When you’re buying new carpet tiles, it can be challenging to compare one product with another and objectively determine the best option for your specific needs. Unfortunately, there’s a significant difference in quality between carpet tiles, in terms of their performance, aesthetics, and durability. How do you know what’s important, and what’s not?
Fortunately, there are a handful of universal criteria that elevate the best carpet tiles above the rest. Today I’m sharing six essential traits of the best carpet tiles and what to look for when you’re considering various options.
1) Long-Lasting and Durable
New flooring needs to be long-lasting and durable. It should withstand regular use and high levels of foot traffic, ensuring it will look good for many years rather than quickly wearing out.
What to Look For
Tile backing is the most important factor affecting the durability of modular carpet. In hard-backed tiles, the carpet fibres directly absorb the impact of foot traffic, which accelerates appearance degradation.
In comparison, cushion backing helps to absorb the impact of foot traffic, reducing fibre wear. However, not all cushion backing is the same. There are two types of cushion backing: open cell and closed cell.
The best carpet tiles will have open-cell cushion backing: these ‘re-inflate’ after being compressed, protecting your floor covering more effectively and for longer than closed-cell cushion backing.
2) Easy to Install
The best carpet tiles will be easy to install, without requiring complex preparation work. This will make installing your new flooring less costly by reducing both the installation time and labour.
What to Look For
Many installation complications stem from the need to prevent flooring compatibility problems, such as plasticiser migration. These issues often occur when compounds in new carpet tiles react with traces of old adhesives left from previous flooring.
The most effective way to simplify your installation process is to choose flooring with a non-reactive backing. Certain types of cushion backing, such as open-cell cushion backing, don’t contain PVC or plasticisers, meaning they don’t react with anything on the subfloor.
Eliminating reactive factors can greatly speed up and simplify the installation process: you don’t need to remove all traces of old adhesives or prime and seal the floor.
3) Aesthetics
It goes without saying that your new carpet tiles are the foundational component to create an attractive, welcoming interior environment. You should have a wide choice of designs and colours to choose from, so you can select designs that align with your desired aesthetic.
What to Look For
When choosing your carpet tiles, look for a floor covering manufacturer that provides design flexibility, with a wide range of patterns and colours. Different carpet dye technologies affect everything from patterning and available colours to lead times and design continuity.
Durability is equally important when considering various modular carpet designs, as it directly impacts how long they will look new.
4) Cost-Effective Maintenance
The best carpet tiles will resist dirt, wear, and tear. This will make them easier to maintain with regular cleaning, rather than requiring extensive, frequent stain removal to keep them looking as-new.
What to Look For
Choose modular carpet with built-in stain-resistant technology to help prevent staining and soiling over the lifetime of the carpet. This will help to reduce time and costs associated with the labour required for regular cleaning.
5) Creates a Positive Environment
The best carpet tiles will make a noticeable improvement to both the look and feel of your space, impacting noise levels, temperature, and even comfort.
What to Look For
Carpet tiles with cushion backing absorb 50% more noise than hard-back tiles, which can make a noticeable difference to background noise levels.
Furthermore, cushion-backed carpet tiles offer greater underfoot support, creating a more comfortable space to stand and walk around in. In fact, they can reduce muscle strain by 24%, enhancing the experience for those who use your space every day.
6) Minimises Risk
Purchasing new flooring is expensive and potentially a significant financial risk. If you choose flooring that’s not suited to the specific environment, you’ll end up replacing it sooner, which will be another costly, disruptive project. When it comes to purchasing new flooring, you want to be confident that you’ve chosen a solution guaranteed to meet your requirements for many years to come.
What to Look For
One of the most important factors to consider is the manufacturer’s warranty. The best carpet tiles will come with a comprehensive warranty programme, covering all the key aspects of carpet tile performance for the lifetime of your carpet.
It’s also crucial to minimise risk during installation. A good installer should know everything they need to do to comply with the manufacturer’s warranty. However, it’s essential that you also have a clear understanding of what’s required, so you can ensure the warranty requirements are followed to help the installation run smoothly.
