Road Mat Maintenance

Road mats can be a wonderful boon to any construction project in the wilderness. Not only can these mats make your project easier but can also save you time and money.

If you are looking to purchase road mats, it’s best to know as much as possible before spending your money.

What Are Road Mats?

“What are road mats” is the first question you should be able to answer. Simply put, road mats are interlocking planks of material that form a road from one location to another. Using road mats makes transportation easier on your machinery, vehicles, and the environment.

There are two types of road mats: hardwood and composite. Hardwood road mats are cheaper but can damage and decay far easier. Composite mats are lighter and more durable but can be costly.

How Long Do Road Mats Last?

Wood Mats are more susceptible to damage than their composite counterparts, especially if they are lying in the environment for long periods of time, allowing for insects, plants, and the weather to take their toll  A good rule of thumb to expect about 18 months of life with proper maintenance.

Composite Mats are far more durable. These mats tend to be environmentally inert, meaning that they do not give off or absorb any material. These lightweight road mats can last you indefinitely with proper care.

How To Maintain Road Mats

Maintaining road mats is important if you want to get the most out of your mats. Here are a few maintenance tips:

• Always check your road mats for damage and foreign material after use. Wood mats especially can easily hide contaminants, weeds, and seeds which can damage the environment the next time they are used.
• Always wash your road mats with either pressurized air or water after use. This will remove any foreign material hidden within your road mats.
• Never scrape off surplus or unused construction material on your road mats into an environmental resource such as a river. Doing this is irresponsible and can cause significant damage to the environment. Dispose of any surplus material at your construction site.
• Always store your mats in a dry location. Wood Mats are especially prone to rot and damage.

Learn More

Spartan Mat has plenty of wood and composite road mat options that can help you with your next construction project. Contact us today to learn more!

Be sure to also visit our FAQ page to learn more about using and maintaining road mats.