Chair mats are essential for home and office use. A chair mat is necessary for any chair that moves or rolls. There are many products online that can be used to accomplish this purpose. So how do you choose which one? Here’s a list of essential factors.
Floor Type
The type of flooring that you have is the first thing to consider. Different types of flooring require different types of chair mats.
There are two types of flooring: carpet and hard surfaces. A thicker carpet mat will need a chair mat that is more durable, with spikes or nubs at the bottom to keep it in place. This helps prevent the carpet from shifting as you move your chair around it. The mat is not bent by the chair’s weight and is cracked by the thicker material.
Three main types of carpets are categorized according to how soft or deep they are. Low-pile carpets can be found in offices all over the globe. These carpets are hard, firm, and can be walked on with no drag. These are similar to hard surface flooring, requiring relatively flat chair mats.
Medium-pile carpets can be found in offices. However, they are more common at home. These carpets require chair mats made of thicker material and nubs in order to hold them in place.
High-pile carpets can be found in many homes, but they are not often seen in offices. They are too deep, hard to clean, and can become worn down by regular traffic. Consider shag carpeting. These chairs require thick, spiked chair mats or a chair that floats over the surface.
A flat chair mat is required for hard surfaces. Chair mats with spikes or nubs will be uneven and lifted, making it difficult to sit or walk on. To protect the floor as much as possible, a flat chair mat is recommended.
This protection is required for hard surfaces like laminate and hardwood. If a chair causes damage, it can be refinished but this is a costly and time-consuming process. Make sure to clean the underside of the chair mat every day and seal it. Otherwise, grit can build up underneath the mat, and small movements like rolling on it can scratch the floor.
You can either use a chair mat on linoleum floors or a chair directly on them. Linoleum is not a popular choice these days. This makes it a great excuse to remove it and replace it with a better floor (or show the hardwood underneath it in the case of home construction).
A chair mat may be required for tile flooring depending on its roughness. A chair mat is not necessary if the tile is relatively flat like the tile used in government buildings. The tiles are strong enough and don’t require protection. A chair mat is useful for preventing the chair from slipping into the grout or breaking tiles.
Concrete floors are extremely resilient and more likely to wear away the casters than to be damaged. The floor can be protected by a chair mat, but it is only for aesthetic or ergonomic reasons.
After we have covered the various types of flooring, how about the material for the chair mat?
Mat Material
There are generally four to five materials available for chair mats. Your sense of aesthetics and the material’s durability are two factors that influence the choice of material.
PVC chair mats, which are both the most popular and the most affordable, are the best. These chair mats are made of clouded plastic and can be found in many offices all over the globe. These mats are soft, durable, slightly textured, and inexpensive, making them suitable for office environments. They can become brittle and crack over time.
Chair mats made of polycarbonate are more durable and attractive. These chair mats are more durable and can withstand long hours of use. They also work well on both carpet and hard surfaces.
Tempered glass chair mats look amazing and are very durable. However, they are more costly and can be difficult to use in offices that have non-standard configurations. They can’t be cut to the same size as plastic-styled chair mats.
Wooden chair mats can be described as raised, slightly cushioned platforms that a chair can rest upon. These mats are beautiful for office use and can provide a comfortable and smooth surface for chairs to rest on. However, they are very costly and not very long-lasting. They are just as susceptible to damage as hardwood and can become scratched as they age. This might make them less appealing. These are not everyday chair mats and are intended for novelty or low usage.
Mat Shape
Your office furniture configuration will determine the shape of your chair mat. A rectangle or a T-shaped mat with a nub to fit under your desk, but still provide enough space for your chair are the most popular shapes. You can also find many other shapes. If you have an excessively large mat, you can trim it down to make it smaller.
The mat’s shape doesn’t have any effect on how it performs. It’s only for useful purposes. We cannot recommend any particular shape. To help you choose a shape, consider the size and shape of the space that you will be working in. How is the chair going to roll? Make sure your chair is supported by a chair mat. If you wish, you can also buy a large square mat to place under your desk.
Mat Appearance
Most chair mats can be either clear or frosted. Frosted appearances are best because they minimize the visibility of minor scratches, blemishes, and dirt. Tempered glass chair mats can be either clear or frosted. You can match your furniture easily with wooden chair mats.
The appearance of your mat is very important. You don’t have to worry about how the mat looks.
Additional chair mat features
The right chair mat is more than just the shape and the cleats. Additional features may be desirable.
An antifatigue mat is one such feature. These mats are designed to be mobile. The anti-fatigue section is placed under the chair while you’re sitting, but the anti-fatigue area can be pulled out when you stand to use the standing desk.
They can be quite pleasant to use, but they are one large piece. You might find it difficult to use. If you don’t like this anti-fatigue section of the mat, you can get another anti-fatigue mat.
Additional patterns are another option. Chair mats can be made with unique patterns in their material. This makes them more like a floor covering or rug than just a PVC mat. These are beautiful but more costly to purchase.
A firm, low-pile rug is an alternative to a chairmat. Although a firm rug is more suitable for use on concrete or high-pile carpets, it can be used as a chair mat. However, it is harder to roll than a simple mat.
Another problem with office environments is static buildup, especially in the colder and dryer months. When you are in contact with small electronics or computers, static electricity can cause discomfort. Although not all chair mats generate static electricity, many do. Anti-static chair mats are designed to stay grounded and not transmit the shock to you.
The eco-friendliness and sustainability of the chair mat are other considerations. Chair mats made from basic PVC or plastic are very harmful to the environment. Some of these mats can be recycled but not all. There are eco-friendly chair mats, but they can vary from vendor to vendor. You’ll need to speak to the vendor to confirm if the mat is safe for the environment.
