Proper flooring can transform a good office into a great one. While there are options galore, few are more popular than broadloom and carpet tile. In a recent interview with Randy Weis, President of RD Weis Companies, we discussed flooring trends and the difference between these two types of flooring in particular.

Broadloom carpet once represented the most popular flooring choice for offices. It covers wall to wall and provides a high-end seamless image. However, while broadloom costs less per foot, it generally incurs higher installation and maintenance expenses, including more waste when initially purchased. And because it is one piece, it often must be replaced entirely when one part is damaged.

Carpet tile, on the other hand, has become an emerging trend in the flooring industry. Recent improvements make it visually comparable to other flooring methods, and it is more price competitive today than ever before. Carpet tile provides greater flexibility than broadloom, and more durability, leading to increased popularity for high-traffic areas. Weis believes a new trend has developed during the past five years in favor of carpet tile. 

Weis has become very involved in the green movement and feels that flooring is an excellent place to start. A lot of research is expended into choosing a “green” carpet; however, very little is applied for maintenance.

Weis believes “great maintenance is the key to keeping the carpet you have longer, and that, in and of itself, really drives the sustainability issue. We have become a throw-away society, and many facilities treat carpeting the same way.”

The flooring debate hinges on a number of other considerations as well, difficult to summarize in this blog entry. For more information on the various types of flooring, and their pros and cons, visit www.rdweis.com.

Posted in: office flooring, office space design