Should You Rent Or Buy Mats?

When considering the cost of matting systems, BSCs should consult with facility manager customers and look at the numbers to determine if their best choice is to rent or buy — each option has pros and cons. For smaller businesses with less foot traffic or part-time custodial services, rental mats do the job of reducing dirt and moisture tracked into the building and are routinely replaced without adding tasks to a part-time cleaning crew. For larger and/or high-traffic facilities, owning high-performance mats will save money in the long run.

“If a facility has a planned program for cleaning and maintaining mats, it is significantly less costly to own versus renting mats,” says Silverman. “Rental mats are generally scheduled for cleaning either weekly, bi-weekly or once a month. Contractors will usually vacuum and clean mats daily.”

There is an expected difference in quality and function, too. Purchasing high-performance mats typically ensures a product that is heavier and more durable than a rental mat. This is because rental mats are often designed to be rolled, folded, washed frequently, and transported from location to location.

“If a facility pays an outsourced custodial team, it is in their best interest to purchase quality mats and have the custodial staff do daily vacuuming to them,” Cadell confirms. “Overall, it will reduce their cost over a weekly or monthly matting service that just lays down mats that could have been anywhere before.”