Trent and our Trusted team at Regina’s Flooring Superstores have established a strong and loyal customer base through our commitment to excellent customer service. By being part of the powerful buying group that is the Flooring Superstores chain, we are also able to provide quality Regina flooring at unbeatable prices. In our latest flooring article we share pros and cons of commercial carpet vs carpet tiles.

Broadloom Carpet- Pros and Cons

Broadloom is woven on a very wide loom, this type of carpet is still the most commonly used for wall-to-wall carpeting in both commercial applications.

The sheer number of broadloom carpet styles – from rich traditional colours and patterns to expressive contemporary designs – provides considerable creative possibilities. .

With either product, the quality of installation is paramount. Patterns should be chosen to suit the application and hide imperfections. For example, a checker-patterned broadloom carpet that covers a long hallway will show whether the carpet was installed correctly as the eye follows the pattern. A more complex pattern – or none at all – would be better suited to this type of application.

As broadloom is typically installed over a carpet pad, there is a lessened need for minor imperfections in the subfloor – that is, the structural floor itself – to be corrected prior to installation. High quality broadloom with a moisture barrier backing offers excellent stain resistance and durability for most applications. Seams can be chemically welded for a virtually seamless appearance, and the variety of patterns allows for a great deal of creative freedom. In commercial-residential applications, broadloom imparts a warmer, more residential aesthetic and can be made to feel wonderfully plush underfoot with an appropriate underlay material.

Carpet tiles pros and cons

Also known as modular carpet  they are square, modular tiles of carpeting, with an integrated backing material and base. Carpet tiles have become increasingly popular in high-traffic commercial applications, gaining a market share of up to  30% in recent years .

The modular nature of carpet tiles, however, provides nearly unlimited freedom for creative design without compromising the functional abilities of the flooring. Tiles can be quarter-turned to produce a checkerboard effect; multiple tiles and patterns can be used to create fun and unique spaces  – a children’s play area in a health club, for example – that simply cannot be achieved with rolled-out carpeting .

Carpet tiles, are mounted directly to the subfloor, so any imperfections may compromise the placement and durability of the tile itself, and must be corrected prior to installation. Provided the subfloor is as it should be, however, the eliminated need for an underlay material simplifies the installation process of carpet tiles. Carpet tiles can even be installed without moving furniture out of a room!

Spacing and alignment of tiles must be precise in order to prevent tiles’ edges from curling up or spreading apart, and to reduce visible seams and pattern shifts. Even with expert installation, however, carpet tiles will still show at least some seams and pattern variances, and should not be expected to look like a single piece of flooring to the extent that broadloom carpeting will

Because the carpeting on carpet tiles is bonded directly to the dense vinyl backing material, carpet tiles naturally create a strong moisture barrier. The ability to replace damaged or soiled tiles individually and to rotate tiles from lower-traffic areas into high-traffic areas makes carpet tile a natural choice for high-traffic commercial applications. Installation of carpet tiles also produces less waste than broadloom. A supply of spare carpet tiles takes up little space, and is easy to store as part of a flooring maintenance program .

“Whether broadloom carpeting or carpet tiles are installed, both will provide a warmer and more insulated floor than a hard surface material. The suitability of one over the other depends on a number of factors, such as volume of foot traffic, location of flooring, and the aesthetic desired. ”

Choosing the right flooring for business can be a tough decision. You need to take into account the amount of wear your floor will take on a daily basis which can vary whether you are buying for an office or retail location. Our Flooring Consultants can help make it easy.

Built Tough

• Durable to withstand wear in all areas
• Non-slip surface options
• Stain resistant
• Innovative technologies

Endless Options

• Carpet, resilient / linoleum, ceramic tile, hardwood, vinyl tiles & vinyl planks available in variations that offer more durability for commercial applications
• Flooring that will get any condo board approval
• Building contractors can choose between hundreds of different commercial flooring options retail shops, offices, showrooms, etc.