Carpet Tile Vs Broadloom: Which One Is Right For You?

For most commercial applications, deciding between carpet tile and broadloom often comes down to efficiency. Yet high-end residential or more custom carpeting needs may require a more thorough approach. How do you know when broadloom or carpet tile will meet your exact flooring needs?

Precision Flooring has a wealth of experience in both. After installing countless square feet of various carpeting products throughout northern Virginia and the D.C./Baltimore area, we’ve come to appreciate the advantages of carpet tile and broadloom alike. Here, we’ll provide expert insight into the unique benefits of each carpeting solution.

What is Broadloom Carpet?

Broadloom, aka wall-to-wall carpet, is what most people think of when they picture those large, 150′ rolls. The material is a type of loom-woven fabric, generally used in full-floor installations using a combination of tack strips, surface-specific glue, and a separate underpad material.

There are actually several types of broadloom, particularly:

• Loop (aka Berber), a stronger, looped material that withstands higher wear patterns
• Cut pile, in which the loops are cut to achieve a soft and loose texture
• Frieze, a type of cut pile that incorporates a stylish twist into the fibers, lending greater strength as well
• Cut and loop, which combines the benefits of cut pile and loop carpet

The most popular benefit of a broadloom carpet is its plush texture and feel. Wall-to-wall carpet is almost always thicker than carpet tiles, creating a more comfortable and inviting surface. At its most luxurious, think expansive ballroom carpets—which also serve to highlight broadloom’s support for ornate and intricate symbols.

For any artistic applications, especially with irregular patterns, it’s more important to rely on seamless material than ease of installation (broadloom requires more specialized labor). This makes broadloom the de facto choice when your ideal carpeting involves asymmetrical patterns, greater comfort, and a seamless appearance.

In our experience, high-end retailers, hotels, and condo associations are the most common types of businesses that choose broadloom carpets. Private clinics (like doctor’s or chiropractor’s offices) also appreciate the greater comfort and sophisticated feeling of broadloom.

What is Carpet Tile?

Carpet tile is a more versatile carpeting solution, reducing the time it takes our certified technicians to carpet even the largest areas. Most carpet tiles come in 2′ x 2′ squares and are often backed by pressure-activated or other specialty flooring adhesives. Carpet tiles are much easier to install than broadloom, and it’s possible to remove tiles separately (unlike broadloom, which can leave telltale signs of rework).

Another benefit of carpet tile is that it makes shorter work of matching patterned carpet. Rather than estimating the alignment of two separate and unique pieces, carpet tile is pre-fabricated for precise placement, even with textured patterns. That’s not to say broadloom carpet is impossible to patch skillfully—just that it’s much less of an exact science.

This also highlights the speed of carpet tile, making it the preferred choice in business and office environments or retailers who prefer carpet but have wheeled racks. Note that while carpet tile can dramatically simplify the installation process, it comes at the cost of slightly more waste.

Note that these benefits come with minimal loss in aesthetic value, as carpet manufacturers normally produce broadloom and carpet tiles from the same source material. With Precision Flooring’s emphasis on top-quality suppliers, it’s often possible to find the same patterns in either style.

Because broadloom carpet is almost always thicker than carpet tiles, however, each option still has its own niche purpose. Also be aware that carpet tile may reveal a subtle square grid, depending on the carpet’s color and pattern—and carpet tiles aren’t suitable for concrete slabs with high moisture content.

Is Carpet Tile or Broadloom Carpet Better for My Business?

Deciding between carpet tile vs broadloom requires taking into account a number of factors. To summarize, here are the key takeaways and cost/benefits of each option:

• Carpet tile installation is easier and more efficient | Broadloom requires more thorough and specialized knowledge
• Broadloom is softer, providing greater comfort | Carpet tile is thinner, creating a firmer surface
• Carpet tile typically involves more waste | Broadloom carpet achieves more exact product consumption
• Broadloom provides seamless continuity | Carpet tile can leave a noticeable “grid.”
• Carpet tile facilitates easy patchwork and repair | Broadloom requires custom rework

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The Right Carpet Makes All the Difference

Choosing the optimal carpet solution is much easier by comparing your options with the assistance of a trained flooring professional. Precision Flooring stakes our reputation on our ability to match each client with the most suitable flooring services for their business—because on every project, we seek nothing less than mutual success.

Contact us and request a quote today. Our award-winning team is standing by to assist you in finding the floor of your dreams.

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