Access Matting

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DuraDeck & SignaRoad – Composite Mats For Any Jobsite

By |2019-02-01T10:51:09+00:00June 25th, 2018|Categories: Access Matting, Composite Mats, Weather|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

At Little Guy Oil Field Rentals, we supply a wide range of matting solutions that can fit any situation you find yourself in. Whether you are looking for SignaRoad,DuraDeck,Access Mats, or rubber mats, we have got you covered.

There is nothing worse than getting stuck in the mud. Equipment fails, you are getting dirty, and your workers are getting hurt, overall, not exactly a situation you want to find yourself in. The ability to execute a job safely and efficiently is extremely important, and when the ground is unreliable, you will need to consider your options and design a plan to ensure things stay on track.

One of Little Guy’s most efficient and versatile options is our DuraDeck mats. They are specifically designed to be lightweight, easy to clean and can provide either a rugged or non-slip terrain to allow effective use for both vehicles and personnel.

DuraDeck mats are only 86 lbs as compared to more traditional mats, which can range anywhere from 2000-7000 lbs. This means you could install an entire set without the need for large, or heavy equipment. In fact, DuraDeck mats can be easily installed by 1-2 worksite personnel, which is perfect if you are in an area that is cramped, crowded and has low accessibility.

This also adds benefit to transportation costs. Depending on your situation, the cost to haul your mats could be as little as nothing. However, with Little Guy’s equipment and matting transportation service, we can haul up to 500 mats in a single load as compared to some of our other mats.

DuraDeck is more commonly used on projects, worksites, or events that take place in ultrasensitive areas where any form of ground disturbance is a major concern. Areas such as golf courses, parks, and residential yards. Although incredibly lightweight, DuraDeck mats can support up to 80 tons, making them the most ideal in any situation, such as oil and gas sites, general construction, ground protection, landscaping, scaffolding bases and disaster relief sites.

Large scale projects traditionally always call for the use of heavy-duty wood access mats, however, the one major difference when compared to DuraDeck and SignaRoad mats, is the overall reusability and lifespan. 3 Ply Wood mats tend to have a 5-use lifespan before they are recycled, and are completely susceptible to things like weather and the elements. One of the major concerns when working with 3 ply wooden mats is their ability to absorb almost any liquid they encounter, which means as soon as any type of chemical or oil spill occurs, all affected mats become effectively ruined and need to be immediately removed and disposed of as they pose major negative environmental impacts. DuraDeck and SignaRoad, on the other hand, have a lifespan that is more than 10x longer, are water, chemical, and oil resistant, and are not affected by the constant cycle between wet and dry.

SignaRoad Placement

SignaRoad Placement

There is a lot that goes into deciding the right mat for your job, especially when there is such variety. Take a look at the environment you are about to start working in. Is it dry or is it wet? Maybe it’s a mixture of the two? What is the area made up of? Grass, dirt, loose soil, sand or mud? What kind of weather patterns can you expect? Are there any major environmental concerns in the surrounding area? What is the accessibility like? Can a Skid steer, Loader, or a large flatbed tractor trailer easily enter and maneuver in the area?

Obviously, there is a lot to be considered, and although we cannot make all the decisions for you, we can certainly help. If you have fully made your decision on what you need, or perhaps you are still on the fence and need some more answers, give us a call, send us an email, or introduce yourself to LittleBot, our Little Guy Live Chat service, and let’s get your project started today!

As always, we wish you the best,

Little Guy Oil Field Rentals

 

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Break Up Season

By |2018-07-20T07:35:40+00:00April 19th, 2018|Categories: Access Matting, Weather|Tags: , , , , |

What is your plan for Break-up Season?

So, Break-up Season is upon us. This means mucky, and unstable ground conditions, government road bans, and, depending on your situation, lots of free time.

For some, this is an ideal time to relax, go on vacation, spend time with family, seek education, get recertified, and service; clean; and repair equipment. For some, they are lucky enough to either be employed or work for a company that is prepared for the challenges ahead.

Although this time of year can be particularly difficult, specifically for any industry that relies on the transportation and operation of heavy vehicles and equipment, there is still a need for composite mats, access mats, rig mat washers and trucking services. At Little Guy Oil Field Rentals, we look to assist in any way we can.

“The use of rig mats helps to reduce the impact of break-up season in areas not just in the oil and gas industry. We use rig mats on commercial and residential construction projects with the purpose of saving time and money for our own clients. With restrictions on city roads, specifically regarding the tracking of mud and rocks, rig mats have helped in keeping both our truck and roads clean while also allowing our sites to flow with little to no downtime.” – Shamus Dowler, President of PostMark Development Co.

For those who do not know, seasonal road bans are put in place during Break-up Season to prevent the creation of new potholes. As temperatures start to rise, the roads become soft and susceptible to cracks and damage.

As this freeze-thaw-cycle continues, water and moisture seeps through these cracks and is soaked into the soil that makes up the road bed. As night falls, so too does the temperature, freezing and expanding the soaked water below, forming ice. Later the next day, the ice melts and evaporates, leaving a hollow cavity beneath the road.

Over time, the asphalt breaks away, falling into the hollow cavity, creating a new pothole. Obviously, without these road bans, our roads and highways would be riddled with potholes, or worse, as a direct result of the seasons changing. In this case, more government time and resources would be required to fill and repair these holes.

Unless otherwise suggested, say with a permit, highway transportation during this time is out. Although a difficult challenge, not an impossible one. Off-road transportation is still a viable option, however, given that the ground is soft, wet and muddy, you run the risk of getting stuck or otherwise damaging your vehicles and equipment. Not to mention the risk of encountering muskeg which, as you may already know, can easily resemble solid ground.

Dirt and gravel roads are also viable options; they are, however, still as susceptible to Break-up Season as everything else.

If looking to pursue off-road means, there are various options available to allow for safe and stable transportation. The use of low ground pressure tires[1][2][3]is an option, these would allow for travel over areas that are soft, loose and wet, through muskeg, swamps and wetlands. Our Mat Runner utilizes similar means by using low pressure, high volume tires.

Little Guy's Mat Runner

Another, would be to build temporary roadways that allow for the transportation and operation of heavy vehicles and equipment in similar areas. This can be done with Rig, Access, Rubber or Composite Mats, depending on the environment and your situation.

Whether we like it or not, Break-up Season is here. For those taking time off, going on vacation or otherwise taking a break, enjoy, you have certainly earned it. Those who are pushing through, we commend your efforts, and we wish you luck.

Those of you still in the field; still having to deal with the rapidly deteriorating conditions, now is the time to secure your access mats for the rough season ahead. We are looking at a longer wetter Spring this year, as compared to previous years, and this will only compound the challenges and shortages.

We wish you all the best during this challenging time,

Little Guy Oil Field Rentals

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