If you are looking for a soft floor covering in your communal areas, there are two obvious choices: broadloom (sheet) carpet and carpet tiles. Both types of flooring solutions have their pros and cons which Selby Contract Flooring will delve into, suiting different types of buildings and décor.
Personal preference plays a key role when deciding between traditional sheet carpet and carpet tiles. There is no right or wrong answer, but there may be a better-suited option out of the two choices depending on its usage, traffic and the area it is being laid in.
In the case of communal areas that are likely to see high traffic, a durable yet stylish option is what is needed. Whether you are a business looking to refurbish a staff room or a school touching up a sixth form area, researching what is best for your setting is important. Simply opting for the cheapest option may not necessarily be what saves you time and money in the long-term.
Broadloom Carpet
In one form or another, this has been the traditional soft floor covering of choice for communal areas, and there are a wide range of materials to choose from (some of these will be more suited to domestic settings and will not be rated for use in commercial areas). If you are looking for broadloom carpet for communal areas in a block of flats, we would always recommend that you choose a commercially rated carpet for durability. Below you will find the pros and cons of using sheet carpet for your project.
Pros
- Wide range of materials available (wool, 80/20 wool and heavy contract nylon etc…)
- Suited to buildings with a traditional aesthetic
- Can be used for stair runners
- Can have matching rugs custom made for accents in hard floor areas
- Can be fitted with an underlay for improved acoustics and comfort
- Can be fitted without stair nosings to save on cost
Cons
- Difficult to maintain/repair in small areas (having to order large pieces just to carry out small repairs in isolated areas)
- Can wear prematurely on the nose of steps if fitted without nosings
- Can be less efficient than carpet tiles in terms of waste in communal areas
- More expensive to install than carpet tiles
Carpet tiles
These have been used in commercial communal areas for decades and are generally regarded as the go-to soft floor covering for office communal areas and staircases.
Recently, carpet tiles have also been making an appearance in communal areas of blocks of flats as an easy to maintain floor covering in a variety of styles. See below some of the pros and cons of using carpet tiles.
Pros
- Efficient to install compared to broadloom carpet
- Suited to more modern properties
- Very hard-wearing
- Easy to maintain and carry out repairs (there will, generally, be spare tiles leftover after most installations, with clients encouraged to account for at least 10% wastage when ordering)
Cons
- Need to be installed with stair nosings if being used on staircases
- Subfloor preparation works required to install carpet tiles
- Aesthetics generally suited to commercial premises
- Unable to be installed with underlay (although cushion-backed varieties are available as an alternative)
Sheet Carpet or Carpet Tiles?
Ultimately, the decision is down to you whether you believe that broadloom carpet or carpet tiles are the ideal solution for your project. Whatever your choice, you can rest easy knowing that the Selby Contract Flooring will be there to ensure that your installation runs smoothly from start to finish.
When you choose Selby Contract Flooring to install your brand-new flooring, you will be given the contact details of a dedicated project manager who will oversee the entirety of the process. Your project manager will be your one-stop port of call for any queries you have relating to your order and installation, as well as providing you with regular updates on the status of the project.
If you have any questions or need some more information to help make your decision, please do not hesitate to call a member of our sales team for some friendly advice. You can reach us by calling 0207 739 5051 or email us at info@selbycontractflooring.co.uk.
