Timber mats are one of the strongest types of road mats on the market. They’re one of the best road mats to use when you need a strong and stable surface for heavy tracked machinery.
But how do they compare to other road mats? This post will define this mud mat’s distinguishing characteristics and compare it side-by-side with other matting options.
What Are Timber Road Mats?
Timber mats are a type of road mat, which are sometimes also called mud mats, pipeline mats, and construction mats.
Road mats are an important part of any contraction site that is dealing with suboptimal areas covered in mud, sand, or permafrost, providing safe paths for heavy machinery around a job site. They also protect the environment and ground beneath and around your equipment.
TImber mats are made of thick, solid timbers bolted together by steel. The thickness of these road mats makes them capable of handling extra-heavy machines without collapsing. As such, they are more durable than laminated mats or CLT mats, which are usually thinner and not ideal for tracked equipment.
Timber matting come in two sizes. A larger size that is 4′ x 18′ x 8′, and a smaller size that is 4′ x 16′ x 8′. You can rent or buy these mats from Select Mat and have them shipped anywhere in the continental United States.
Due to their size, these mats are great for making temporary roadways, staging areas, or work pads. They can also be useful as added support for bridge decking.
Environmental Protection
Protecting your environment is essential when you are working in a wet and delicate area. Timber mats can help you protect the earth from deep tracks and other damage.
Like all road mats, they can also help you protect nearby waterways from contamination. If you are working near a stream, you need to be attentive to what you might be putting in the water. They can help block any unwanted materials from getting into the water. You do not want to be the cause of accidental harm to the water quality or fisheries.
Equipment Protection
Heavy equipment is not meant to drive in deep mud or any other wet area. Having a sturdy path for your tracked vehicles is important for their safety and the people driving them. Due to their thickness and surface area, timber mats can be an effective way to support heavy-duty machinery over a larger job site.
Timber vs Laminated Mats
Laminated mats are composed of three layers of plywood nailed or bolted together. They are best used under only rubber-tire trucks, not tracked equipment.
Both mats allow for a secure and durable pathway for machines to drive over, even though laminated mats are much thinner. They also will protect the ground from the deep tire tracks caused by heavy equipment.
While laminated mats are useful at certain job sites, you should know what kinds of vehicles you will be using before you choose them.
If you think you may use heavy, tracked machinery, then timber mats are usually a safer choice.
Timber vs CLT Mats
CLT mats or cross-laminated timber mats are made of three layers of pine put together. They are much lighter than timber mats, and they create sturdy paths for rubber-tire vehicles.
Both mats will keep your equipment and site safe from damage, but CLT mats can not withstand the pressure of tracked vehicles.
Timber mats are the better option if you need a road mat that can handle a lot of weight from vehicles. However, if you need something cheaper and lighter cross-laminated timber mats would be worth looking into.
Timber vs Composite Mats
Composite Mats are tough, lightweight, and flexible. Their main appeal is that they are not made of wood. Instead, they are composed of high-density polyethylene. This composition makes them resilient to tracked equipment.
Both mats do a great job of protecting the environment beneath them. And they can support extra-heavy vehicles with tracks, which is not something all construction mats can do.
Timber and composite mats are both great options if you need to support more than rubber-tired vehicles.
Timber vs Crane Mats
Crane mats are even more heavy-duty than Timber mats. They are meant to provide the most reliable support under tracked heavy equipment.
Crane matting is a great choice if you need a mat to give you access over marshy earth. They also work to support heavy crane lifts or create air bridges.
Both mats can support extra heavy machines, and they keep undesirable materials out of waterways.
You might go with timber matting if you want to cover more surface area than crane mats and don’t need the additional support everywhere on your site.
Want More Road Mat Information?
Timber mats are sturdy, secure, and a great option for construction sites utilizing equipment with tracks. When you are deciding which kind of road mat to get, consider all of these options, and make an informed decision.
You can visit our website and get a quote from us today on timber mats if they seem like the best pick for you.
