Carpet tiles, sometimes modular carpets, are a prevalent flooring option for commercial environments such as offices and business centres. The tiles are pieces of carpet cut into squares from a carpet roll, generally designed from a tough-wearing carpet that can withstand large amounts of footfall and consistent use.
Generally, in a home, a carpet is to provide an element of comfort and warmth, and carpet tiles give the same feeling. Still, on a more commercial level, this is where you are more likely to find carpet tiles than regular carpets, commonly used in the home.
The most common way of having carpet installed is through a process called ‘Broadloom’; this is where the squares are cut from substantial sheets of carpet, ideal for the home. At the same time, carpet tiles have provided a more modular option, much more practical for commercial environments and high footfall areas.
Carry on reading our blog to see why you should consider carpet tiles and what the advantages of carpet tiles are; our team here at QC Flooring have been supplying and installing carpet tiles for businesses for several years, and during this time, we have learnt a thing or two about them. If, once you have finished reading our blog post, you have any questions or queries, be sure to reach out to one of us as soon as possible.
Our team are always more than happy to help.
Overview; Advantages Of Carpet Tiles
– Easy to Install
– Versatile
– Cost Effective Solution
– Incredibly Convenient
– Durable
– Low Maintenance
– Suitable For Office Furniture
What Are Carpet Tiles?
Developed in the mid-twentieth century, carpet tiles were designed for commercial use, a carpet that can offer accessible and durable flooring to companies that wanted to make their office and businesses more welcoming and comfortable. Sometimes they can also be used by homeowners, but carpet tiles are much more commonly found in commercial properties.
Referred to as ‘carpet tiles’ or ‘carpet squares’, they are compiled of individually cut squares of carpet that can be laid side by side to create a complete carpet. The makeup of a carpet tile is generally a layer of pile fibres, what the carpet itself is made of, sewn onto a backing fabric which is then attached to another layer, creating a strong and durable carpet square that can withstand a large amount of use.
With a vast amount of colours, designs and styles available, they are one of the best ways on the market to bring some diversity and design to your office, you can simply choose plain carpet colour, or you can mix and match to bring energy to your property. They are incredibly versatile.
Some industries that benefit most from this type of carpet are; schools, offices, industrial spaces, reception areas and anywhere else that needs a carpet that can withstand high footfall from staff, clients and even furniture such as computer chairs and more.
What Sizes Do Carpet Tiles Come In?
One of the market’s most common carpet tiles sizes is 50cm by 50cm. However, it is worth noting that they are available in various sizes; depending on the manufacturer, you can even get a bespoke cut-to-size shape.
It is worth noting that although they are sometimes known as ‘carpet squares’, they are not solely available in a square shape; you can get odd sizes and shapes designed specifically to fit oddly shaped rooms. These carpet tiles require a little more thought than ones for a regular square or rectangle room, but they are available.
If you need oddly shaped carpet tiles, speak to a professional company such as QC Flooring, we will be more than happy to work with you to determine the shape and size you need and provide them to you.
In-Depth Look At The Advantages Of Carpet Tiles
Simple and fast installation
If you’re looking for a quick and easy-to-install type of carpet or even flooring, then carpet tiles are the route for you. When it comes to installation, they are one of the best products on the market.
They go down very quickly and slot in seamlessly together. Since carpet flooring tiles are small, they are straightforward to transport, much more so than a whole roll of carpet. If you are looking for something that is easily installed and will not interrupt the day-to-day running of your business or company, carpet tiles are the best choice!
Very durable
One of the main benefits of carpet tiles is their strength and durability. The carpet is made to last a long time anyway, but the carpet tiles can last an extremely long time as you can replace a square as and when they need replacing, this is a massive advantage as you don’t need to pay expensive bills on cleaning or to replace a carpet.
Carpet tiles take a heavy amount of footfall every day. They don’t get worn down as quickly as the standard wall-to-wall carpet because carpet tiles are thicker and don’t need to be glued or stapled down.
Not only can they withstand the everyday comings and goings of the staff that work in your building, but they can also withstand the constant back and forth of computer chairs and the weight of desks.
Making them the best option for all office-based buildings and other companies that need strong and durable floors.
Variety of styles
Carpet tiles can be fitted in many different formations to create diverse effects. Decorative tiles can be used for working are, and solid colours could be used for break-out areas or vice versa. If you have a huge building with many floors for different departments, you could also have a colour for each floor and department.
Not only that, but due to their versatility, you can create stunning patterns with the carpet tiles themselves; designs can be created on the floor representing your company logo, brand colours or anything else you might be searching for.
Easy to maintain
Maintaining a standard carpet is a lot of work that many don’t have time for; this can be extremely overwhelming if cleaners don’t come regularly. On the other hand, carpet tiles are a bit easier to maintain.
Maintenance is as simple as going around with the vacuum a few times, and then occasionally, you could swap tiles around and take the old ones to have a deep clean and continue this cycle as and when you feel it needs it.
They are reusable
Even though the carpet tiles no longer meet your shade, pattern, or quality requirements, they may be suitable for another environment. This way, you may even get a little bit of money instead of having a carpet roll as these are often unable to be re-used.
Many used carpets are often used in social or affordable housing. They are also ideal due to the low waste when installing the carpet tiles, as they are already cut to size.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Carpet Tiles?
Non-Uniform Appearance
Carpet tiles can sometimes offer a non-uniform appearance once laid because they are separate individual tiles rather than one giant carpet. Unlike ‘Broadloom’ carpet, commonly found in domestic properties, with carpet tiles, there is always the risk that each tile will not fit completely flush against the other.
More expensive carpet tiles will, without a doubt, look better than cheaper ones, but it all comes down to how the carpet tiles are laid; if not done professionally, you risk looking non-uniform.
Loose Fibres
With carpet tiles being individual pieces that fit together, you will inevitably see more loose fibres and a minor fraying, down to the multiple joints and seams. This happens on a regular carpet, but with it being a solid block of material, it does not happen as noticeably as it can on carpet tiles.
Fraying and fibre shedding can happen at any time; there is no real reason for it other than wear and tear on the carpet, it might not even happen at all, but it is a possibility.
Mis-placed Perceptions
Unfortunately, when carpet tiles first hit the market, they were stigmatised as a cheap option for companies compared to regular carpets, meaning they were perceived to be less luxurious and budget. Whilst this may have been true in the beginning, the development of carpet tiles has grown continuously, with the majority of them now being the same quality as regular carpets.
But in some areas, this stigma can still be attached, so choosing a higher-end carpet tile might help.
What Carpet Styles Are Available?
Since carpet tiles were created, technology has advanced, materials have developed, and so have colour treatments; now, you can create intricate designs and patterns. You can choose from the regular and traditional block carpet tile look; this is where the pattern is consistent throughout the building; all the carpet tiles are the same size and shape, which gives uniformity.
Alternatively, you can go for something a little more geometric if you want something different. This is possible due to the technological advancements of carpet tiles over the years; this style grows in popularity year on year as shapes become more inclusive, colours become more vibrant, and design ideas are more accepted.
Carpet tiles have become much more accessible to many businesses, so it is easy to answer the question of what styles are available; the possibilities are endless.
Should You Buy Carpet Tiles?
As we have highlighted both the advantages and disadvantages of carpet tiles above, we wanted to look at whether you should buy carpet tiles or whether there are alternative options on the market that would work just as well, if not better. For example, hardwood floors, regular carpets, laminate, and many more flooring options are available to commercial property owners than carpet tiles.
It is probably worth noting that if you have ample space to work with, wall-to-wall carpet could potentially work better in terms of installation, however for maintenance and durability, carpet tiles would still work best as you would be able to easily remove damaged tiles and replace them should it be required.
When it comes to the durability of carpet tiles, if cared for in the right way, they can last for around 20 years; with a lifespan such as that, we would always recommend buying a more expensive carpet; it will last the longest, especially if you have regular carpet cleaning service carried out.
Talking about cleaning regimes, there is a conversation about how hygienic carpet tiles can be; this is because they can trap dust and debris quite quickly due to their rougher and shorter fibres, but with regular cleaning, this should not be an issue for any company, especially one that has a dedicated cleaning company.
Our team have recommended carpet tiles to businesses for several years, so if you are looking for a product that can offer you durable and versatile flooring, then carpet tiles might just be the solution.
Choose QC Flooring For Your Carpet Tile Solutions Today
If you are looking for a flooring option that is both stylish and functional, carpet tiles may be the perfect choice for your business. Thanks to their versatility and durability, they can be used in various settings, from corporate offices to schools.
If you find yourself asking the question, what are the advantages of carpet tiles, there are many, including durability, cost-effectiveness and easy installation processes. Our team here at QC Flooring have been providing carpet tiles and installing them for several years; if you have any questions or queries, be sure to reach out to us today.
Plus, with QC Flooring’s vast selection of colours and textures, it’s easy to find the perfect carpet tiles for your space, whether in an office, school reception area or elsewhere.
Contact us today to learn more about our products and how we can help you choose the right flooring for your business.
