You might be unfamiliar with the name coir matting, but you have surely seen it and indeed walked upon it. It is often used for doorways and porches, as the mat you walk on when you first come through the door. The function of coir matting is to have something wipe your shoes on to remove any dirt before you enter the rest of the building.

Other names by which coir matting is known are:

  • Doormat
  • Entrance matting
  • Coconut mat
  • Coco mat

What are choir mats made from?

The tough fibres of the mat are usually made from coconut husk, which is the water-resistant layer between the hard inner shell and the external coating. The fibres used in coir matting are strong and resilient, as they have evolved to protect the flesh of the coconut even if it has been floating in water for a long time.

What makes these coir fibres so tough? It’s because the fibre’s thick walls are made of insoluble cellulose. They also contain a large amount of a substance called lignin, which gives a woody texture to it and helps prevent the plant from rotting.

The naturally water-resistant, durable nature of these fibres makes them ideal for doormats, as they will have a lot of wet shoes walking on them during their time.

The benefits of coir matting

Here are several reasons why coir mats are so suitable for use as doormats:

  • Natural. Although the backing of the mat can be made from a synthetic material such as PVC, the main part of the mat is made from natural fibres. Not only does this give it a traditional look, which many people like, but it is also more eco-friendly than an entirely synthetic product.
  • Durable. Due to the tough, water-resistant fibres, coir mats are perfect for areas with a lot of footfall. Even with high use, a coir mat should last a long time.
  • Inexpensive. Coir mats are usually moderately priced and are not costly to install. For example, these coir mats come in 1m or 2m width, and then you can just cut them to the size you want using a regular Stanley knife. No need for special tools or equipment.
  • Reduces slips. If you were to come walking into a house with dirty or wet shoes and there was no mat there, you might be at risk of slipping over on the smooth flour surface. By wiping your shoes on a coir mat as soon as you walk in, the chances of slipping are significantly reduced.

So, there you go. Now you know what coir matting is and what its benefits are. If you are looking for high-quality coir matting at a reasonable price, take a look at West Derby Carpets & Blinds. Their heavy-duty premium tough coir matting comes with a strong PVC backing, can be used indoors or outdoors, and can easily withstand any area with heavy footfall. It comes in either a natural brown colour, as well as grey or black.