How to choose a chair mat? You need to consider the surface, know your workspace, determine the load and the usage, count casters, decide which color you prefer, and pick a style based on your flooring.
Over 300 times in an eight-hour workday is the typical number of chair movements for an office worker. An ergonomic tool that lowers fatigue and lowers the risk of repetitive stress injuries is a chair mat. Chair mats also shield your carpets, rugs, and flooring from harm caused by chair casters.
How to Choose a Chair Mat?
When selecting your chair mat, there are a number of things to take into account.
Surface Matters
there are mats for carpeting and mats for hard floors and they are not interchangeable. There are no grippers (those tiny spikes that extend into the carpeting) on mats for hard floors. Because of this, her mat kept slipping.
Mats for Carpeting Are Not All Created Equal
Choose a mat with the right pile height once you know what kind of pile you have—commercial, low, medium, or high. This easy method can be used to determine the pile height: 1) Open the end of a paper clip. 2) As you go all the way down to the subfloor, insert the paper clip into the carpet and pad. 3) The paper clip’s entry point into the carpet and pad should be measured. Commercial carpets are 1/4″ high or less. Low pile is 1/4″ to 3/8″ thick. Medium pile is 3/8″ to 3/4″ thick and high pile is 3/4″ high or greater.
Know Your Workspace
Think about the size of your chair base, the width of your workstation or desk, and the total area of your floor. Select the shape that best fits the space by measuring the permitted rolling distance for the area where the mat will be placed. Chairmats come in four common shapes: rectangular, lipped, workstation, and contour. Yes, there are other shapes available, and you can even order a custom mat, but these four are the common shapes that are the most widely accessible.
Determine the Load and the Usage
Choose a thicker mat for heavier weight or more usage for optimal performance.
Casters Count Too
using the wrong type of casters on the mat can damage and crack the mat. Your chair needs to have hard casters if the mat is on carpet. The chair needs to have soft casters if it’s on a hard floor.
Decide Which Color You Prefer
Roller mats are available in both solid and clear colors, and there is typically not a significant price difference between the two. Because the color of the floor beneath them can be seen, clear mats are more adaptable. You won’t have to worry about purchasing a new mat if you subsequently get new carpet. However, some individuals prefer the appearance of mats in solid colors.
Pick a Style Based on Your Flooring.
Depending on the type of flooring you have, you can select a mat with or without studs. The mat has studs, which are tiny protrusions on the underside that give it additional lift so the chair won’t sink into the carpet. Select thicker, studded vinyl mats for shag carpets or other deeper pile carpets, and non-studded vinyl mats for use on hardwood floors.
FAQs
Do I Need a Lip on My Chair Mat?
Some customer’s prefer to have a lip on their chair mat versus the normal rectangle shaped mat. The lip’s function is to extend underneath the desk or table to guard against damage to the floor in the event that the desk chair is fully pushed in. A chair mat’s lip doesn’t go all the way across the mat’s width.
What is a Good Thickness for a Chair Mat?
Your need for chair mat thickness will depend on the kind of flooring you have. If you have a hard floor, the thickness can be anywhere from 0.4″ to 1″ thick. For carpeted areas, 1″ thickness is normally sufficient to give a notable anti-fatigue effect and floor protection.
What is the Best Material for An Office Chair Mat?
Tempered glass, plastic, rubber, and PVC are just a few of the materials used to make chair mats. But the best material for a chair mat on a carpeted surface is polycarbonate plastic. This substance is a thermoplastic that is frequently transparent, incredibly strong, and simple to mold.
READ ABOUT How to Stop Bum Sweat on Chairs?
Conclusion
These are some of the fundamental categories of chairmats. Once you’ve decided on these elements, you can consider other features like the mat’s material, clarity, edge design, color (yes, I said color), and whether you require anti-static mats. (You need anti-static mats if you’re working with delicate electronic equipment.)
Your office furniture should include chairmats. They increase carpet longevity, safeguard expensive hard floors, and guarantee easy movement. Get the appropriate one for your space by making sure. Give us a call if you need assistance choosing a mat or if you’d like to place a special order for one; we’re happy to assist!
