Tried a couple things here—my mats slid all over the place last winter, especially when the driveway turned into an ice rink. Double-sided tape was a bust for me, too. What finally worked (sort of) was wedging the edges under some old bricks and using a few cheap tent stakes at the corners. Not exactly pretty, but it kept ‘em from wandering off. Honestly, for what they cost, you’d think they’d have figured out a better way to anchor these things...
Honestly, for what they cost, you’d think they’d have figured out a better way to anchor these things...
Couldn’t agree more. For the price, I expected something sturdier than just “hope and friction.” I tried the tent stake trick too, but it’s not exactly a long-term fix—plus, my neighbor tripped over one and wasn’t thrilled. I’m honestly starting to wonder if it’s worth the hassle or if I should just stick to old-fashioned shoveling. The convenience is nice, but if you’re constantly fighting to keep the mats in place, it kind of defeats the purpose. Has anyone found a way to anchor them that doesn’t involve turning your driveway into an obstacle course?
That’s been my biggest gripe too—if you’re paying that much, why not include a better anchoring system? I’ve wondered if there’s a way to use some kind of low-profile edge strip, maybe something rubberized that wouldn’t be a tripping hazard. Or is that just wishful thinking? I get the appeal of not shoveling, but if you’re constantly adjusting the mats, it feels like trading one hassle for another.
We’ve had a few tenants complain about the mats shifting, especially after a couple freeze-thaw cycles. I tried using some heavy-duty rubber edging from a hardware store—helped a bit, but it’s not perfect. Still safer than loose cords everywhere, though.
We’ve had a few tenants complain about the mats shifting, especially after a couple freeze-thaw cycles. I tried using some heavy-duty rubber edging from a hardware store—helped a bit, but it’s not perfect. Still safer than loose cords everywhere, though.
I hear you on the shifting mats. Mine started doing the cha-cha across the walkway after our first real cold snap. I thought maybe it was just my “unique” installation style (aka, “winging it and hoping for the best”), but it sounds like this is just what they do when things start thawing out and refreezing.
I tried those landscaping spikes that are supposed to hold down weed barrier fabric—didn’t do much, honestly. The ground was either too frozen or too soft, depending on the day, so the spikes would either bend or just pull right out. Kinda like trying to pin Jell-O to a wall.
Did you ever mess with double-sided outdoor tape? I gave that a shot on a small section, but it lost stickiness pretty quick once things got wet. Maybe I just bought the cheap stuff, not sure.
The rubber edging idea is interesting, though. I haven’t tried that. Did you have to cut it to fit? And does it make a decent seal, or do you still get water sneaking underneath? My main worry is moisture getting trapped and making things even slipperier.
I agree, though—better than tripping over cords or having them get buried in snow. At least with the mats, you can see where you’re supposed to walk (most of the time).
Anybody else try something like concrete anchors or even just shoveling out a little trench for the edge of the mat? I keep thinking there’s gotta be some simple hack that doesn’t involve me out there at midnight with a mallet and a headlamp...
