Chair Mat Information
What are chair mats made of?
We offer a wide range of chair mats manufactured using polycarbonate, PVC, polypropylene, enhanced polymer and glass.
What is Polycarbonate?
Polycarbonate is the ultimate plastic in quality, clarity and durability for home and office flooring. Polycarbonate is the toughest and most durable plastic chair mat material available and is used in airplane windows and bulletproof glass. It will not curl, crack, dimple, discolour or smell when used in the correct application.
What is PVC?
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) is an affordable, long lasting floor protection material. Our PVC formulation is designed to offer a cost-effective alternative to Polycarbonate. The PVC that is used for our chair mats is ortho-phthalate free.
What is the difference between polycarbonate and PVC?
Polycarbonate is the ultimate in quality, clarity and durability. It has a rigid structure, which flattens our almost immediately and stays flat. Polycarbonate is the toughest and most durable plastic available, ideal for frequent use and thicker pile carpets. Under the correct us, polycarbonate will not curl, crack, dimple, discolour or smell.
PVC is an affordable chair mat material. The PVC formulation used is designed to offer a cost-effective alternative to polycarbonate. PVC is naturally a softer plastic compared to polycarbonate, therefore it is most suitable for lighter use and lower pile carpeted floors.
What does a chair mat do?
At home or at work, our chair mats protect like no other. Mat Stores offer an unrivalled range of products designed to safeguard every floor and carpeted surface, keeping high traffic areas cleaner and safer for longer. Our chair mats protect all types of flooring from all kinds of wear and tear. Whether carpet or hard floor, all surfaces are vulnerable to damage, which is costly to replace. Our chair mats are designed to perfectly preserve the surface they cover.
Chair mats are ergonomic products that make movement easier for chairs with castors, as well as helping to relieve leg fatigue and muscle strains.
From the basic to the aesthetic, these chair mats can not only provide practical floor saving solutions and ergonomic benefits, but also look great in offices and homes.
What is the difference between a chair mat for carpet and hard floors?
Chair mats designed for carpet typically have small studs on the underside of the mat, which carefully grip to the carpet without causing any damage, while ensuring that your chair mat stays in place. Gripper backed chair mats cannot be placed on hard floors as they can slide across the surface and scratch your flooring.
Chair mats for hard floors are designed with a smooth backed surface. It is recommended to use a chair mat with grippers on a carpeted floor for optimum performance and stability. However, for very deep pile carpets, we recommend our extra thick polycarbonate chair mats, which have a smooth underside. The weight of the mat keeps it in place on carpeted flooring.
Can I order a bespoke size chair mat?
Unfortunately, we are currently unable to offer bespoke size chair mats.
Can I cut my chair mat to a bespoke size and shape?
We do not recommend that you cut your chair mat. Any alterations to the chair mat will invalidate your warranty and we accept no responsibility or liability should you damage the chair mat or injure yourself.
How do I clean my chair mat?
We advise that you frequently clean your chair mat by washing it with warm soapy water and drying thoroughly once cleaned. It is not recommended to use strong detergents or bleach based products, as these can contain harsh, abrasive chemicals which may damage your chair mat. We also suggest that you clean the underside of your chair mat and dry it thoroughly, to prevent it attaching to your flooring.
Is my chair mat suitable to be placed in direct sunlight?
We advise that you do not place your chair mat in direct sunlight, as over time it may affect the colour. However, should you need to place your chair mat in an area with a high exposure to sunlight, clear polycarbonate chair mats or glass are the most suitable materials, as they will not discolour.
Is my chair mat suitable for under floor heating?
If you have under floor heating, we recommend using a polycarbonate chair mat, as this is the most suitable chair mat material for use with under floor heating.
Which side of the chair mat is the underside?
Chair mats designed for carpets will have small grippers on the underside of the chair mat, which help the chair mat adhere to the carpet. Non-gripper backed chair mats (hard floor chair mats) have a lightly textured and smooth side. The smoother side of the mat is the underside. The lightly textured side is the top surface for both chair mat types.
Why do some chair mats have a lip?
Some of our chair mats have a lip extension, which would be positioned so that the lip sits under the desk. The purpose of this is to protect the flooring when a chair is tucked under the desk.
Which is the most transparent chair mat?
Our glass chair mats have the highest level of clarity. Polycarbonate is the most transparent plastic material. All of our plastic chair mats have a lightly textured surface to add traction to the chair mats for controlled ergonomic gliding.
What is phthalate free?
Phthalate plasticizers (substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability and longevity) have been banned from children's toys and medical instruments. The human health effects of phthalates are not yet fully understood. The risks and effects of phthalates is something that is being studied by several government agencies worldwide.