Versatile Carpet Tiles Combine Convenience and Fashion
Long popular in office and industrial applications, recent years have seen carpet tiles appearing more and more fequently on the floors of homes around the country.
Photo: flor.com
Looking for an environmentally friendly floor covering that is fashionable, easy to install, and suitable for any room? Two words: carpet tiles.
You can lay these versatile modular carpet squares over almost any smooth, dry surface—sealed concrete, plywood, you name it. Unlike traditional carpeting, tiles do not require the use of nails, glue, or padding. Offered in a rainbow of chic colorations, trendy textures, and dazzling designs, they are washable and affordable to maintain.
Since their introduction in 1973, carpet tiles have come a long way. At first, they were only popular in office and industrial applications for many of the same reasons that homeowners and renters have grown to love them: less carpet cutting is required for installation (resulting in less waste); worn areas can be selectively replaced, and an integrated backing makes separate padding obsolete.
Photo: flor.com
In early 2000, Greg Colando, then president of a company specializing in carpeting for businesses, identified a need for a similar product to serve the consumer market. The company that emerged to meet the demand, FLOR, launched in 2003. Today, it provides smart choices to design-savvy, environmentally conscious consumers.
“Today’s carpeting and rug options are largely lifeless and unadaptable,” explains Colando, who now serves as FLOR’s president.
“FLOR carpet squares present a dynamic and vibrant alternative to conventional floor covering that offers endless possibilities for an earth-aware, transformational, and striking design.”
The company’s manufacturing processes use renewable energy sources and technologies; use a large percentage of renewable and recycled raw materials; and construct the product in a way that allows FLOR tiles to be taken apart so that face fibers and backing materials can be recycled.
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FLOR also has an innovative Return & Recycle Program in which consumers return products for recycling. Translation: No FLOR product needs to end up in a landfill.
In addition, most styles meet or exceed Green Label Plus emission standards for indoor air quality from the Carpet and Rug Institute.
“Environmental consciousness is built into every sourcing, design, and production decision FLOR makes,” Colando says. “The company has developed ingenious ways to keep many discarded materials from ending up as trash and are finding new ones all the time, such as working with local partners from around the globe to turn discarded fishing nets into 100% recycled yarns for use in all new FLOR styles.”
19.7 inches on each side, these carpet squares may be installed in a wall-to-wall configuration or cut to virtually any shape or size. Both online and in stores, FLOR offers its own design services to help customers develop custom creations.
