Wall-to-wall carpeting brings comfort and style to a room, but traditional carpet is difficult to install and limited in terms of design. Modular carpet tiles offer an alternative that solves both these problems.

For years installed only installed in commercial spaces, many homeowners today are trying out carpet tiles with good results. Out of all the carpet options out there, carpet tile is the easiest to install, the easiest to replace, and it lets you express your creativity the most. Today there are more styles to choose from, great quality, and so many benefits. While they aren’t the most popular carpet flooring option, they are worth considering.

But how do you pick the perfect tile?

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There are countless carpet varieties available today, with a surprisingly large number of benefits over standard rollout carpet. If you’re in search of the ultimate guide to carpet tile, you’re in the right place. We’ve got it right here for you!

What Are Carpet Tiles?

Carpet tiles, or ‘carpet squares’ as they’re sometimes called, are simply carpeting that comes in square tile format instead of broadloom rolls. Carpet tiles are made to adhere to the floor in a similar way to standard carpet flooring. Some use glues, while others are nailed or stapled down.

Carpet tiles were popular for commercial use for years, due to how easy it is to remove and replace a damaged area. But now they’ve become very popular for homes too. You can find carpet tiles just about anywhere – in basements, bedrooms, gyms, movie theaters, and even garages.

Carpet tile often has backing and padding attached, so you don’t need to invest in any extra products to install. Just simply peel and stick, glue, tape, or lock your carpet tiles down and go.

It’s so easy, you can completely tile a room in carpet in only a few hours.

Carpet Tile and New Carpet Planks

As carpet tiles have grown in popularity, the shape has always been a square. Carpet tiles will never truly go out of style, but now you have another option – carpet planks!

Recently, carpet planks have been making a big impression in the world of flooring. They come with all the same benefits of standard tiles, but the rectangular plank shape mimics the huge popularity of planks in other flooring options, like tile and wood.

Other styles and shapes are sure to follow.

Advantages

So why you would choose carpet tile over broadloom? Carpet tiles aren’t for everyone but since they’re so small and lightweight it makes them easier to manage and give you more design options than traditional carpet.

• Easy to Install
• Replaceable
• Customizable
• Low Maintenance

Easy to Install

Probably the most attractive benefit of the carpet tile is how convenient they are. As they are modular and able to purchase in small units, they are easy to store, transport and handle.

Installing traditional broadloom carpet is a chore. Traditional carpet is sold in long, wide rolls that are heavy and unwieldy. Installation is best left to professionals.

Carpet tiles come in small squares that are easy to lift, carry, and lay in place. Their compact size makes it easier to fill oddly shaped rooms without the need to cut the carpet. You don’t need to lay padding before installing these tiles. Self-stick designs can simply be pressed into place. And, if you decide to hire a pro to install your carpet tile it’s cheaper than traditional rolls of broadloom.

Replaceable

One of the reasons for their popularity in commercial buildings is how easy they are to remove, or replace squares. If one section gets damaged or stained. Just lift out the badly damaged tile and replace it with a new one. Good as new.

Customizable

With broadloom carpet, you’re stuck with a single pattern and pile for the whole room. But with carpet tile you can choose colors and materials to create a completely customized look. With the many designs, shapes and materials they come in, there is something to suit every area. Not to mention, with a lower cost means if you get tired of the look pull it up and replace them with something new.

Low Maintenance

Ease of maintenance is one of the big reasons carpet tiles gained popularity. Like traditional carpet, it requires vacuuming once or twice a week and a deep cleaning with carpet shampoo every two years or so. However, carpet tiles are made to hold up extremely well over time. Carpet tile is heavy-duty and built to last because most of it is designed for high traffic business use.

And, don’t forget squares are removable and replaceable – adding to their low maintenance.

Disadvantages

Thickness – Not as plush

Carpet tiles often lack the softness of broadloom because they aren’t as thick. Because it began as a commercial trend, you’ll probably find fewer options that feature plush cut piles. With their popularity look for carpet tiles offered in more and more plush luxurious styles – as they have begun already.

Edge Fray

Over time, the glue or tape holding down your carpet tiles weakens, which can lead to loose or frayed edges. This makes vacuuming difficult because the edges are liable to be caught in the vacuum cleaner’s brush, which then pulls up the whole tile. If the tiles are installed on an uneven floor, they can start to lift up and cause a tripping hazard.

What are Carpet Tiles Made Of?

Not all carpets are the same. They can be made from a variety of fibers that will affect the feel, durability, and performance of the carpet. 

• Nylon: Only for indoor use, this is the most popular carpet fiber. It’s durable, static-free, and often treated with a stain-blocking technology. It stays beautiful, longer.
• Polyester: As the most environmentally friendly option, these are mostly made from recycled materials. Plus it’s slightly cheaper than nylon and almost as durable. This fiber offers the most color choices, along with extreme stain-resistance and fade-resistance.
• Polypropylene: Best fabric to avoid staining and fading because the color runs through the fiber rather than just being dyed on the outside. Polypropylene is soft and durable, however it has a tendency to absorb oil. Therefore, make sure you choose the right space for this type.

Are you convinced yet?

If you’re looking for a great new product that resists wear, is easy to install and maintain, and costs less carpet tile is definitely something you should try. For years they were thin, boring, and looked like they belong in an office. However, with new styles and fabrics being released they are now definitely worth checking out.