ALUMAT ENTRANCE MATS – INSTALLATION GUIDE
PREPARATION
Only install ALUMAT entrance mats on hard, level surfaces. The fully rubber backed mat will absorb some surface imperfections, but for best results, the surface should be as flat as possible. On concrete surfaces, it may be necessary to grind off some areas, or apply self-levelling compound to prepare the surface. It may also be necessary to apply compound if the mat well is too low for the mat in relation to the finished surface. Ideally the mat should be at the same or similar level to surrounding floor surfaces.
PLACEMENT –
Without mat wells
The Alumat range of 10 Series mats ( 10I, 10D, 10W, 10WD, 10DO and 10WDO ) may be placed on any hard, flat surface without the need for a matwell, adjacent to other low profile floor coverings, such as tiles, carpet or carpet tiles.
. If ceramic tiles, carpet or carpet tiles are adjacent ot the mat, it is preferable for the tile/layerr to finish the edge with a tile trim, either 8mm or 10mm. If placed adjacent to vinyl flooring, our recommendation is for an 8mm tile trim to be placed and floor levelling compound applied so the vinyl is brought up to the height of the mat. Our mats will be made with a 5mm clearance, and simply fit in the opening dimensions supplied.
If there is no surrounding flooring, for example on polished concrete floors, then we can supply prefitted aluminium ramping to any of the 10 series mats. Smaller mats just need to be placed in position. Larger mats may be supplied in sections and require a small amount of assembly. Separate instructions will be supplied in these cases.
With matwells
We can supply surround frames, either 8mm or 10mm for all 10 Series mats. For 15 Series mats, ( 15I, 15D, 15WD, and 15DO) we can supply an 18mm high surround frame on one or more sides as required. The surround frame should be fixed in place with screws or adhesive, ensuring the top edge is similar to the surrounding floor surface. If the surface is still too low for the mat to come up to the height of the surrounding floor, some self-levelling compound may need to be applied before placement of the mat.
ASSEMBLY
The mats will be made to the size ordered. It will normally arrive in sections. The extrusions are ‘tongue and groove’ and are connected by sliding the sections together. This provides the best seamless looking surface when installed as the mat will effectively be one large interconnected piece with no obvious joins. Strips of extrusion can easily be removed if required, by inverting the mat, and running a sharp knife through the rubber to separate one or more extrusions. In the same way additional extrusions can be added.
On larger mats, or where access is tight, we will supply some lengths of the extrusion with the underside of the groove cut out, to allow some sections to be dropped in place, without the need to slide sections to connect.
Mats will be supplied to measurements or templates provided so do not normally need trimming, but in the event of trimming being required, they can be cut with a small circular saw and an aluminium cutting blade. Ensure the mat is well supported near the edge and a shallow blade setting is used.
OUTSIDE USE
Alumat entrance mats may be placed outside, but we recommend they be mechanically fixed in place. To fix in place, peel back infills on outer edges, drill and screw frame to the ground, and reaffix infill to cover the screw fixing.
ALUMAT INSTALLATION GUIDE October 2023