When it comes to special flooring projects, whether they’re short- or long-term, the success of your project will rely on several factors. Of course, you should be well-versed in what you’re trying to do. You might be building a deck or setting up a small play area in your backyard for the kids. Whatever your project may be, thanks to the Internet, it’s very easy to learn how to do. And while surfing the web, you’ll notice how one thing all successful flooring projects share is that they all start with a strong foundation—good floor matting. A project’s foundation is like a house’s frame; chosen poorly, and the entire structure is at risk. That’s where we can help.

If you’re looking for a reliable floor mat, rubber is an easy choice. Among the best floor mats is rubber matting. Rubber mats are a great temporary or long-term option for just about any project that will require a durable, protective, and safe floor matting. Because rubber is robust, it’s well-suited to withstand a plethora of environments. For example, you often see commercial rubber mats employed in harsh industrial environments. And you often see rubber mats used in residential, business, and public spaces that see heavy foot-traffic. Even tires—meant to grind against hot asphalt—are made of rubber. While being robust, rubber is also an easily manipulable material. So, installing rubber mats yourself is easy and straightforward. And if you require very specific floor matting measurements—such as for the bed of your truck—custom rubber floor mats are easy to purchase and install. Below, we explore in more detail the top three reasons for why rubberized mats are a great option for nearly any application:

1. Rubber Mats are Exceptionally Durable

Regardless of the length of any given project—it’s generally inadvisable to settle with subpar materials just for the sake of cutting costs. If you buy suboptimal surfacing thinking it will help protect expensive subflooring like hardwood or tile, you may end up with expensive repair or replacement costs that were avoidable had you invested more into a higher quality floor mat. So while settling for less may seem like a good economical move in the short term, it’ll likely end up costing you a lot more in the long run.

But strength and durability don’t have to come at egregious prices either. Commercial rubber mats are often made with recycled rubber, which mainly comes from discarded car tires. Automobile tires are meant to withstand the harshest environments, lasting years despite constant exposure to sunlight, moisture, and cold weather. So while being an environmentally-conscious option, rubber mats are also imbued with the qualities that make car tires so exceptionally durable. Furthermore, using recycled materials means lowered production costs. Lowered production costs mean lower price tags. And lower price tags mean more affordability for the average consumer. You get the picture. Rubber isn’t just robust: It’s also eco-friendly, and it’s becoming increasingly affordable—moreso than it already is.

2. Why Are Rubber Mats Useful?

Rubber matting comes in many varieties, ranging in size, color, and even makeup—such as blended or recycled options. This wide range of available variants ensures that rubber mats can be applied to nearly any type of surface. It also means that—no matter the job—there’s a type of rubber mat that can get it done. Rubber has some great natural properties too, such as high water resistance and a high coefficient of friction. Together, these qualities make rubber mats the perfect choice as a slip-resistant floor matting. And the surfaces of rubber mats are often richly textured. So while adding even more traction, this texturing helps rubber mats catch debris, moisture, and other undesirables before they can enter a building’s interior.

And because rubber is easily manipulable, a custom rubber floor mat is easily attainable for any space—no matter the shape. Many rubber mat manufacturers make customized mats. Usually, they’ll customize the size of your rubber mat for a small additional fee. Rubber is also great at absorbing shocks. So, rubber mats both protect falling objects from any hard, unforgiving subflooring and protect delicate subflooring from the heavy impacts of falling objects. And it’s not just shocks: Rubber naturally absorbs sound, too. Rubber mats mute the vibrations that often accompany our day-to-day activities. Even artists’ studios are sometimes lined with acoustic panels made from rubber. So when it comes to soundproofing applications, rubber mats are one of the best options.

3. Rubber Mats Have Easy DIY Applications

When thinking about a project’s budget, the decision to cut costs in some places is sometimes inevitable. But one thing you shouldn’t skimp out on is the quality of your base materials. We never recommend going for subquality materials because—like we said before—it may end up costing you a lot more in the long run. However, a good way to decrease your costs while maintaining quality is by avoiding the expensive fees associated with professional installations. Knowing where to buy rubber mats is simple enough, too, as a rubber matting manufacturer is easy to come by.

Rubber matting is easy for you to install yourself, regardless of the type of rubber mat you choose or the type of subflooring you have. Once rolled out, rubber mats naturally settle under their own weight. And rubber mats often have interlocking tiles. So, for larger spaces that require multiple pieces of rubber matting, installation is typically as simple as fitting puzzle pieces together. You could even get your rubber matting custom-cut. Customizing the size of your rubber mat doesn’t come with the hassle that customizing flooring like tile, stone, or hardwood does. Most rubber floor mat manufacturers offer custom rubber floor mats, meaning lengths that are cut to your specific needs. Of your rubber matting options, a custom rubber floor mat will likely be easiest for you to install because it comes cut according to your exact specifications. Just measure your space, and the manufacturer usually takes care of the rest. While rubber mats can be easily packed away once installed—if you’re looking for a more permanent rubber flooring, some adhesives are designed to glue rubber mats to their flooring underneath. It can be useful to do this when installing rubber over spaces like basements and home gyms—spaces where you don’t foresee yourself removing the rubber matting anytime soon.

Of course, we couldn’t cover all the reasons for why rubber mats are such quality mats. (You would need a book for that!) These are just the top three reasons for why we’re certain you’ll be satisfied if you choose rubber mats for protecting your floors. Commercial rubber mats exhibit many more qualities that make them excel in a lot of potential applications. Rubber’s inherent water resistance inhibits the growth of mold and mildew. Its natural grip makes it perfect for places with harsh weather conditions. Its recycled composition makes it an affordable and environmentally friendly product. And its malleability makes it virtually effortless for you to install yourself. Need we say more? In the modern era, rubber is something of a wonder material. There’s little that it can’t do.