Buying Carpet Squares: Learn How to Compare Prices
Website design By BotEap.comSo you have decided to buy square rugs to make a room or a rug? Well, you’ve joined the many other flooring consumers who have become intrigued by the concept of modular flooring, also known as rug squares or tile. Rest assured, you have made a great decision. Carpet squares are the friendliest do-it-yourself flooring and provide design capability unmatched in carpet. What many consumers don’t know is how to compare carpet squares before buying. Trying to choose the right rug squares or tiles and getting a good deal can be quite confusing.
Website design By BotEap.comYou’ll hear and read terms on websites like commercial, residential, stamped, solid, price per square foot, price per square yard, and price per box. You may also be under the impression that buying direct from the only manufacturer that sells direct is also a good deal. With so many options, how can anyone shop for square rugs or tile with confidence knowing they got a great deal? It’s actually some simple explanations and a bit of math!
Website design By BotEap.comThe first thing to note is that carpet tile and square come in two main styles, commercial and residential. Commercial square carpets are the modular carpet tiles seen in airports, casinos, hotels and luxury stores. Commercial carpet squares typically have a very low pile height and have a construction that has mostly level loops of yarn tufted evenly or unevenly if patterned. Commercial squares and tiles have a wide range of design selections and will last a long time.
Website design By BotEap.comSeams in patterned commercial carpet tiles and squares can be easily hidden by quarter turning the tiles as you install them. Residential carpet squares are typically shag or frieze styles of carpet that have been manufactured in a modular carpet tile design. Milliken is a prevalent manufacturer in this market selling through nationwide distribution. These residential styles are popular with those who like the idea of ease of installation. The drawback with residential square rugs is that the flexibility to create unique designs is more difficult to achieve due to limited options, no graphics or patterns.
Website design By BotEap.comNow that you have a basic understanding of rug and tile terminology, the hard part is figuring out how to compare actual prices when looking to buy. Some carpet tile dealers and outlets sell this type of carpet tile by the square foot, others by the square yard, and still others sell carpet tile by the box. In addition to this, the rug squares come in different sizes. Tiles and rug squares are offered in any size from 18 inches by 18 inches to 39 inches by 39 inches. However, you will find that the 18-inch, 24-inch, and 36-inch sizes are quite common.
Website design By BotEap.comSome manufacturers even list them in centimeters instead of inches. To safely compare prices, break down everything down to price per square foot. If you see a price on a style you like but the price is for a box of carpet squares, see if the box quantity shows square footage. You can then take the price per box and divide it by the number of square feet to get your price per foot. When shopping for carpet tile squares, if you find a price per square yard, simply take the price per yard and divide by 9 (9 square feet to a square yard) to get your price per square foot.
Website design By BotEap.comDon’t give in to lint when shopping for rug squares! There is a lot of hype on the web and in design magazines! There is a major manufacturer that sells direct (I won’t mention the name). Just because you’re buying square tile carpeting directly, doesn’t mean you, the consumer, are getting the best deal. It just means the manufacturer is pocketing more money! You may have a local rug store that sells discount square and tile rugs.
Website design By BotEap.comYou can also find a clearance sale on carpet tile flooring at your local chain of home improvement stores. Chances are, many of the best deals are online at stores in Dalton, Ga, the carpet capital of the world. The important thing to remember is that anything over $2.50 to $3 a foot is overpaying when there are thousands of other options available. In the end, a very realistic price idea for carpet tile is around $0.89 per square foot.