To rent or not to rent, that is the question. Purchasing Mats vs. Renting Mats

You may think renting mats is cheaper and more convenient than owning High Performance mats. Think again.
The ‘one size fits all’ mentality. 

Most rental programs offer only 1 type of mat in a few different sizes. This often requires more mats to be used which can cause safety issues and incur more rental charges. When purchasing mats, you can choose the correct mat for the application (scrapers, anti-fatigue, anti-slip, etc). You also get to choose the exact size and color to enhance your building’s décor.

Keeping mats clean and looking their best.  Caring for your mats is easier than you think, especially if you have a cleaning company like AMS (sorry, had to plug). Most mats only need regular vacuuming and maybe the occasional spot cleaning. I guess you could pay a rental company to do that and just hope you don’t get mats that were used here:

Stop dirt and moisture in their tracks. Up to 70% of dust and dirt in an office building is tracked in on people's shoes. In 5 days, just 1 square yard of carpet can accumulate 1 POUND of dirt- even more in bad weather! The nylon fibers of a rental mat can crush and allow dirt and water to be tracked into your building. High Performance matting has a permanent bi-level face to help eliminate crushing. They also have a water dam border to contain the moisture.

Ending never-ending charges. Mats rented long term are very expensive. A good, High Performance mat will last you 5-10 years with little attention. At an average of $.20 per square foot per week, a single 3x5 mat will cost you $780 over a 5-year period. Purchasing a 3x5 High Performance mat costs you around $100…and could very well last longer than 5 years!

When you purchase your matting, you can color coordinate to compliment your building. You can also be sure to have the correct sizes and styles to best suit your traffic patterns. You’ll have improved safety and better performance… and no recurring rental costs! Call AMS for High Performance mats today!

Tips On Floor Stripping & Refinishing

The condition of your floor is the first thing your customers see when they walk into your building.

Maintaining your floor is not rocket science, but it does require attention to detail- in method and in product. While hiring AMS would be the easiest solution for keeping your floors looking their best, here are some tips if you are stripping and refinishing floors on your own:

• Prepare and Conquer  Gather all needed materials before starting the job- mops, goggles, gloves, non-skid shoes, scraper, wet floor signs, etc.   

• Start Small  Apply floor stripper in a manageable area (maybe 10’x10’). Have rinse water ready nearby. You do not want the stripper to dry on the floor.

• Rinse! ‘Flood’ rinse the floor after removing the stripper chemical. A flood rinse is when you do not wring the mop before placing it on the floor. Keep your rinse water clean! If you can’t see the bottom of the bucket- change the water!  

• Neutralize  After rinsing, apply a neutralizer to help remove any stripper residue. Don’t forget to pay close attention to corners, edges and doorways.

• The Right Tools  Use a clean rayon or synthetic mop to apply floor finish. Line the mop bucket with a can liner to ensure your finish is not contaminated.

• Think Thin  Apply your floor finish in thin coats and let dry completely. Test for dryness with the back of your hand, not fingertips. It cannot be tacky at all!

Not sure how many coats of finish to apply?  An easy rule to remember is to apply 100% solids. For example, if the finish you are applying contains 20% solids, you would want to apply 5 coats.

For more information or a quote for services, please call AMS at 815-547-7952