One to three years in daily use, depending on traffic and exposure. It is a consumable rather than a keepsake, and a faded mat is doing its job rather than failing at it.

Because grit under a shoe acts like sandpaper. Large bold shapes stay readable as the surface wears; small delicate lettering becomes illegible long before the mat itself is finished.

It is the biggest single factor. Under a porch a mat stays dry and out of direct sun and can last years. Fully exposed to rain and sun, the same mat fades in a fraction of the time.

Coir scrapes mud off boots best but sheds fibres and dislikes staying wet. Synthetic holds a print more crisply, hoses clean and copes with damp. Coir for muddy rural doorways, synthetic for covered entrances.

The backing. A rubber or textured underside grips; a flat woven back slides on tile or polished stone. Avoid loose mats at the top of steps entirely.

Shake or beat out the grit regularly, since grit is what does the damage. Synthetic mats can be hosed down. Coir should be kept as dry as possible and never soaked.

For a covered doorway, often yes. For a fully exposed high-traffic entrance, replacing a modest one more often usually works out better.