Construction Mats In Ontario
2 July 2025
Construction mats help prevent tire ruts, damaged grass, damaged hard surfaces and allow heavy machines and
wheelbarrows to move
in muddy conditions or over hard surfaces that need to be protected from damage (ex. asphalt/interlock
driveway).
Both residential and
commercial projects can benefit from using mats, especially if you are currently using plywood under heavy
equipment/machines.
Mat Specs
| 4′ x 8′ | 3′ x 8′ | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 42 kg (92 lbs) | 31 kg (68 lbs) |
| Thickness | 0.75″ (19 mm) | |
| Material | HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) | |
| Load | 50 ton | 30 ton |
| Operational Temperature | 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F) | |
| Price | $225 + HST (13% ) | $185 + HST (13% ) |
Delivery in Ontario
The following figures are based on delivery of 10 items of 4ft x 8ft mats in 2025 season. Actual prices and times may vary depending on location and availability.
| Region | Price Range | Delivery Time |
|---|---|---|
| GTA | $150 – $250 | 1–2 days |
| Southern Ontario | $200 – $350 | 2–3 days |
| Northern Ontario (past Sudbury) | $300 – $500 | 3–5 days |
Pick up in Ontario
Why are Mats better than Plywood?
- Price: In the long term, Mats are much cheaper. 3/4″ thick, 4′ x 8′ plywood costs $63 (Home Depot, Jul 2025) and is good enough for around 3 projects (OSB plywood will shatter much faster). Mat price, depending on the size, is between $175 and $225, which means mats pay for themselves after 9 projects. And that’s for every crew that is using them!
- Traction: Big treads on the mats provide better grip on the ground or grass. Mats’ other side is flat and can be used on hard surfaces such as asphalt or for dropping and later picking up dirt, sand, or aggregates
- Carrying: Mats have 2 handles on each side for easier transportation. Handle holes can also be used together with connectors to interconnect mats into 1 roadway or platform
- Other: More flexible so machines can go over curbs, ease of cleaning, weather resistance, etc. To find out more, check out our Mats vs Plywood comparison
Mats by Industry
Landscaping and hardscaping contractors is one of the largest consumer groups of construction
mats.
Residential contractors that build projects at the back of the property, such as patio or pool,
need
to cover grass, interlock,
concrete, or most other surfaces that lead to the backyard. Mats make sure that skid steer, mini
excavator, and track loaders leave no marks.
Property cleanup at the end of the workday will also be much faster – just moving the mats will get
out
the bulk of aggregates from the surface.
4ft by 8ft mat with treads on both sides is by far the most popular among landscapers because:
- 4ft wide pathway is wide enough for most machines needed for landscaping
- Thick treads on one side provide good traction with grass, ground, mud. Small treads on the other side give good grip to machines and wheelbarrows even during rainy day
- Mats are flexible so that they can help machines and wheelbarrows go over curbs or steps
- Mats easily fit into bed of pickup truck (in trucks with beds shorter than 8ft straps are needed)
- Best price per sq ft compare to other sized mats
Contractors that excavate soil may use mats to access the site as well as store the excavated
soil on the mats
in order to avoid cleanup of the pavement or grass after a project ends. Mats that are flat on one
side and have treads on the other
are usually best suited to store digged up soil on the flat side of the mats.
Over the years contractors that excavate pools, golf courses, and cemeteries have been one of the
frequent buyers of mats
Arborists often need construction mats for their bucket trucks and other equipment to access the
site.
Since most of the equipment is heavy especially with the tree and garbage loaded up the mats
spread the weight of
loaded trucks evenly across the surface and prevents tire ruts, worn out grass, and provide anti
slip surface to drive on
Companies that use mats
Is 2025 construction season expected to be wet?
- Wet and soft soil means heavy equipment can leave deep tire ruts.
- Rain creates mud. Equipment and heavy trucks may slide or make a big mess.
Frequently asked questions
All mats being 8ft long only in truck beds that are slightly longer than 8ft if you want tailgate to be
closed.
Chevy Silverado, Toyota Tundra, GMC Sierra with long bed options can fit these mats. For most other
pickup trucks,
mats need to be simply strapped from the back. In the following picture, we show the best way to strap
mats in pickup truck bed:
Yes, you can. Mats are much more flexible than plywood, which means you can put them over a curb and
ride
over with a heavy machine.
In short – not much. Based on our conversations with landscapers and arborists who use these mats to
cover grass,
we did not find any conclusive evidence that mat color affects how long they can be held over grass.
Grass requires water,
sunlight, and air in order to stay green. Unfortunately, mat or any other cover block access to those 3
things and if kelp longer
than 3-4 days the grass may start loosing color. Even after that, however, regular watering should
restore the grass back to normal.
We did not find any conclusive evidence that yellow, white, or translucent mats burn the grass less or
allow for quicker recovery
Yes there is a limited 2 year warranty.
To learn more, please refer to our warranty information page
Yes, they can. There are 2 types of connectors – metal and plastic with screws. Both types are inserted
through the holes
in the mats. Metal connectors are simpler, cheaper, but harder to install since the connecting mat needs
to be tilted on the side to meet its hole with the metal connector. Plastic connectors have screws and
are easier to install but
are slightly more expensive.
Mats with flat side are useful for:
- Temporarily storing soil on the mat and then taking it back
- Protecting asphalt driveway on a very hot day
Truthfully, there are 2. Firstly, it’s a bigger upfront investment compared to alternatives.
Secondly, some contractors reported that small percentages of mats break in near 0 Celsius temperatures
Yes. Even our heaviest mat, the 4ft by 8ft, weighs 42 kg (92 lbs) can be carried by 1 person.
Or at the very least it can dragged by 1 person using the handle holes in a mat.
Yes. On both hard surface as well as grass/soil mats grip the surface extremely well. Use
the right side for best traction: Big treads should face grass/ground and small treads should face
hard surfaces