Mats Inc.

Super Berber Matting is a dense berber entrance mat that does the two hardest jobs at a busy door at once: it scrapes grit off shoes and soaks up the moisture they carry. The needle-punch berber surface is solution-dyed in up to 40 colors, and a custom logo can be inlaid right into it — so it cleans the entrance and carries the brand in the same mat.

What Super Berber Does Before Dirt and Water Reach the Floor

At a busy entrance, dirt and water arrive on shoes — ISSA research shows the door is where most of a building's dirt comes in. Left to cross the threshold, that grit grinds at the floor and wet shoes leave a lobby slick. The dense berber pile catches both: it scrapes solids loose and holds moisture in the fiber, while the all-weather rubber backing keeps the mat planted, so the dirt and water stay on the mat, not the floor.

Why Solution-Dyed Berber, and Why This One

The mat is built from 100% solution-dyed polypropylene berber, needle-punched into a dense half-inch pile that weighs about 52 ounces per square yard. Solution-dyed means the color is locked into the fiber rather than printed on top, so it does not bleach or wear pale. The polypropylene is UV- and abrasion-resistant, which is what lets the mat hold its look under heavy traffic and sun.

Of the two jobs an entrance mat does, this one leans toward wiping — the deep pile is built to pull moisture and fine dirt off shoes and keep it there, with strong scraping behind it. An all-weather rubber backing grips the floor and stands up to wet conditions, so the mat works at an interior lobby or a covered outdoor entrance alike.

Where It Belongs, and What It Is Not

Super Berber fits heavy-traffic entrances where appearance counts as much as cleaning — office buildings, shops, lobbies, schools, airports, and sport concourses. It works indoors or at a covered outdoor entrance, and it sits in our range of moisture-control entrance matting as the absorbent option that traps water in the pile rather than channeling it away.

What it is not is a drainage grid or a heavy-mud scraper. It holds the moisture it collects, so where standing water has to drain off, an open grid mat is the better tool — and where shoes arrive caked in mud, a coarse scraper out front will spare the pile. Super Berber is the mat that finishes the job: wiping shoes clean and dry once the worst is knocked off.

Three Things to Check Before You Spec It

First, decide what the door mostly throws at it. If the entrance is about moisture and a clean, finished look, Super Berber is built for exactly that. If shoes arrive heavy with mud or grit, set a coarse scraper ahead of it so the berber handles the wiping rather than clogging with debris it was not meant to take alone.

Second, size it and pick the edge. It comes in standard mats up to four by fourteen feet, in rolls, or custom-cut to your dimensions — up to thirteen feet two inches wide and inlaid runs to a hundred feet. Borders can be heat-sealed, square-cut, or beveled, and custom shapes are on the table if the entrance calls for one.

Third, plan the logo and colors early. The logo is needle-punched into the pile from a palette of up to 40 colors, so it needs camera-ready artwork before a quote. One thing to know up front: this construction does not do exact PMS brand-color matching — you choose from the 40 — so check that your colors are covered before you commit.

Why Mats Inc.

We have specified entrance matting since 1964, and a logo mat only works if the artwork, the colors, and the size are right before it is made. We take your logo, match it to the available colors, confirm the size and border, and lay out the inlay — so the mat that arrives cleans the entrance and reads as your brand, not a near-miss. Send your artwork and we will start there.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Super Berber Matting made of?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

It is built from 100% solution-dyed polypropylene berber, needle-punched into a dense half-inch pile of about 52 ounces per square yard, over an all-weather rubber backing. Solution-dyed means the color runs through each fiber instead of sitting on the surface, so it resists fading and bleaching. The polypropylene is UV- and abrasion-resistant, which is what lets the mat keep its look under heavy traffic, indoors or at a covered outdoor entrance.

How much traffic can it take, and how well does it handle water?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

It is rated for heavy traffic, and wiping is its strong suit — the deep berber pile is built to pull moisture and fine dirt off shoes and hold it down in the fiber, away from the floor. The solution-dyed, UV- and abrasion-resistant construction keeps it from looking worn or faded as the traffic adds up. Like any pile mat, it performs best when it is vacuumed regularly and washed when it needs it, so the trapped soil does not pack down into the pile.

Is it a scraper or a wiper, and where should I place it?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

It does both, but it leans wiper — it is at its best absorbing moisture and fine grit rather than knocking off heavy mud. Place it where it covers the full walking path so shoes take several steps on it. If the entrance sees heavy mud or sand, put a coarse scraper mat outside the door first and let Super Berber do the wiping inside; that two-stage setup keeps the pile from clogging and keeps the floor beyond it clean and dry.

Can you inlay our logo, and how sharp will it look?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Yes — the logo is needle-punched right into the berber pile, not printed on top, so it wears in with the mat instead of scuffing off. It is one of the largest custom logo mats made, which gives a logo room to read cleanly at the door, and custom shapes are possible if you want the mat itself to follow a form. We do need camera-ready artwork before quoting, so the inlay is laid out accurately from the start.

What colors can we get, and can you match our exact brand color?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

There are up to 40 colors to build the base and the logo from, which covers most brand palettes. The one honest limit to flag: this construction does not offer exact PMS brand-color matching — you choose from the 40 standard colors rather than a custom-mixed shade. Because the colors are solution-dyed into the fiber, whatever you pick holds up without fading. Send your brand colors and we will confirm the closest matches before anything is made.

Will it still look professional after a season of heavy use?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

That is what the solution-dyed berber is for. With the color locked into the fiber and the polypropylene resisting UV and abrasion, the mat holds its appearance far better than a surface-printed mat, which tends to go pale and tired at a busy door. The berber texture reads clean and upscale rather than utilitarian, so it suits a lobby or storefront where the entrance is part of the first impression.

By Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing, Mats Inc.