Plywood vs. Ground Protection Mats: Which Is Right for Your Project?

Plywood Looks Cheaper Until the Job Gets Muddy 

Why crews are replacing disposable plywood with reusable ground protection mats 

You have probably done this before. 

The ground is soft, but the machine still needs to reach the work area. You put down plywood because it is familiar, available and cheaper than buying dedicated access mats. 

Then the plywood gets wet. 

It shifts. The edges break. Mud pushes through the gaps. Your crew stops to repose it and the lawn underneath still ends up needing attention. 

At that point, the plywood was not really the cheaper option. 

The problem is not the price of one sheet 

Plywood looks cheaper because you only see today's receipt. But every time it becomes soaked, warped or broken, your crew must repeat the same process: drive to the store, buy more sheets, transport them to the jobsite, unload them and position them by hand. 

Then there are the costs that never appear on the plywood receipt: 

That is what makes cheap plywood expensive over time. The material is only one part of the bill; your crew time, transportation, delays and potential site repairs can cost far more. 

Ground protection mats are built for repeated equipment access 

Unlike plywood, purpose-built ground protection mats are designed to create a more consistent temporary route over lawns, mud and soft ground. 

The treaded surface provides traction. Connectors help keep the route together. The mats spread equipment loads across a wider surface and can be cleaned, stored and used on another project. 

The difference is simple: Plywood is usually treated as a job expense. Ground protection mats become part of your equipment. 

Stop comparing the purchase price 

A sheet of plywood will usually cost less today. That is not the full comparison. 

The better question is: What will each option cost over the next 10 years? 

Ground protection mats can be reused for up to a decade when they are properly selected, used and maintained. Instead of repeatedly paying for a temporary fix, you make one investment in equipment that moves from job to job. 

Your 10-year plywood cost includes: sheets purchased and replaced, store trips, transportation, crew time, repositioning, cleanup, disposal, delays and any surface repairs. 

Your ground protection mat cost includes: the initial mat system, routine cleaning and proper storage. 

Even before damage or delays are counted, repeated plywood purchases and paid crew time can add up to thousands of dollars. Compare cost per protected job, not cost per sheet. 

Where ground protection mats make sense 

Protect the route and protect the job