Heavy Duty Rubber Mats: C

Heavy-duty rubber and fiber mats are not attractive and tend to catch and collect dirt over time.  However, the mats can be an effective, temporary way to increase the traction on a wood deck or porch if properly maintained. 

While heavy-duty rubber and fiber mats handle moisture with ease, these mats must be kept free of snow if they are to be effective in the winter. The deep channels or cut-outs that provide traction can also harbor ice if the snow is packed into the mat, creating a slip and fall hazard in themselves.

Care must be taken when using a snow shovel with rubber mats as even a plastic blade can damage the rubber and render the mat useless. The most effective way to remove snow from fiber or rubber mats is to pull them up and shake them off frequently. This constant maintenance in snowy seasons can become very laborious. 

There is no installation required with mats as they can be laid down in the area where you need the extra traction. While the installation is simple, this also means that mats can easily be moved or turned over if the edge is caught on a shoe. 

Heavy-duty mats are only recommended as an anti-slip solution if they have holes for drainage, have a beveled edge, and are at least 10 pounds. The drainage is necessary so that when the snow melts and refreezes you don’t end up with a tray of ice. The beveled edge reduces the chance that a shoe will catch on the edge of the mat which would actually cause you or a loved one to fall.  Finally, the weight of the mat is important so that you can’t accidentally move it when using it for traction.

Depending upon the thickness and quality of the rubber or fiber mat material you can expect the mat to last 1 to 3 years.