How To Install Carpet Tile On Concrete Floor?

All the business centers, airport terminals, residential complexes are changing the way they used carpeting. No longer are they opting for a wall-to-wall carpeting style. Instead, carpet tiles are becoming an increasingly popular option. These have all the carpet-like look with the tile benefits, which allows customization for the carpet designs. 

A designer can create a myriad of visual splendor by combining various textures, materials, shapes, gradients, colors, patterns, and sizes. Furthermore, it can be used in partial areas as rugs or to cover the entire room. 

The carpet tiling bonus is it is a modular design, easy to install, and can be quickly done on a concrete floor. If you plan to install carpet tiles on a concrete floor, you can do it as a DIY project. 

Before we go into the steps of how to install carpet tile on the concrete floor, let's look into some advantages and disadvantages of carpet tiles. 

Pros and Cons of Installing Carpet Tiles 

Carpet tiles have not become a comfortable flooring option for many homeowners and even renters who consider a DIY project to renovate the house they live in. Carpet tiles are versatile, colorful, and easy to install over the existing flooring. This eliminates the effort and time required to remove the old flooring and to set up a new flooring for the carpet tiles. Hence it can be easily installed on the existing concrete floor of the room. 

So, let's take a look into some of the reasons that carpet tiling why carpet tiling has become such an in-demand choice for flooring in recent years. 

Pros

Easy to install: These are modularly designed and can be purchased in numbers that you require instead of bulk. They are easy to transport, handle and store. Professionals can do the fitting of the carpet tile in no time with minimal disruption to the other work and the area. You can also install it yourself. 

Versatility: The versatile feature of the product, i.e., different shapes, colors, and materials, allows it to be placed in any area from the bedroom to the boardroom. Mainly, in today's office buildings, where raised floors are used to keep the ducting, cabling, and severs under the floors, carpet tiles are the answer. 

Cost-effective: carpet tiles are low on waste, easy to handle, transport, and store. A professional takes less time to install carpet tile than wall-to-wall carpet. Any businesses that want to install carpet tiles will see less reduction in the downtime and disruption caused by the installation, thus lowering the cost. 

Durability: The low pile, very tight, and looped nature of the carpet tile makes it durable and can withstand heavy traffic. Hence they are high performing flooring option in busy spaces. Furthermore, they can be customized and modified by changing the fiber, yarn, pile weight, and backing option. This can change the carpet tile's performance, look, and feel, extending more life to it. 

Low maintenance: The low pile of carpet tile results in them collecting less dust. Hence it is easy to maintain with a regular vacuum in general. Furthermore, it is easy to replace. That is, if there is a carpet tile that is stained or torn, the tile can be removed instead of replacing the entire flooring. 

Reusable & Sustainable: Unlike wall-to-wall carpet, where broadloom is used, carpet tile has less waste during the installation as the tiles come in sizes that will fit the space. If you want to change the pattern, design, or color of the flooring, you can easily remove the existing tiles and use them somewhere else instead of throwing them away. 

Better air quality: The low pile feature of carpet tile, unlike broadloom, traps less dirt hence has fewer allergens. The easy-to-clean feature adds to having better air quality. 

Cons

The primary disadvantage of carpet tile is its modular feature, and this often results in certain disadvantages that broadloom does not have. 

A non-uniform appearance: As they are tiles and not a broadloom, there is always the drawback of not having a uniform look. While some can mimic the broadloom look, it always shows that it is not a broadloom carpet. 

Loose fiber or fraying: With the tiles' joints, one can often experience loose fibers or fraying on the edge of the tiles. This usually occurs due to the fault in production but can be remedied easily during or after the installation. 

Installation process: As often mentioned, carpet tiles are easy to install. It is also true that the manufacturer's recommendations are followed while installing it. Often in a rush to finish the job, acclimatization is overlooked, leading to the product moving after the installation. This leads to unsightly joints, creating tents between the tiles. Also, when the right adhesive is not used, the tiles can get lifted or removed. 

Less luxury: Previously, carpet tiles were referred to as less comfortable under the foot and less luxurious than the broadloom. However, this is no longer true since integral cushioning is not used in the backing to offer these comforts along with insulation and benefit like anti-fatigue. 

How To Install Carpet Tile On Concrete Floor? 

Before we go into the details of how to install carpet tile on the concrete floor, let’s two  things into consideration:

1. Safety

In case the carpet tile you are using needs trowelled-on adhesive, you must take all the necessary precautions. Many of these products have harmful chemicals and emit dangerous fumes. We recommend you to read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Furthermore, open the products in a  well-ventilated area and keep the fan on for better air circulation. Never open the items without gloves, so they do not touch your skin. 

2. Equipment 

• Fan 

• Gloves

• Eye gear

• Sander if needed 

• Trowel 

• Carpet knife if needed 

• Putty knife 

• Broom

• Vacuum cleaner

• Mop 

• Tape measure 

• Chalk line

• Metal tray 

• Paint roller 

• Concrete patch for subfloor wood putty 

• Concrete sealer 

• Carpet tiles 

• Flooring adhesive if needed

Steps To Install Carpet Tile On Concrete Floor

Nine major steps are involved in installing the carpet tile on the concrete floor. 

1. Remove the furniture 

Before you begin, it is a good idea to remove all the furniture from the room to have a good idea or vision of how to install the carpet tile. It will also allow you to think about how to decorate it too. 

2. Remove the old flooring

If there is any old flooring or carpeting that needs to be removed, you have to do that at this time. It can be a labor-intensive job if you have to pry or scrape the floor before putting the carpet tile on. There are concrete floors on which you can install the carpet tile directly. 

3. Fill the gaps and fix them 

The underlayment and subfloor need to be completely flat. The variation on the underfoot will be felt, and any minor peaks or dips will cause a tripping hazard. Hence a concrete patch must be needed to fill any chips, cracks, and spills that are there. A concrete patch eliminates the unevenness. Allow it to dry for at least 24 hours, and then with a putty knife, scrape the excess to achieve a smooth and flat surface. 

4. Clean the surface 

After the surface is flat, ensure that it is spotless, free of any debris, small particles, and dirt. This will ensure that the adhesive of the carpet tile forms the strongest bond on the concrete. It is vital that you remove, vacuum, and mop the floor in detail and let it dry. 

5. Seal the subfloor 

Concrete floors, like another subfloor, are porous and are susceptible to liquid. Carpet tile being porous too can cause the growth of mildew and mold when water or other spills occur, and it seeps in. It is hence vital that you use a quality sealer to prevent seepage. There are specially made concrete sealers and after using it, let it dry for at least an hour or use the manufacturer’s instruction. 

6. Mark the room’s center

Though it might seem right to start installing the carpet tile from the longest wall and work outward, that is not right. It can lead to carpet tiles being put into strips on one side. So we recommend starting from the center of the room, so the edges and the boundaries are uniforms throughout the room. 

7. Dry-fit the tiles 

Even though it is not necessary to follow, dry filling the tile is an excellent idea to see how the floor will look after the complete installation. While dry fitting, you can also create patterns and layouts of your liking. You can also adjust the center point and the layout during this step without damaging the tiles. 

8. Install the carpet tile 

Start at the middle with one quadrant and then work towards the wall. Refer to any instructions or stickers given regarding the orientation of the tile. Use the center point of the room. On the quadrant, apply the adhesive and press it into the place. Following the guideline, keep aligning the tiles carefully throughout the room. 

9. Cut the carpet tile as per requirement

Most carpet tiles needed to be cut into sizes to accommodate them at the corners and edges of the room and even the door frames. Carpet tiles being a tough material. You need a sharp carpet knife to get precise cuts to paste them into the required area. 

This can be your DIY project, or you can hire a professional to do it. 

Conclusion 

The decision is finally yours to make whether you want to install carpet tile on the concrete floor in your space. After going through the pros and cons, you might have an idea of whether it is suitable for you or not.