Carpet tiles are the choice of many savvy homeowners who have soured on the cumbersome and delicate nature of traditional broadloom rugs. Sometimes referred to as carpet squares, long used in commercial settings, they are now becoming a popular choice for residential flooring.
HISTORY
Carpets have had a long history dating back to the third millennium BC, nearly 4,000 years ago. Found in Siberia, the oldest surviving rug is believed to have been created in the 5th century BC. Traditionally, rugs were handmade, made up of thousands of intricately woven knots to form beautiful works of art too valuable to put on the ground and walk on. Unfortunately, carpet technology remained largely unchanged for thousands of years.
The 1930s changed the carpet industry forever. Some entrepreneurs discovered a method of using a rug-making machine, and almost overnight they became an item the emerging middle class could splurge on. It wasn’t until the late 1950s with the introduction of synthetic fibers that wall-to-wall carpeting in homes became commonplace.
More recently, carpet tiles, a concept almost as old as carpets themselves, have been modernized. Introduced to the US in the late 1980s, they have been a popular choice for offices and other commercial spaces. Today, carpet tiles are available in a variety of sizes and in almost as many colors and styles as regular carpet.
BENEFITS
The benefits that carpet tiles have over the more traditional roll of broadloom carpet are compelling. Savvy homeowners and trend-setting designers have started adopting carpet tiles for its many benefits.
Logistics – An average roll of carpet is 12 feet wide and can be up to 150 feet long. Weighing an average of 1/2 pound per square foot, a 100-foot-long roll of carpet can weigh up to 600 pounds. So, in addition to being awkwardly sized, they also tend to be heavy, often requiring at least two people to carry and a truck to transport. Carpet tiles, on the other hand, vary in size, but are typically 12″ to 18″ squares with 6 to 12 pieces stacked together. A pack of carpet tiles is lightweight and compact, which means almost anyone can carry a pack or two and can be transported in even the smallest of cars.
Storage – Beyond basic logistics, you also have to consider storage. One or two packages of leftover carpet tiles can be discreetly stacked in a storage room or closet. Storing a roll of leftover carpet is more of a challenge, regardless of length a roll of carpet will always be 12 feet wide, too big for most closets and certainly not inconspicuous, not to mention it can take two people to move it .
small spaces – The standard 12-foot-wide roll of carpet is a good choice for large, open spaces, but it’s not ideal for the much smaller spaces common in so many homes and offices. Closets and hallways become a challenge when dealing with an unwieldy roll of carpet. The small size of carpet tiles has a clear advantage here.
Waste – Being small is also an advantage ensuring carpet tiles minimize waste, ultimately saving money. A roll of carpet does not offer much flexibility in terms of size, with a given width, only the length varies. Of course, 12 foot wide carpet rolls work best in a space that is also 12 feet wide, if the area is only 10 feet wide or maybe 14 feet wide there will be significant waste. Carpet tiles purchased in packs of 6 to 12 squares ensure that there will be enough carpet to finish the job, while excess carpet can be significantly reduced. An average flooring project using carpet tile can end up with as little as 5% waste.
design aesthetics – There is little flexibility in design when using traditional rugs. The only opportunity for creativity is in choosing the color and length. Carpet tiles, however, provide ample opportunity for creativity. Beyond the obvious color and length, carpet tiles also have the benefit of coming in a variety of sizes. The unobtrusive nature of carpet tiles allows for the use of multiple colors and sizes, as well as having the ability to alter orientation. Creative designers can create unique patterns on the rug that enhance a room and create a visual separation between spaces.
Facilities – Traditional rug requires labor-intensive padding, adhesive, and tack strips to cut, trim, glue, bind, and stretch for proper installation; too often, this job is best left to expensive professionals. Installing carpet tiles just got a whole lot easier. The tiles are simply laid on the floor and trimmed to fit. No special glues or adhesives are required and will not damage the underlying flooring. Almost anyone can install carpet tiles, which explains its popularity with DIYers.
Repair – If traditional carpet becomes worn or stained, there are few solutions. In the past, rugs or furniture were used to cover problem areas, eventually requiring the entire rug to be replaced. When carpet tiles are used, if they become damaged or dirty, they are easy to lift and replace. Dirty tiles can be removed and washed separately without the need for specialized carpet cleaning equipment, and if they are too dirty or damaged, they can be thrown away and replaced with new tiles.
CONCLUSION
Carpet tiles may be as old as the invention of rugs, but they were largely forgotten when inexpensive rugs created through mechanization became standard. The development of modern carpet tiles has been a hit with consumers. The reasons are obvious from logistics, ease of storage, waste reduction, DIY installation, simple repairs, and design flexibility, just to name a few. Today, carpet tiles are quickly becoming the preferred choice for a variety of commercial and residential flooring projects.