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05 . Installation advice

Fitting carpet tiles is a job well within the capabilities of anyone with reasonable do-it-yourself skills. It’s really just a matter of taking the time to check measurements and to cut with care. Because you’re working with individual tiles you don’t run into the problems of stretching and creasing that make laying carpet such a daunting task.

Safety

There are safety considerations to bear in mind. The boxes of carpet tiles are heavy, and you’ll be using sharp knives. The fixing adhesive also needs to be treated with respect. All that’s required to work safely is a responsible attitude and a clear understanding of the dangers of carelessness.

Delivery

Our standard delivery is Monday to Friday, between 9.00am and 5.00pm. Due to insurance restrictions, the driver can deliver to kerbside only, so you will need to be ready to move the boxes indoors. Your tiles may be delivered on a pallet. Don't stack pallets on top of each other as damage is almost inevitable.

Fixing Tiles

Carpet tiles can be laid without adhesive but we recommend that all installations are carried out using a tackifier adhesive. This will ensure that the tiles are held in place but can still be lifted to clean or replace damaged or stained tiles

Getting Ready

Batch Numbers

Check that the batch numbers on all boxes are the same. Slight colour variations are normal from one batch to another, and this can be noticeable if batches are mixed.

Acclimatising

Like any other material, carpet tiles expand and contract as their temperature changes. To ensure a trouble-free installation, we strongly recommend unpacking and laying the tiles loosely on the floor of the room where they’re to be fitted. They should be left like this for 24 hours to allow them to become conditioned to the room’s conditions.

You should fit tiles at a temperature between 10°C and 25°C.

Laying the Tiles

Pile Direction

There is an arrow on the back of each tile which indicates the pile direction. If you lay the tiles with all arrows pointing in the same direction you’ll get an even, almost seamless look to your floor, particularly if you lay the tiles in a half-bond pattern (like the bricks in a wall).

Alternatively you can alternate the arrow directions so that each tile is at a 90° angle to the one next to it. This give a pleasing checkerboard effect.

The diagrams show how the alternative fitting methods work.

broadloom

checker

Laying the First Tile

Never start your tile laying from a wall. Instead, work from the centre of the room, in a line parallel with the main wall. Take care not to trap any of the pile or other debris between tiles, and press each tile firmly against its neighbours. This will give you a stable, immobile floor and tidy, closed joints.

first

Cutting to Fit Against Walls

When you’ve worked out from the centre all around the room, you’re left with a ring of tiles that need to be cut to fit. Here’s how to do it accurately.

Place a tile carefully and exactly over the last complete tile; the one on top is the tile you’ll be cutting.. Now take a second complete tile and place it against the wall so that it overlaps the tile to be cut.

Cut along the edge of this tile, keeping the knife upright, into the tile you placed previously. Take care not to cut through into the bottom tile.

Now put the tile you used as a guide to one side. You should find that your cut tile fits snugly into the gap.

Cleaning and Maintaining Contract Carpet Tiles

To be suitable for offices, shops or other commercial premises, carpet tiles need to be significantly more resistant to wear and soiling than products bought for the home. Part of the reason for this is the fact that domestic users tend to be more conscientious about spills, staining and dirt tracked in from outside. Tiles near the office’s kitchen areas are often repeatedly stained and this will become permanent if not removed, whatever the quality of the floor covering

Your new carpet tiles represent an investment in the presentation of your business. It makes sense to maximise the visual appeal of that investment, and to make sure it lasts for years. This article gives some recommendations on keeping them at their best.

Soiling from Outside

Office users rarely wipe their feet on entry as they would at home. This makes reasonably broad barrier mats an important defence against dirt and grit tracked in from outside.  These mats should be cleaned and/or changed regularly.

Vacuum Cleaning

Bürofloor carpet tiles respond well to cleaning via powerful, industrial vacuum cleaners; the pile is strongly anchored, and the strong suction removed dirt and grit from deep down.  Cut pile carpet tiles are best cleaned using cleaners with driven brushes, while loop pile should be cleaned with suction only. Where cleaning height is adjustable, the head should be set so that slight resistance can be felt. Cleaning is most efficient when the head is passed over the surface in two directions at right-angles to each other.

Heavy soiling areas, such as entry corridors, lift waiting areas or reception areas, should be vacuumed daily.

Shampooing

Periodic shampooing will significantly extend the life of carpet tiles. Done properly it removes the abrasive grit that accumulates at the base of the pile and contributes to wear. It also freshens the area and may reduce allergies such as some types of hay fever. The most effective method is by shampoo and hot water flushing. This not only removes ingrained soiling, but is also effective in flushing out detergent residue.

The covering should not be walked on until completely dry; this can take as much as 24 hours.

Dry Cleaning

This process involves brushing a detergent powder into the carpet and leaving it for around half an hour. It’s then removed by vacuuming. In some products this powder is slightly moist, but the vacuuming process is generally sufficient to dry it ready for use. Instructions for use and storage should be closely followed to avoid hazards.

Staining

Staining can be a frustrating problem in office areas. Staff education and persuasion may be required to ensure that spillages are reported and resolved as quickly as possible. Bürofloor carpet tiles are extremely stain-resistant, but neglected staining will inevitably cause permanent damage.

Wet Staining

Many people react to spills of this kind by scrubbing with cloths or tissues. This does little more than spread the stain. The correct procedure is to begin by blotting the area with clean dry cloths or absorbent paper towels. Once as much as possible of the liquid has been removed, the remaining staining should be diluted with water applied with a clean cloth or sponge, working from the edge to the centre of the stain. Stubborn stains may be easiest to remove if the tile is taken up and washed under a tap.

Copier Toner

One of the most common dry stains in office premises is a copier or printer toner spill. If you drop most of the contents of the cartridge, don’t immediately reach for the vacuum cleaner!  The powder is so fine that it can go straight through the filter and the localised problem is liberally distributed. In the case of a large spill it may be necessary to call the copier service company. Smaller spills shouldn’t be too troublesome for a standard vacuum cleaner. As long as it’s kept dry and no solvents are used there should be no staining.

Replacement

No carpet tile is invulnerable. In the case of an indelible stain the only solution is replacement. Most installations will leave a few tiles over. Don’t throw them away – they’ll be a better colour match than any new replacements you buy. Where necessary, Bürofloor will try to help out with replacements in small numbers, though there may be some colour variation from batch to batch. An alternative may be to swap the damaged tile with one from a less conspicuous area.

The Inevitable Disclaimer

The information here is intended to help you to get the best from your carpet tiles. We offer it in good faith, but Bürofloor cannot be held responsible for any loss, damage or injury that may result