What Are Carpet Tiles and Where Can You Use Them

If you’ve landed on this page, it means you’re either in the market for flooring for your new home or looking to replace the old, and we get it, it’s confusing stuff right?

There are so many different types of flooring options available. From luxury vinyl and genuine hardwood flooring, to linoleum and carpet, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

For instance, if you decide to go with carpet, next you’ll have to consider what kind of carpet style you want, which includes Loop Pile Carpet, Cut Pile Carpet or a combination of both Cut and Loop Pile Carpet. 

Still with us? Cool, let’s continue on the subject at hand.

What is carpet tile?

Source: Shaw Contract

As the name suggests, carpet tiles are pre-cut, carpet squares that have been engineered to be directly installed onto the floor similarly to porcelain tiles, or any tile for that matter. 

One of the main benefits of carpet tiles is that the underlay is built-in, eliminating the need for a separate pad to be installed beforehand, and effectively reducing costs, labour and fast-tracking your schedule.

They are also extremely low maintenance, with damaged tiles easily and quickly removed to be cleaned or replaced, making it a perfect flooring option for the kids playroom.

Replacement tiles can also be stored efficiently in the shed or garage, requiring minimal space.

Carpet tiles offer a wide selection of design options and can provide particular designs that broadloom and carpet roll are unable to achieve. 

Here are some quick pros and cons to carpet tiles.

PROS

• Quick and easy to install. Since carpet tiles are already pre-cut to size and have a built-in underlay, they are much faster and less difficult to install.

• Customisable designs. The design choices are limitless when you have the power to choose your own pattern. Choose to lay tiles in a standard, checkered manner or experiment around until you find a visually pleasing design that suits your space.

• Low maintenance. Any stained or damaged pieces beyond repair can be quickly and easily replaced without affecting the rest of your flooring.

CONS

• More expensive than broadloom or carpet roll. Easy to install, pre-cut pieces with a built-in underlay will come at a higher cost.

• Visible seams. Because the tiles are simply placed next to each other as opposed to being chemically sealed, the seams remain visually clear. However, may not necessarily be a negative thing if a checkered pattern or texture is what you’re after.

• Not as soft underfoot. With built-in underlays, carpet tiles do not provide as much cushioning as the separate padding used with broadloom carpet.

Where can you use carpet tiles?

With a pretty good understanding of the pros and cons of carpet tiles, let’s see where they are applicable. 

1. Kids playroom and bedroom

If you’ve got kids or have a little one on the way, you might want to consider getting carpet tiles for the playroom and bedroom.

Why? Well for starters, we all know how messy kids can get right? I mean accidents are going to happen! It’s inevitable.

One of the perks of having carpet tiles is being able to remove a singular tile without having to cut up the rest of the carpet or pulling it up.

If a tile is ever stained or damaged you’ll be able to wash, repair or replace it with ease.

2. Living space and stairs

If you’re after a particular design or pattern for the living area, or perhaps you want to create your own, carpet tiles are perfect for helping you achieve exactly that.

It’s also far easier to install and maintain carpet tiles, especially if you have young children or pets as it is much easier to replace and repair a tile than it is to tear up a roll of carpet.

Carpet rolls in oddly shaped rooms also create a lot of wastage and require more labour to cut the carpet to fit the room.

3. Lost at the airport? Simply look down.

Have you ever noticed particular designs or patterns on the ground that seem to almost ‘guide’ you in a way at the airport? Or how sections of carpet have been colour coordinated?

This technique of carpet tiling is known as ‘wayfinding’ and it essentially uses colours, pattern and tile size to guide you through a maze of people and get you to the right gate.

You may also notice wayfinding patterns in libraries, medical centres and universities. Best of all, these patterns can be easily lifted and shifted accordingly at any time.

4. Camping outdoors

Ever gone camping or on a picnic and forgot to bring a picnic rug or floor mat? Well, carpet tiles can be just as effective and super handy when it comes to extending the living space of your campsite or picnic seating area.

Carpet tiles with interlocking edges are super easy to set up and within minutes, can provide you and your family with much-needed comfort. When you’re done, simply dismantle the tiles and store away in a safe dry place.

5. Office spaces and commercial buildings

Source: Shaw Contract

The most common application for carpet tiles is in commercial office spaces and buildings.

It’s highly affordable, easy to maintain and can be easily replaced if stained or damaged beyond repair as opposed to replacing a whole section. 

Visit our dedicated page for more information on commercial carpet tiles.

Thinking about replacing your flooring? Jupps Floor Coverings carries a wide range of designs, textures and colours suited for all applications including Health Care Centres, Educational Facilities, Office settings and residential properties. 

Our in-house expert interior designers are with you from start to finish to ensure you get exactly what you’re looking for that’s most suited to your space. Speak to a friendly Jupps representative today.