A Simple Guide To Installing Car Mats

Introduction

Car mats are vital and very important to a vehicle as it helps to ensure the original carpet does not get ruined from dirt, liquids and gravel. Without car mats, your car may be potentially damaged because the carpet covering the flooring is simply not enough. These mats come in a multitude of sizes and types, hence it is essential to pick one that fits your car best. Don’t worry, there’s a huge range of car mats available today meant for your car specifically.

Here is a simple fuss-free guide to install your car mats properly.

1. Measuring to Fit

Firstly, you need to measure the size accurately. This is especially important for customized mats, where a single inch off the measurement can ruin how well your mat fits. To make a template, simply use a measuring tape to measure the entire floor area between the door jamb and where your centre console starts. For the back, measure the space between the door jamb to where the floor hump is. Take note that the length between the front seats and the driver’s stopping point should also be measured for ultimate accuracy. For the back area, simply measure the space between the end of the front seats to the start of the rear seats.

You will need to factor in any irregular areas on the vehicle floor, including slants and weird obstacles on the floor. After drawing your measurements on heavy paper, cut them out and the ideal result would be each floor having its pattern. The paper should then be aligned in the car to work on the alterations. In this stage, you are allowed to edit and improve on the measurements as you deem fit until the drawing shows exactly what you need.

The finished pattern should ideally cover the whole floor in front of the seat without any obstructions in the paper. You can now use this final pattern to get a rough idea of what size floor mats you need to purchase. However, if you are not confident, you can also leave the measurements to a professional who will help you fill the space to the tee.

2. Choosing the Style and Class

When shopping for car mats, you should take into account a few details. This includes the kind, what material the backing is made from, and the make of the mat.

When it comes to mat styles, there are four basic kinds: Standard, Improved, Vehicle-Specific, and lastly, Fully customized.

For Standard types, the mat is essentially the cheapest of the bunch, and is generally able to fit any kind of vehicle - no matter the make or model. Improved type mats are the same as standard, with an exception of them being more accurately and reliably fixed to the car flooring. Vehicle-specific type mats are of course, more expensive than the other two mentioned but you are guaranteed to get what you pay for. These mats will fit like a glove according to your car’s shape and are specifically tailored according to your needs. Last but not least, the cream of the crop would have to be the fully-customized mats, providing the most accurate fit of the lot.

To start, you will want to pick a style that is to your liking and one that will match the interior of your car. There are a plethora of styles for you to choose from, including the standard type which does an adequate job at keeping your vehicle liquid-free, and the all-weather kind, which is a tad bit more reliable than the standard mat. Other than that, you can pick from a range of mats made of sturdy material such as rubber, carpet, and metal.

Next, you will want to decide on the make of your mat. This is especially important to understand what type of liquids they can hold, and which liquids you have to avoid. The last thing you will have to seriously consider would be the kind of backing used for your car mat. There are a few types of car mat backing. One of which would be the flat-backed mat, which utilizes a special kind of anti-slip coating to secure it properly. The other type we recommend would be the car mat with grip nubs installed onto the back. However, keep in mind that although they are better at keeping the mat unmovable, your car floor can suffer from wear and tear from the grip holds.

3. Installation of the mat

To start the mat installation, you will need to equip yourself with some car carpet solution, a couple of towels, preferably microfiber, and a handy vacuum cleaner. This step has to be followed and done exactly as it could determine how secure your mat is, as well as how well it will do its job at protecting your car flooring.

Firstly, the entire vehicle should be clean, including the space where you intend to situate the mats. You should also remove the old mats and vacuum every nook and cranny of the area mentioned above. Do note that there should be no stains or dirt leftover in the space before you fix the new mats. Keep in mind that the area should also be completely dry before the clean new mats are replaced.

Thereafter, it is recommended to do a quick vacuum around the area to remove any dust or debris.

To finish, adjust the mats accordingly to the spaces leftover. You may have to double-check to make sure that you are placing the mats correctly, or look for the labels that will provide more clarity. It is essential to be sure and confirm that each mat is placed accurately and fitted properly before you begin on the next area. This can be simply done by working methodically around the outline of each mat. Patience is key here as you do not want to hastily place the mats, only to have it not do its job.

There is also no harm in trying out the gas and brake pedals. This can stimulate real-life driving experience and can signal in advance if the mat is being an obstacle that may potentially cause an accident while driving. You can also move the seats back or forth accordingly such that the mats in the front row do not affect the said motion.

Conclusion

And there we have it, a simple guide on everything you need to know about installing car mats. Now that you have understood the importance of something you once thought was unnecessary, apply what you have learned today onto your car!

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Published: 28-Mar-2021

Author: Victoria Berry

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