Mud bristle coatings are a popular modern material designed to protect the interior of a house from street dirt. Such mats are not too expensive, but the effect of their use can be very good.
What is the material?
Bristle coatings are usually sold in rolls - running meters. They are an elastic flexible material with a thick rubber substrate and artificial pile, most often made of polyethylene or polyurethane. Being laid in front of the front door, such rugs effectively clean the dirt from the soles of street shoes. Colors for bristled coatings may be different. Such products usually look very aesthetically pleasing, and therefore they can also serve as decoration of a hall or porch. The cleaned dirt simply falls between the villi and becomes completely invisible. In other words, bristled dirt-repellent coatings are also called “weed”.
Benefits of using
Only a small, bristly rug placed near the door can collect up to 3 kg of dirt at the same time. Of course, this significantly reduces the cleaning time of the interior of the building. The mat itself is enough only from time to time to knock out with a stick and rinse, for example, under running water from a garden hose.
In addition to protection from dirt and, consequently, microbes, the “grass” bristly coating can perform another important function. Very often it is laid on the porches in the winter time to prevent icing of the steps and slipping. Falling on a tile covered with such a carpet is simply impossible.
Types of rugs
The “grass” coating can differ in several ways:
the length and thickness of the pile;
the distance between the tufts of bristles;
the thickness of the base substrate.
Scope of use
Most often, rugs of this variety can be seen in front of the doors of rural private cottages. Small "bristly" squares also lay in front of the doors of city apartments. You can put such a rug not only in the porch or on the porch, but also in the hallway itself. These coatings often look very beautiful, and all thanks to the original arrangement of the bundles of "villi" and a pleasant color.
Very often, the bristle coating “grass” is also laid in front of the entrances to offices, cafes, restaurants, shops. In this case, the most durable models that are resistant to abrasion are usually used. Sometimes these rugs can also be seen in the halls and on the stairs of public institutions.
Another place where you can use bristle mats is a sauna, bathhouse or pool. Since these accessories are made of moisture-resistant material, they can serve in such rooms for a very long time. In addition, they, of course, will prevent gliding on the tile, and perhaps even become a real decoration of the interior.
Garages, warehouses, sports fields and production halls are also places where bristle coverings can be laid. You can lay them directly on a concrete screed. Also, mats with artificial pile are often used inside personal cars, and sometimes even in public transport.
Top bristle manufacturers
Most often in hardware stores you can see rugs made by Russian, Estonian and Finnish companies. The most popular are the following three brands:
"Centrobalt".
Bristlex
Finn Turf.
Antisplash coatings "Centrobalt"
Products of this brand are produced by the eponymous Russian company. Most often, this manufacturer makes its rugs from environmentally friendly polyethylene. The high quality of Centrobalt products is determined by the fact that it uses the most thick and elastic rubber for the substrate. The corners of the rugs on such a basis never bend up.
Among other things, this manufacturer covers the rubber from below with a special anti-slip compound. You can lay the "Centrobalt" rugs on the most slippery floor of the porch or hallway. They will not move due to the processed bottom surface and the large weight.
Bristlex Coatings
Rugs of this brand are produced by the well-known Estonian company Baltplast, whose head office is located in Tallinn. In addition to flooring, this company also produces other rubber products: hoses, balls, PVC corners.
Bristlex rugs are valued primarily for their excellent dirt-repellent properties. Snow and slush remain on this surface without spreading, which is certainly very convenient. The second advantage of the products of this manufacturer is durability. The bristles of the mats do not wear out even with the most active use for a long time. Like Centrobalt, Ballplast covers its products from below with a special anti-slip compound.
Rugs Finn Turf
Antisplash coatings of this brand are produced by the Finnish company of the same name. Finn Turf carpets are made of polyethylene coated by extrusion with special UV protection. The special compositions used in the manufacture of coatings make their bristles elastic and at the same time mobile. The carpets of this manufacturer are simply ideal for use in outdoor conditions, since they do not fade in the sun at all and very well tolerate frosts and severe temperature extremes without cracking.
Dirt and sand from such products are removed very simply. In most cases, the mat just needs to be shaken a little. In case of severe contamination, the surface is vacuumed or washed with water. Drying Finn Turf mats, just like other brands of mats, is not necessary after wet cleaning. This procedure is only necessary if the coating is laid, for example, on a wooden or painted floor of a porch, terrace or veranda.
Price for floor mats
There is a bristle coating in rolls, as already mentioned, not too expensive. Its sizes can be different. However, most often the width of the roll is 0.9 m, the length is 15 m. For a rug of this size, you will have to pay only about 450-550 rubles. Such a coating is usually used on tiled or porcelain stoneware porches in the cold season.
There are also already cut small rugs, more often used right in front of the door, inside or outside the room. Their backing is usually thicker and the stubble lower. At the same time, they are more durable and wear resistant. Products of this variety are usually a bit more expensive. So, for a rug 60 x 45 cm, you will have to pay about 150-170 rubles. But, in general, this amount cannot be considered too large.
Floor mats
Laying bristle coverings in front of the door or on the porch is not difficult. You can cut this material with an ordinary sharp knife or even large scissors. The bristles on the rugs are arranged in rows, and therefore, cutting such a canvas crookedly simply will not work. Covers of this variety are laid without any additional fastening.
As you can see, the bristly coating, the price of which is not too high, is really comfortable and not too complicated to care for. The purchase of such an accessory on the family budget will have almost no effect, but the work of the housewife can ease the mat to a considerable degree.