Carpet tiles are available in many different designs, colours, sizes and weights. Naturally, choosing the right carpet tile for your project can be a daunting decision when there are so many options that are available to choose from.
Whilst many specification decisions are made purely on the aesthetic properties of a carpet tile, what lies beneath the tile (the carpet tile backing) is often even more important when ensuring whether the tile will be a suitable choice for your space.
This is often overlooked as a consideration when selecting carpet tiles. Even when the backing is considered, not all backings are equal, and they all have very different performance characteristics.
So just what is the best carpet backing? The answer is that the demands of your interior will often determine the performance characteristics required from your chosen carpet backing. For interiors that require comfort, noise control and durability, cushion backed carpet tiles are often the best choice.
WHY CHOOSE A CARPET TILE WITH CUSHION BACKING?
1. UNDERFOOT COMFORT
Cushion backing makes the interior more comfortable to spend time in and helps people feel fresher for longer, which in turn can increase workplace productivity and improve morale. Leg muscle fatigue can be reduced by up to 24% vs a more traditional carpet backing system. Over time, this level of improved performance and comfort can have a positive effect on the health and well-being of the people using the space.
2. IMPROVED ACOUSTICS
Workplace noise can be a major contributor to stress levels and productivity of employees, it can even cause absenteeism. Cushion backing helps to reduce the noise levels within an interior in two ways:
- IMPROVED SOUND ABSORPTION
Quite simply, cushion backing helps to cut the level of background noise such as conversations or phones ringing, by up to 50% versus a standard hardback product. The increased sound absorption performance makes spaces quieter, calmer, less stressful and more productive.
- REDUCED IMPACT SOUND
The sound from foot traffic can come from within the interior space, from the floor above or even from rooms around a space. Just like conversations, this noise can become distracting for people using the space and lead to people feeling stressed and not being able to concentrate properly. Cushion backing helps to reduce this noise dramatically, by as much as 40% versus a hard floor.
3. IMPROVED PERFORMANCE AND APPEARANCE RETENTION
The floor covering within an interior must withstand an enormous amount of foot traffic. Often the floor represents the largest interior finish surface area that users of the building will come into contact with. This means that the performance of the floor should be a key consideration when choosing what to cover it with.
Cushion backing doesn’t only benefit the users of a space, it also helps to keep the space looking good for longer. It acts as a shock absorber that protects the face fibre of the carpet by absorbing some of the impact from foot traffic, castor chairs etc. This additional level of protection can increase the life of the carpet by up to 50%, which you will often see reflected in the length of the wear warranty supplied with your chosen carpet tiles.
4. HEALTHIER INSTALLATION
The optional addition of Milliken’s TractionBack® friction coating to the cushion backing enables glue-free installation. Minimising waste and potentially harmful VOCs, glue-free installation also facilitates potential reconfiguration and re-use of Milliken carpet tiles and planks.
5. TECHNICALLY SUPERIOR
Unlike closed cell cushion carpet, Milliken’s innovative open cell cushion provides the optimum combination of durability and cushioning. Manufactured from 90% recycled polyurethane, it is re-usable and fully recyclable.
Find out more about how to choose the right carpet tile for your next installation, download our FREE whitepaper below:
