Avoid Costly Mistakes: Choose the Right Ground Protection Mat

When working on outdoor projects, it’s important to consider ground protection matting. Landscape damaged by heavy equipment can be expensive to repair. Plus, uneven or muddy ground at job sites may cause costly project delays or stoppage due to vehicles getting stuck. But what should you use to protect soft or sensitive ground conditions?

Plywood Ground Protection

Plywood can be used on jobsites due to its availability and relatively low initial cost. While it can momentarily do the job, it comes with major drawbacks. It’s very porous, which causes it to absorb water and chemicals, making the wood rot and/or get heavy and weak. It also absorbs and leeches oils, fluids and chemicals, making it a safety hazard. Exposure to weather can accelerate the speed at which plywood rots or cracks, meaning it frequently needs to be replaced.

Due to the above, plywood has a limited lifespan. As a result, its long-term performance and safety are compromised. Its short life cycle means plywood is more expensive over time. The approximate cost of replacing 12 sheets of plywood, four times a year can exceed $2,500 annually, especially as lumber costs have been going up as shown on this graph:

HDPE Ground Protection

High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is extremely durable and resistant to chemicals, oils, and moisture. Unlike plywood, HDPE does not absorb liquids, which removes the risk of contamination or slippery surfaces. Despite its sturdiness, HDPE ground mats are very light, making them easy to handle, transport, and store, which allows for reduced labor costs and time during installation and removal.

By being resistant to wear and tear, UV radiation, and extreme temperatures, these mats are built to last years and are the ideal ground protection mats for heavy equipment, significantly reducing the total cost of ownership due to fewer replacements, lower maintenance, therefore making them a more economical choice in the long run.

Why Choose Checkers Safety Ground Protection Mats?

Checkers ground protection mats feature 100% recycled HDPE construction and are the preferred choice for contractors working on any jobsite where efficiency and safety and are a priority. Checkers offers the widest range of mats with a variety of sizes, colors, and traction surfaces to cater to different application needs, from landscaping to entertainment and construction sites.

With trusted solutions such as AlturnaMAT, VersaMAT and MambaMAT, they provide a significant return on investment in just 15 months due to their long lifespan, saving customers a lot of money on costly replacements. Designed with diamond plate tread patterns and micro traction to enhance grip performance, they are easy to deploy, connect, clean, and store with a user-friendly system, minimizing the potential for accidents and injuries.

Checkers Safety™ AlturnaMATS® Ground Protection Mats, designed specifically to protect sensitive ground conditions in the construction, civil engineering, utilities, landscaping and groundwork and events industries, among others.

Learn more about our line of ground protection mats here.