With so many flooring options on the market, some homeowners and even businesses have a hard time deciding which one to get. Will wooden floors work? Are wall-to-wall carpets good? Will porcelain tiles look better? Is vinyl practical? Overall, carpets are a better choice if you want to add warmth, texture and tone to any setting or living space. One of the most popular choices in recent years is commercial carpet tiles because people are realising how practical and budget-friendly they are and decide to give them a try.
What are Carpet Tiles?
This type of flooring was developed in the mid-twentieth century. It was designed to give homeowners a budget-friendly flooring option they can install themselves. These tiles are usually square-shaped, but you can also find them as hexagons or triangles. In this big variety of low-maintenance carpet tiles you can find many different colours, patterns, and designs that will match your interior.
They’re growing in popularity every day and many business owners and households choose them as their flooring. They have different methods of adhering. They can be glued, nailed or stapled. These tiles come in several sizes, but the most common ones are 48×48, 50×50, 60×60 and 96×96. They’re easy to handle and you can create a variety of patterns that will adorn any space.
Materials They’re Made of
The type of material you choose is very important. It will influence your level of comfort, cleaning and maintenance. They’re usually made of a blend of materials such as polyester, nylon, acrylics, polypropylene, cotton, wool, or some kind of recycled material. Wool is one of the priciest options because it’s natural and very durable. It’s also soft and dense which increases the level of comfort.
Polypropylene, or olefin, is a synthetic fibre that’s stain resistant. It’s not as durable as wool but it’s very fade-resistant. Nylon is a budget-friendly option that’s very resilient and comfortable. It’s also stain-resistant, which makes it popular in restaurants. Polyester is also affordable but it’s not that durable. Recycled materials are on the rise and keep getting better and better each day.
Benefits of Carpet Tiles
Easy to Install
One of the most popular advantages of these tiles is their installation process. They’re very simple to set up and you can easily make it your home DIY project. They’re also easy to store and transport because of their size. If you decide to call in an installer to do the job, it’ll take little time and won’t cause any inconvenience or interruptions in your living space.
They’re also easy to remove. If one or two tiles get damaged, you can buy just a few toles from the store and replace them, instead of a whole full-size carpet. If you have any underfloor cables, the technicians won’t have any problem reaching them because they can easily remove the tiles. Plus, you can change them often and have new flooring when you want.
Versatile Designs
Carpet tiles are actually a flexible product because they are simple to handle in tiny places and quick to install across large areas. They come in many shapes, designs, colours and materials that it’s impossible not to find something that can suit your space. You can furnish your home, restaurant, office, hallways, playrooms etc.
The design flexibility they offer can create a custom look, a unique pattern, mosaics, effects, textures, colour blends and even separate zones in the room. The opportunities are endless, and this is almost impossible to do with wall-to-wall carpets.
High Durability
The durability of these tiles is a major plus. They’re designed to last a very long time and you can rely on them to withstand a lot of wear and tear over many years. They’re heavy-duty flooring that’s meant for high-traffic areas such as hallways, offices, restaurants, kids’ rooms, living rooms or kitchens. Most of them are looped, low pile and very tight.
Easy to Clean and Maintain
The amount of work required to maintain a regular carpet might be overwhelming for businesses and busy homes. But the carpet tile option is a little more manageable. Cleaning up is as easy as daily mopping and vacuuming. You can simply wash or shampoo them once in a while to remove any existing stains, dirt and grime. You can even take the tile out completely if it has a heavy stain and then place it back on the floor.
Reusable and Sustainable
When you’re ordering these tiles, you’re getting the exact measurements and the exact amount you need. You get minimal waste, as opposed to wall-to-wall carpets where there can be a significant amount of waste. When you’re done using them and they no longer meet your needs and requirements, they can get refurbished and used somewhere else.
Carpet Tile Construction
When it comes to their construction you have three options: tufted, woven and needle punched. Tufted carpets are the most common, taking up to 95% of the market. They’re easy and fast to produce, have low production costs and come in many designs. They’re good for most projects but if you want something with endurance for high-traffic areas they might not be the best choice.
Up until the ‘50s, woven carpet tiles were the only choice on the market. They were produced on a loom at first, but as technology advanced, people created machines that do their job. They created an easier and faster production process. These tiles are very durable, have superior quality and are great for high-traffic areas. Needle-punched ones are fade-resistant and good for smaller surfaces but don’t offer a lot of comfort.
Tile Styles
There are three main styles of tiles: loop pile, cut pile and cut and loop pile. To create a silky, smooth appearance and feel, looping threads make loop pile carpets. Manufacturers play with higher and lower loops in order to get different textures and patterns. Cut pile tiles are made by cutting the loops.
This way they make an upright pile. These carpets look more luxurious and formal. The cut and loop tiles are a combination of the previous two. This helps a great deal when manufacturers want to create some effects like swirls or squares and fun patterns and styles.
