CARPET & CARPET TILES
Adept at pinpoint pattern creation, these carpets are the number one choice in hospitality and leisure environments.
High intensity traffic areas particularly benefit from the durability of quality woven axminster carpets, with wool-rich (generally 80% wool 20% nylon) blends seen to offer the ideal blend of performance, appearance retention and value. In less trafficked areas such as guestrooms and lesser-used function spaces, tufted constructions are becoming the established norm, underlined by the increasing amount of graphic tufted ranges now available on the market. While not as durable as woven axminster qualities, tufted carpets are considered better value and manufacturers are increasingly offering woven and tufted collections that share colour palettes with the intention of delivering hospitality and leisure environments varying qualities that can harmonise areas and create a sense of
flow while maximising value.
Carpets in offices and the public sector The domain of the carpet tile, offices have relied on the performance of carpet tiles for decades and some of the biggest names in the industry have made their reputation here. At the top end of the spectrum are carpet tiles that deliver corporate environments high quality textural floor coverings that are constructed to withstand extreme levels of wear, meet environmental requirements and deliver subtle timeless designs as well as brighter ‘flare’ products designed to work as part of an overall scheme.
Yet much of the movement within the carpet tile sector of late has been in what have become known as de-engineered products as carpet tile manufacturers attempt to provide benchmark performance and environmental attributes at a price point more in keeping with public
Vorwerk’s FreeSCALE carpet tile has redefined the convention of a standard 50cm x 50cm tile, introducing a range of sizes and shape that provide a more architectural basis to the collection and faultless juxtaposition with other flooring surfaces.
Lano Flooring Solutions is delivering a bespoke carpet based upon its impervious stain-resistant broadloom Scala quality for 10 Avery Healthcare care homes across the country, proving that carpet can be welcoming and practical.
sector environments. Initially in response to high levels of investment in the sector – not all of which has been fulfilled – this new generation of products rely on the advanced materials found in higher end products, but in a reduced quantity. In truth, given the frequent replacement schedules (once every five years is considered the average in busy corporate environments) many high-end carpet tiles are over-engineered and so keeping performance markers such as stain- resistance but nominally reducing wear warrantees to meet a lower price point really isn’t much of a trade off. In fact, using less of everything is actually better for the environment, as long
as the carpet doesn’t wear prematurely, and so we are seeing these products also used in the mid-range corporate sector.
In reality, there is no king of the carpet; broadloom and carpet tiles can each hold their head high and continue to fight their corner with dexterity and power. Given their distinct applications it is unlikely that their paths will even cross and they will almost certainly never duel in the same ring. Both have established their hold on particular sectors of the industry because they are the most effective type of floor covering for that particular location. In this competition there is no winner and the photo finish is just too close to call, this one is a draw.
Some 11,700m2 of high-performance carpet tiles from Milliken were specified in various areas of the global headquarters of Halcrow Group Limited, helping to create a flexible and collaborative working environment that allows project teams to grow and change.
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