All about Carpet Tiles

A major decision that takes up a lot of your physical and mental energy in the redesigning of your homes would be that of flooring. The most significant decision is which flooring you should choose. The first visual of any home when you enter is that of the floor, so it has to be the best. Also it takes up a large part of your budget, so it should be taken seriously after all.

Amongst the many flooring options that we have to choose from, one such option is that of Carpet tiles.

What are Carpet tiles?

Carpet tiles are soft tiles made of bound carpet or stapled fibres that are used for flooring as an additional layer on the subfloor. Usually carpeting in flooring is done as a wall to wall coverage to make it look like a unanimous flooring construction. They give a warm, comfortable aesthetic to homes.

What are carpet tiles made of?

Carpet tiles have many variants that are made of different materials and fibres. Some of the most widely used materials are as follows:

• Wool: Carpet tiles made out of wool are premium as wool is an expensive material. These tiles provide great warmth and softness and become your best friends during the cold days.
• Polypropylene (Olefin): PP tiles, also known as Olefin tiles are made of synthetic fibres. Polypropylene is the main ingredient that is used in packaging, labels and reusable containers. They are very convenient to install and use, they are reasonably priced and are available in many colour options which is what makes them a widely used choice.
• Nylon: Nylon carpet tiles are made of the fibres that are used to make parachute cords, car seat straps and life saving ropes for mountaineers, which makes them tougher and more expensive than PP. But because of its durability, their life span is also higher than the PP carpet tiles, thus making them a preferable choice over PP carpet tiles.
• Polyester: Polyester carpet tiles are a popular choice for a lot many reasons. To begin with, the yarn of polyester is very easy to dye and holds colours well, which means the choices in polyester tiles are endless. They are fairly priced which makes them pocket friendly. They are eco friendly as the fibres are made out of recycled plastic bottles, which can be recycled again after its use. The only downside to it is that it may not last as long as Nylon tiles but they definitely last longer than PP carpet tiles.
• Recycled materials: Recycled carpet tiles are made by grinding used vinyl and nylon carpeting. The best part about using these carpet tiles is that they do not produce any eco waste. However, the life span of these tiles is questionable.

Types of Carpet Tiles – Designing Your Carpet Tiles

1. Tufted carpets:

   For those of you who may not know, tufted carpet tiles are those where cut or looped carpet fibres poke through the carpet backing. 95% of all commercial carpet tiles are tufted. The reason is that tufted tiles have a fast production time, which makes their prices lower and their designs plenty. If quality is your priority, then tufted tiles may not be the ideal choice for you.

2. Woven carpets:

   Woven carpets are produced on a loom . This is what makes their quality superior and durable, which is why woven carpets are widely used and in demand even today. This is a great choice for projects that are high end.

3. Needle punched carpets:

   Needle punched carpets are colourfast, they dry out quickly and are resistant to fade in sunlight. They are super practical to use, but they lack versatility in terms of look and feel. They work well if they are used as entry or door mats, but other than that, they are not recommended for general use.

Advantages Of Carpet Tiles

Following are the advantages of using carpet tiles for your homes:

• • Durability and maintenance:Carpet tiles are famous for their ability to withstand heavy foot traffic and still look good. All it needs is regular vacuuming and you are good to go.
  • Carpet tiles saves time and cost and reduces wastage:With their small size, carpet tiles are easier to lift and install, compared to carpet rolls. They come in a handy size which reduces wastage that would normally occur in a carpet. They don’t need to be cut into bespoke measurements as they come in a friendly, ready to fit size that saves all your time and energy in the world. This means that the work will be done faster, with less labour costs involved and makes an impressive decision for your budgets.
  • Carpet squares are easy to remove and replaceThere is no denying that a carpet or a carpet tile comes with a shelf life. They are susceptible to staining and deterioration over a period of time. In that case, it is easy to excise those parts of the carpet tile that are damaged and need replacing. If they were carpets, then there is no escaping. You need to rip the whole carpet out, which makes refurbishing a huge task, both physically and financially.
  • Carpet tiles give you great design flexibility:
    With carpets, you are compelled and restricted to use the same design all over as they cant be altered. With carpet tiles, it is possible to bring the creative side out of you and create designs and patterns that would look great on your floor. Carpet tiles like polyester work very well with dyes so you are free to do any customisation too.
  • Ambient advantages of carpet tiles:

Apart from giving a warm, acoustic kind of vibe in your homes, carpet tiles also come with safety benefits for the inhabitants. They help in making rooms soundproof. They also give a soft footing for those walking on them. So if you have a home that inhabits kids or elderly, carpet tiles are a blessing in disguise for their safety and well being.

Selecting Carpet Tiles for different projects

Selecting carpet tiles entirely depends upon what space you are getting them for. Here’s how you can pick the carpet tiles based on the space.

• Commercial carpet tiles for hospitality projects:Designing for a hospitality project means ticking off a huge checklist. From pubs to fine dining restaurants to hotels, the kind of carpet tiles you select will vary from project to project.If a fine dine restaurant or a hotel is your project, then it is feasible and practical to opt for carpet instead of tiles. Wall to wall carpeting will allow you to achieve the degree of perfection and the lush underfoot feel that an aspirational project requires. The rich textures and designs and the comfort, you will have it all with a carpet.For everything else, you may go for carpet tiles. Your nistros, clubs, pubs, cafes will be the best places to have carpet tiles and rightfully so, there is a huge demand and popularity of carpet tiles for such spaces. They offer value for money, look great and provide the endurance that it needs for the kind of footfall there will be.
• Carpet tiles for office projects:Acoustics is a priority when it comes to commercial spaces like offices. Excessive noise is a huge factor in hindering productivity, hence this is a cause that needs maximum attention. Carpet tiles will come to rescue when it comes to noise reduction and creating a soundproof atmosphere. But today, interior designers are taking it up a notch with carpet tiles. They are trying to tell a story and are stimulating innovation with carpet tiles. This is another reason to having carpet tiles in commercial spaces.

Frequently Asked Questions about Carpet Tiles

How to fit carpet tiles?

In order to install carpet tiles, the first rule is to build a solid subflooring system. By doing so you are laying a strong foundation for your carpet tiles to sit well.

Understand the spatial requirements first before going all out. Determining this will answer a lot of your questions. Based on this understanding, you will be able to determine the kind of carpet tiles, the quantity and the time and money that you will need to install them.

The installation process involves the following steps. Install the carpet tiles in a systematic manner, by starting with the centre. Move towards the corners slowly and trim the tiles as per the requirement. Once the installation is complete, roll the tiles to ensure that no air pockets are left between two tiles. This also helps in firming up the tiles.

What is the difference between Carpet Tiles vs Tiles?

If we are to compare the difference between Carpet tiles and tiles, there are plenty of differences. Tile is actually more cost effective than carpet tiles as it does not degrade over a period of time. Unlike carpet tiles that call for replacement once in every few years, tiles have no such requirement unless they have been broken. This is what makes them cost effective.

Tiles have a long life which makes them more durable than carpet tiles. Tiles are easier to clean. Any spillage can be easily taken care of by simply wiping them off. Carpet tiles will absorb the spillage, making them lose their quality over a period of time. Not to mention the stains it leaves on them. Carpets are known to cause allergies to the inhabitants as they catch a lot of dust. This is not the case with tiles. Tiles are water resistant, which carpet tiles are not. Tiles are super versatile. They can be used everywhere, including the kitchens and bathrooms, whereas carpets are mostly used only in the living room and the bedroom.