The entry is the first floor that a shopper walks on.
What an entry floor does
Every customer crosses the entry, often with wet or dirty shoes. Our rubber flooring guide lists retail entryways among the areas prone to spills or moisture. There, a slip-resistant floor helps protect employees, customers and visitors. The entry also takes more footsteps than any other part of the store.
Walk-off carpet and traffic ratings
Commercial carpet suits retail entryways, grocery stores and offices. Its fibers are short and dense, so it resists crushing and denting. Some commercial carpets handle more traffic than others, so check the traffic rating before you order.
| Traffic rating | Where it fits |
|---|---|
| Walk-off | The most durable rating, made for entryways and even garages |
| Extra heavy | The busiest areas |
| High | Heavy foot traffic and busier areas |
| Medium | Most spaces with a lot of foot traffic |
For the entry carpet, our carpet guide recommends low-pile nylon, because it resists matting and crushing. Glue it down with a pressure-sensitive adhesive where traffic is high. Vacuum the entry often, and deep clean it with a hot water extraction machine from time to time.
Rubber mats and tiles at the door
- Rubber mats: you can move them when the layout changes, and replace one mat if it wears out.
- Surface: many rubber mats have raised textures or drainage holes that help keep the surface dry.
- Rubber tiles: they keep slip resistance in moisture-prone areas such as entryways and restrooms.
- Cleaning: shake out, hose down or mop the mats, as the style allows.
Send us the entry size and the floor around it. We will help you choose the carpet, mats and trims.
Flat mats and safe edges
A curled mat edge is a trip hazard. Double-sided carpet tape keeps rugs and carpets flat, and it helps prevent slips, trips and falls. Our tape page lists it as easy to use and remove, and ideal for high-traffic areas. Where the entry floor meets a floor of a different height, use a reducer so people do not trip. Thresholds and end caps also connect carpet to hard floors.