How are carpet tiles fitted?

Laying carpet tiles is a skilled job best left to professional carpet fitters.

How is the subfloor prepared?

The sub-floor needs to be level, clean, smooth and dry. If the floor is not level, cement scree can be used. Very rough and uneven floors may require plywood sheets under the carpet tiles.

If the floor is damp, the cause of this needs to be investigated first. A damp course may be needed if water is leaking through the brickwork of the building.

Several areas in the Chester, Wrexham and North Wales areas are at risk of flooding. If a room is flood damaged, any existing floor covering will probably need to be replaced. Carpet tiles should not be installed until the sub-floor has been thoroughly dried. A fan heater can speed up the drying time.

A building that is subject to damp could need a damp-proof membrane on the subfloor before the carpet tiles are laid.

The cost of installing carpet tiles, and the time it takes to lay them, will be affected by how much subfloor preparation is needed. A team of carpet fitters can lay tiles in a room in a few hours. To prevent disruption in the workplace, many fitters will work overnight to complete the job before workers and members of the public enter the area.

Do carpet tiles need to be glued?

Carpet tiles can be loose laid or fixed to the floor with adhesive. Time needs to be allowed for the adhesive to dry before walking on the floor. Some tiles come with adhesive on the back. A paper layer is peeled off to uncover the glue.

A skilled fitter will make sure that the carpet tiles butt tight together with no gaps between them. Perimeter tiles will need cutting to shape.

Loose laid carpet tiles can easily be moved. If some areas wear more than others, you can swap worn tiles with non-worn ones.

Do tiles need underlay?

Carpet tiles generally do not need an underlay ,as each tile will have some padding. This can range from a thin layer to much thicker padding that has a cushioning effect

The padding on the back of carpet tiles can be made from polyester, fibreglass or other materials. There are even tiles available that incorporate recycled materials in their padding.

The type of padding affects the durability of the carpet tiles. For high-traffic commercial areas, choose carpet tiles with high quality padding for longevity.

Can you replace worn or stained tiles?

Quality carpet tiles are as good as many roll carpets, but they have the advantage of easy replacement. It’s a good idea to buy spare ones so that if area of tiles is stained or worn, you can simply replace the tiles with new ones. This can be done with both losoe laid and stuck tiles.

Carpet tiles are a popular choice of floor covering in the Chester, Wrexham and North Wales areas because they look attractive, are hardwearing and can be fitted quickly.