When it comes to outdoor doormats, coir (pronounced COY-er) is the gold standard, for good reason. Made from coconut husks, it's thick and scratchy, so it's a good material for getting gunk, including snow, off shoes. It also absorbs moisture, so you don't track footprints into the house.
The best outdoor rugs are typically made from polypropylene or polyester. Both synthetic rug materials are strong and durable. They can handle high foot traffic and diverse weather conditions. They don't absorb moisture and are mold-resistant, unlike the majority of natural rug materials.
Terrain's Handel says that in most climates, the fiber coir, which is made from the husk of a coconut, is best for exterior doormats that are exposed to the weather. “The thicker and scratchier the doormat you can find, the better,” she says, for scraping off dirt.
The Basics. The primary function of a doormat is to take dirt and moisture from shoes and hold onto it so that the mess doesn't make its way into your house. Doormats can also look great too and provide the perfect finishing touch to your entrance, but the most important thing is how well they clean.
Outside your front and back doors.
Welcome your visitors and give them a place to wipe their shoes. When it's extra wet or muddy outside, they can leave their shoes there, too. If you live in an apartment, your neighbors will appreciate not tripping over your visitors' shoes in the hallway.
Can we use your mats outdoors? A. Yes, if you have a traditional coir mat. PVC backed mats are not as suitable as they take much longer to dry out once wet.
Typically, outdoor doormats are made of durable materials that can withstand dirt and water and don't fall apart with heavy wear. Coir and rubber are some of the most popular, since they're exceptionally durable and good for all kinds of weather.
Mat all outside entrances, especially those with heavy traffic. Depending on your living situation, you may have doors to the back or side yards in addition to just the front. Make sure all have doormats.
A majority of outdoor rugs are made of synthetic materials. Typically, this means acrylic, nylon, polyester or man-made polypropylene. These types of outdoor rugs are popular due to their durabilty and affordability.
Coir is a sustainable resource that is highly durable and easy to clean. A coir doormat can last for 6 to 10 years at the threshold of your home. Selecting a coir mat of 1-inch thickness, or more will also increase the longevity of the rug, especially for mats used in high-traffic areas.
Sisal. Of all the natural rug fibers, sisal is the most durable. Sisal rugs hold up extremely well to high traffic areas like decks and patios. Unlike synthetic rug fibers, sisal has a rough feel so it may not be too welcoming for bare feet coming out of the pool or sprinkler.
Polypropylene rugs (also known as olefin rugs) have a natural-fiber appearance, but unlike most natural fibers, they are able to absorb water. This makes them well-suited for the outdoors and areas like the bathroom or basement; polypropylene rugs will not grow mold or mildew when exposed to water.
However, if we're talking about a polypropylene rug that's made from synthetic fibers, then that is a different story. You see, synthetic fibers are susceptible to heat and will absorb it. So the answer is yes—these rugs can get hot in the sun!
Selecting Mat Width
Heres the first rule of thumb when choosing a floor mat: it should have a width that is equal to or greater than 80 percent of the width of your front door. So if you have a standard exterior door thats three feet in width, your mat should be at least 28.8 inches wide.
As you very well know, rubber does not absorb water. As such, rubber entryway mats do not only get rid of outdoor dirt, they also stay dry. This brings us to the third advantage of using rubber entrance mats; they are easy to clean.
Entrance mats help to create the ideal welcome to your home, making your floors safer, cleaner and healthier, and promote the longer lasting benefits of professional carpet cleaning and professional floor cleaning for a cleaner and more beautiful home environment.
Can Coir Mats Get Wet? Coir mats are made of natural fibres and are water resistant, strong and durable. They are however better suited to being used as indoor doormats, with rubber mats a better alternative to sit outside in the bad weather.
This doormat is made from 100% coconut coir and the back has a slip-resistant feature. The fibre absorbs water easily and even dries quickly.
Coconut coir doormats aren't only environmentally friendly, they're also fantastically good at keeping your house or office clean of water and dirt. The natural qualities of the coconut make its husk the perfect material for crafting doormats.
Homeowners should select the entryway doormats design that matches perfectly with the authentic décor of the home and goes with a dark contrast colour shade. The main benefit of choosing a dark contrast shade is that it can cover dust in relatively higher amounts and still looks proper.
Install coir into a well/recess
If coir is installed into a recess, it is much less likely to shed heavily onto the surrounding floors than if the mat is loose laid.