Are Carpet Tiles Old Fashioned?

In a first thought reaction you may well answer yes to my question and continue to reinforce that answer with a selection of memories of old office buildings filled with out-dated fax machines, typewriters, suspended ceilings and of course brown carpet tiles.

But shift your memory to more modern buildings of recent construction and you may be surprised when you discover carpet tile flooring in place. Or, as some prefer to call it in the 21st century, 'modular flooring'.

If the big brands in this industry are to be believed, carpet tiles are back in vogue. Not only for the commercial market but also the domestic market, with carpet tile design lending itself increasingly towards stylish home interiors.

The thing is though, the brand names, as is the case within any industry, demand a premium price for their products. But you may not have to pay the premium to get some quality modern ‘modular flooring’. There are many companies that retail leading brand names. With lots of competition on these, prices should be fairly close wherever you go. However, there are cheaper alternatives in the form of the own branded carpet tiles. Perhaps more difficult to find, these companies can offer own brand products at more cost effective prices.

One such company is carpettilesolutions.com. Offering own brand flooring that matches leading brands on quality but at a fraction of the price. A wide range of product is available with a wide range of colours and price. The only thing that will limit your new floor design is your imagination.

Carpet Tile Cleaning Advice

Regular vacuuming is perhaps the best and most obvious way to deal with everyday dust and dirt when it comes to carpet tiles. Spills and accidents should be dealt with as quickly as possible and it’s best to treat the area immediately. Solids need to be removed as soon as possible, with cleaning methods being worked from the edges of the spill towards the centre so the spillage doesn’t spread.

Excess liquid should be soaked up using absorbent paper or cloth on the area and pressing firmly. Tiles can be sponged clean if required or alternatively can be lifted and rinsed under the tap for a more thorough clean.

Normally a mild detergent solution can be applied and scrubbed gently with a brush where necessary, but it is important to remove all traces of the detergent by rinsing when finished. It is also advisable to try any detergent on a small area of tile first to check colour fastness, though in most cases this will not be a problem if mild detergent is used. Again absorbent paper or cloth should be used to soak up as much excess moisture as possible before the tile is allowed to dry.


If a tile is lifted for cleaning, you should make sure it is dry before it is re-laid. It is important that the carpet tile is left to dry naturally – do not put it on a radiator or other artificial heat source as this may lead to damage to the tile.

Carpet Tiles

Carpet Tiles have been around for over 50 years and were originally developed for homes as a hardwearing alternative to traditional broadloom carpet. Carpet tiles offer many advantages over traditional carpet and make designing your own floor scheme easy. Recently there has been an increase in new designs aimed at the modern interior space. Interior designers, makeover programs and interior magazines are increasingly presenting carpet tiles as a new design trend.

Advantages of Carpet Tiles
Easy to install
Lower installation costs
Easy to transport – boxes can fit into the back of your car
Easy to lay on top of laminate, vinyl or concrete with no need for underlay
Easy to fit in awkward shaped rooms
Easy to clean
Easy to replace if damaged - you can simply replace the tile rather than the whole floor
Easy to lift and take with you if you move home, particularly if you are renting
Installations can be made in small areas or temporarily

Carpet tiles can prove a cost effective alternative to traditional carpet as they include a strong backing so require no underlay or adhesives and produce less waste than other flooring types. This saves time and money and because carpet tiles are easy to install, you can lay them yourself and save the cost of professional fitting. Any damage or spills can be resolved by replacing one tile rather than the entire floor.