Cleaning carpet tiles – top tips

Making the most of your investment

Cleaning carpet tiles will need to be part of your maintenance programme, if you want to make the most of your investment and preserve your work space’s clean and efficient look. Soiling and general wear adversely effect the appearance of carpet tiles. So here are just a few top tips on making sure your carpet tiles make the best impression possible on visitors and clients.

Never rub stains

If you notice someone spilling their coffee, make sure they don’t start rubbing at the stain furiously with a cloth. This will only push the stain deeper into the carpet and help it to set more quickly. By dabbing gently inward, the stain will be soaked up and won’t spread further or deeper.

For removal of paint, grease and even tar a carpet spotter can be used but it is essential to check colour fastness. Spray the spotter onto a clean, white cloth and press onto the carpet. Check in a hidden area for any colour transfer and if there isn’t a problem use sparingly to remove the stain. After any chemical treatment has worked, water can be used to flush the stain, this should then be dried. It will be important however to check with the manufacturer with regards different extraction methods, as they will vary with the type of tile.

Although it might be tempting to leave a stain until you can get the professional cleaners in, it’s best you do whatever you can to treat the mark before it sets. Whether this is using an approved cleaner for your carpet tiles or blotting gently at the stain, it’s important you don’t wait for months before cleaning carpet tiles with marks that can become ingrained. If it’s a big stain, call someone to take a look right away.

Take care about what you use

Some commercial carpet cleaners are harsh so it is important to choose carefully. Some general rules apply. Don’t use products that contain odorous or flammable solvents and avoid product with a pH level over 9.5. Also products that contain optical brightners can adversely affect the colouration of the carpet. Always patch test.

Vacuuming isn’t enough but needs to be done

Vacuuming is essential to remove particles of dust and larger pieces of dirt, helping staff to breathe easier and feel more comfortable. To really make your carpets more hygienic, they need to be deep cleaned professionally.

Focus on certain areas more than others

Not all your carpet tiles will become dirty at the same speed. Areas near doorways and corridors with lots of traffic will need more attention than rarely visited store cupboards. You will you need to clean these areas more.

Invest in entrance matting

Research proves that up to 90% of dirt in a building is ‘walked in’ or comes in via wheeled traffic. Reducing this dirt and moisture increases the life of floor coverings, increases the attractiveness of building and saves money. Having an entrance matting or barrier tiles significantly reduces the amount of walked-in dirt within the main building.

Download our Carpet Tile Cleaning and Maintenance Guide available on each of our Carpet Tile Range pages for additional support.

Advantages and disadvantages of carpet tiles

Workplace Neon used for wayfinding in office

Considerations for and against choosing carpet tiles

Carpet tiles are the perfect option for commercial premises due to their ease of maintenance, durability and versatility. We discuss all the benefits of installing carpet tiles in your premises. We also consider some of the pros and cons when it comes to considering alternatives.

Advantages of carpet tiles

Finding the right flooring options for high-traffic areas is always a challenge. Carpet tiles are often referenced as the ‘natural commercial flooring choice’ for demanding applications.

The key reasons being:

1. Versatility

One of the biggest advantages of carpet tiles is their versatility. You can find carpet tiles in every colour, and in a wide variety of sizes and textures. Carpet tiles are also great for odd-shaped spaces and spots that are hard to get to. That makes these tiles perfect for many office and industrial applications, where spaces are often tight.

2. Durability

The durability of a carpet tile installation is another popular selling point, and a major advantage. Quality tiles can last for 10-20 years before showing any real wear at all.

Just as importantly, carpet tiles are easy to replace when they do start to show their age. Unlike a traditional carpet installation, which must be replaced as one piece, a carpet tile installation means you can swap out individual tiles as needed.

3. Easy maintenance and easy access

Carpet tiles are also easy to maintain. Vacuuming is really the key. Regular maintenance is important, but those care needs are actually very simple. Plus, instigating them is a real cost benefit. Another maintenance advantage is that the tiles can be easily lifted, if access is needed to the floor beneath.

4. Cost and time

The other advantages are around cost savings. This is based on how easy they are to fit and also the fact there is less waste than with broadloom. It is also worth thinking about different quality and types of tiles (pile weight, structure, yarn type) for different room requirements. There is quite a wide selection of options. Additionally, cost savings also include energy costs when you consider the insulation properties of carpet.

5. Design Flexibility

Carpet tiles are no longer about ‘boxy” designs. There are different shapes, greater transition of colour from tile to tile, and an opportunity to be creative with laying patterns and zoning to create a unique space every time.

6. Wellbeing Advantages

There are many benefits here including warmth and acoustic benefits, which contribute to wellbeing. In fact their layered structure can absorb even more structure-borne sound than wall to wall carpeting. They also provide a better foothold than smooth floor materials and being comfortable under foot is beneficial to staff. Especially those that have to stand for long periods of time as part of their job.

How do they compare to other flooring?

There are advantages to other flooring (especially vinyl) but with carpet tiles there is usually more versatility in design compared hardwood and vinyl options. For large scale patterning and custom designs, wall to wall carpet could be a better solution, but from a cost, maintenance and ease of installation perspective carpet tiles are definitely the stronger choice.

We mentioned durability and if correctly specified, they can last for well over 20 years (meeting most requirements), however vinyl and hardwood are likely to be more durable.

A primary benefit of vinyl flooring is its moisture resistance. Having said that compared to broadloom carpets, carpet tiles have advantages there as well.

There is a debate around the level of hygiene versus alternatives, but they do improve the indoor climate by trapping particles and allergens. We certainly recommend a good maintenance regime for any type of flooring. We also found this report very interesting when it comes to dispelling myths around carpet tiles and how they might compare with vinyl alternatives.

Let us help

For details on the advantages of vinyl, read our blog on the subject, and if you need any specific advice on a project and what is the most suitable solution, don’t hesitate to contact us.

3 Office Design Features to Facilitate Deep Work

checking phone is a distraction to deep work

Deep work takes productivity to the next level

A look at how the design of your office space can influence what Cal Newport calls “deep work” – taking focus and productivity to the next level.

For every business owner and entrepreneur out there, the “Million Dollar Question” is always going to be how to ensure that your staff work as efficiently and harmoniously as possible, at any given moment.

The author and academic Cal Newport has an interesting thought on that subject. His idea is that the key to quality work isn’t so much the number of hours spent grinding away, as the amount of time doing what he calls “deep work.”

Here are a few ways in which the design features of your office itself can be set up to facilitate “deep work.”

Set up co-working common areas, alongside isolated “nodes”

Deep work is, according to Newport, something that can only really be done in the absence of all distractions – and he counts interactions with other people, checking email, and other such common office activities, as “distractions.”

In fact, Newport cites convincing research evidence that even just checking your phone or email for a few seconds can ruin your ability to really “focus” for as much as half an hour afterwards.

Clearly, the modern office trend of co-working spaces and shared offices may not be great for deep work, for this reason. And yet (and Newport admits this, too) there are certain benefits to co-working spaces. They seem to be good at generating raw ideas, specifically.

One suggestion for getting the best of both worlds, that comes straight from Newport’s book, is to have a working environment which features optional co-working common areas, but which also features isolated “node” office or cubicle spaces, where people can withdraw to really hammer out projects, solo.

Ensure that all furniture and fixtures are as simple, streamlined, and easy-to-clean as possible

There’s a reason why commercial flooring, of the type that is typically found in offices and restaurant kitchens, isn’t the same as the kind of luxurious flooring you’re likely to find in a plush up-market home.

Everything outside of actual “work” should barely register in your employee’s conscious awareness. It should all largely take care of itself.

Prioritise a naturally healthy working environment

Believe it or not, but there is research showing that patients in hospital rooms recover faster when they can see a tree from their window.

Engagement with the natural world seems to be incredibly important for overall health. But, a naturally healthy working environment doesn’t have to be a mini-forest. Such an environment can, in fact, be established simply by focusing on air-quality, good lighting, and so on.

Stale air can lead to Sick Building Syndrome, and a lack of sufficient lighting can cause mood and circadian rhythm disorders among your staff. Install a HEPA air filter, strong artificial lights, and plenty of windows, in order to provide the best possible environment for your employees to work “deeply” in.

Use flooring to promote creative thinking

Simple ways to ensure a more creative environment

Whatever your commercial flooring needs, you ideally want a solution that will capitalise on your team’s creativity. Take a look at our research into how fun and creative flooring can help your staff be for focused on your business.

A happy team is more productive

Don’t underestimate the importance of a fun and interesting workspace on how productive your employees are. A recent study by social scientists Muceldili and Erdil found that providing a workspace that enables staff to have fun resulted in happier and more efficient staff. In addition to this, staff were better at taking calculated risks and thinking creatively. It seems like a win-win for your company, but how do you create a work-space that is fun without disrupting your teams work-flow? The ‘What Workers Want’ survey from the British Council for Offices found that 25% of employees would happily commute a further 30 minutes to work in a well-designed office. The use of colour and encouraging collaboration are known key considerations when it comes to creating a happy working environment.

Creative spaces support collaboration

Almost 65% of workers in a recent survey showed that a team will collaborate almost constantly throughout the day. It is important that office design supports and encourages this, without causing disruption to other staff who may need to work alone. One way to increase collaboration is to provide an open-plan office space to offer plenty of opportunities for staff to bounce ideas off of one another. However, in order to limit noise-disruption to other staff, think about the flooring you use. For example, good floor insulation will reduce noise. Commercial carpets and carpet tiling help ensure sound is not passed from one side of the room to the other. Carpet Tiles can also be used for creative zoning and way finding, with different colours and textures creating the right environment for debate, contemplation or concentration.

Colour can change the atmosphere

The atmosphere of your office will be impacted by what kind of light and colour you employ. Keeping large windows clear may not be practical when your office needs to limit screen-reflections, so it pays to be creative when looking for sources of light and colour. Plenty of office lamps and judicious placing of lights is important, as is the colour of the walls and flooring you choose. Walls are best a calm and neutral colour, as dark wall colours can increase stress. However, the carpet is a more subtle way to introduce colour into your décor. What Antron describes as their range of ‘happy shades’ are grounded in the fact staff are more able to generate creative solutions whilst working in an atmosphere that provides eye-catching colour and bold patterns.

Interior design hacks for a more productive office

sweets on wall sense of fun makes an office productive

Practical design techniques to keep a workforce productive.

Busy office managers, business owners and facilities managers are always trying to find ways to make their teams more productive. In a constantly changing work environment, with co-working, home working and flexible hours, it can seem like a challenge to keep your office fresh and inspiring. We look at some proven ways you can use interior design to boost productivity and invigorate and inspire staff. Whether it’s using innovative commercial flooring, changing the office layout or streamlining your workspaces, these interior design hacks are perfect for the modern office.

1) Fun interior design

Pioneering businesses like Google, Innocent and Apple have all championed the idea of fun office design. If an office is fun, staff will want to be there, will be more productive, sometimes staying late and socialising in work too. Though this might seem like a contradiction, the bringing together of work and play is a huge factor in recruiting new staff and rewarding current employees. You don’t need to go as far as Onefootball HQ who have a headquarters with goal posts and a three-lane running track around the office, but these innovative businesses have succeeded in creating fun and unique working spaces that staff want to be in. Some ways you can introduce a sense of fun into your office could be as small as putting a table tennis table in the break room, adding sweet dispensers to the decor and creating more inspiring breakout areas that have light-hearted messages – all these indicate a desire of the business to communicate with staff.

2) Energising interiors

Interior design can be a great tool for motivating and energising your staff, especially the colours you choose for your office. Bright and bold colours which have been shown to increase positivity and productivity include yellow, blue and orange. You can incorporate these colours by using bright office accessories, bold feature walls and colourful commercial carpets and carpet tiling like the Duraflor Bright Ideas range.

3) Think about the senses

We have recently seen a huge rise in the multi-sensory approach to interior design, and this can be a great tool for increasing productivity. Scents like pine, which increases alertness; peppermint, which lifts mood; and citrus, which can be great for waking up and energising staff, can all be used in the office with sprays, diffusers and plug-in air fresheners. Hearing is another sense which has previously been forgotten in office design. Designated quiet spaces can be the perfect way to allow staff to concentrate away from the busy office, and allowing staff to use headphones to block out noise is another smart choice.

4) Facilitate idea generation

Many forward-thinking businesses have incorporated idea generation into their office through interior design. By creating a space for staff to store and introduce concepts, you can encourage creativity and new ideas. This could be by having a whiteboard anyone can write on, a wall where staff can stick post-it notes or a meeting space for discussing new ideas with the whole team. Having a space for ideas clearly marked from the rest of the office allows staff to read the ideas, have a bit of exercise and feel motivated and involved with the business.

Bring summer into interior office design

How to make summer last all year with your office design

The feeling of summer can help wellbeing within your office. Here are ways you can turn your office design into summer no matter what the weather outside.

While the UK maybe seeing a little extra rain than we would want, summer has arrived and the warm weather has benefits for offices no matter what staff are doing. Firstly, people tend to be more positive during the summer than during the winter. This is often because more sunlight is linked to happier moods.

If workers are happier and more positive, their productivity will increase and this can help improve revenues and customer service. So it is no surprise that you would probably want to have that summer feeling in the office throughout the year. It is just another angle to wellbeing tricks that are already used, but perhaps gives added inspiration to office design.

1. Maximise natural light

The first thing you should do is to ensure that you’re maximising the natural light within the office. Ceiling windows and large windows are the easiest way to ensure that you allow the maximum amount of light into the office. The more natural light you let into your office, the higher the level of well-being for staff due to the regulation of body clocks.

Another way to maximise natural light is to use natural, light colouring within your office. This should include light yellows, greens and blues. The lighter the colours, the more light that is reflected that brightens up the office. However, using too much white, should be avoided. This can cause depression with some members of your staff.

2. Add plants to your office design

Plants are a great way to signify summer within your office. Avoid using evergreen plants like firs as these are associated with winter. However, plants like tulips, daffodils and bluebells are very good at representing the summer season.

Plants have been shown to improve mood throughout the office for various reasons. They also improve local oxygen levels and help to remove carbon dioxide that can inhibit productivity. This is a process known as phytoremediation. The best indoor plants for this are: bromeliads, dracaena and spider plants.

3. Commercial flooring options

Commercial flooring options are an important part of making an office feel warm and comfortable. In a office environment that doesn’t have much light a good option is likely to be a light wood effect vinyl as this will reflect light and make rooms feel natural and sunnier while offering the ease of maintenance benefits associated with this type of flooring..

4. Open up the office

Another important aspect to consider is opening up the office to be more open plan. Open plan offices allow for light to filter throughout a floor. In addition, open offices allow for better communications between staff and can improve moods throughout. It is however important to have quiet spaces where calls can be made and people have a place to concentrate, using natural, and light materials in these areas and thinking about plants etc. can help concentration, especially if natural light itself isn’t an option in these areas.

The importance of wellbeing in interior design

Great office design with Momenta Argento vinyl flooring

Here at Duraflor, we’re celebrating our 100th blog post. As such, we’d like to talk about a topic so many of our posts have included as an underlying theme – office wellbeing – and how we believe interior design can improve it.

3 ways an Interior Designer can improve wellbeing

It’s well documented that a quality workspace design can lead to a less stressful and more productive atmosphere. As such, it’s essential that employers take the physical work environment of their staff into consideration. In order to produce their best work, employees need to feel calm and comfortable. Here’s just three ways interior design can improve wellbeing in an office.

1. Colour

As we’ve suggested in one of our previous blogs, certain colours are known to influence productivity and can stimulate positive emotional responses. However, how can they help improve office wellbeing? Well, take orange as an example. It is a happy colour and is believed to stimulate energy within people, ultimately improving mood and alertness. Similarly, yellow makes people feel more optimistic and confident.

Stress, which can have a massive impact on the wellbeing of employees, can also be subdued with soft greens and blues, as they soothe and increase mental concentration. Overall, although colour isn’t a cure for illness, it will help create a well-balanced environment that can have positive effects on employees’ wellbeing. As an interior designer, it is certainly worth considering which colours can have a positive effect on people before making final design choices.

2. Natural light, nature and noise

It’s also a fact that more natural light, and bringing nature into an office, can offer numerous benefits to workers and employers. More than 1/3 of employees say a lack of natural light results in negative emotions in the workplace. Beyond options to open spaces up, so that everyone benefits from windows and skylights; consider adding more mirrors to the office or using a flooring surface like vinyl, which has reflective attributes.

Incorporating natural elements into an office is reported to help employees feel less stressed and more relaxed. A great way of doing this is to introduce plants and use natural materials, or natural looking furnishings and flooring.

Finally, although some noise is to be expected in an office setting, too much of it can produce stress hormones in the body. There is plenty of evidence that too much noise in the office makes people physically ill. To prevent this, consider utilising flooring materials that reduce high levels of sound, carpet tiles certainly help and careful consideration around the placement of furniture.

3. Making work fun

A vital aspect of office wellbeing is collaboration and support. Not everyone is the same, which is why employees should have the opportunity to choose a workspace most suitable for them. This is where activity-based workplace design, can come into it own, as it encourages changing environments based on specific tasks. An interior designer can help employers create zones, which allow staff to work in peace and quiet, as well as areas where they can collaborate and enjoy each other’s company during break times. Not only will this empower employees to make their own decisions, but it’s also likely to lower their stress levels as they can get more work done, ultimately improving their wellbeing.

Wellbeing will continue to be a factor in all aspects of design, so don’t be too surprised if we make a few more references to it in future blogs.

6 common causes of office injuries and how to avoid them

Careful planning mitigates office injuries.

The office might not be considered one of the most dangerous places to work, but there are still some risks that are inherent to the office environment. In most cases, these risks can be mitigated through careful planning and proper risk assessment, and through the implementation of safe working practices. Below are six of the most common causes of injuries in the office, as well as information on how you can prevent or minimise the risk of these injuries.

1 – Trips

Trips and falls are the most common type of office accident. They can be caused by hazards that are left out in hallways and walkways. Another cause of trips in the office is damaged, worn, or poorly fitted carpets. Choosing Class 33 carpet tiles for heavy commercial use and ensuring they are fitted properly is essential.

2 – Slips

Trip hazards aren’t the only floor-bound hazards. Spills can cause employees, customers, and other visitors to slip and injure themselves. It is important to understand slip ratings and choose the most appropriate product for likely usage. Our blog on slip ratings should help.

3 – Lifting and handling

Office work does not usually require any heavy lifting, but if not done properly, even lifting relatively light weights can lead to injury and strain on the body. Ensure that employees know how to lift properly and safely, which means bending at the knees rather than the back, or using a lifting aid for heavier objects.

4 – Falling objects

Falling objects are a hazard in almost any work place, including in offices. Boxes that are piled too high, items placed on top of cupboards, and incorrectly placed items, are all possible causes of this type of accident. Ensure that the heaviest items are placed on the bottom of shelves and that objects are not stored on top of cabinets and cupboards. Invest in additional storage room if necessary.

5 – Repetitive strain

Repetitive strain comes from performing a repetitive task over and over again. Typically, it means that employees are not using items properly, or they have not received training in how to prevent repetitive strain. Invest in ergonomic wrist rests for computers, and make sure that all of your employees have the proper chairs, foot stools, and other items of furniture. Encourage your team to take regular breaks, and ensure that they have proper training on how to perform their daily tasks without risking this type of debilitating injury.

6 – Workstation injuries

The workstation is the area of an office where a person conducts their work. Typically, it consists of a desk and chair, and everything on that desk. Workstation injuries can include repetitive injuries, but also one-off accidents. All electrical equipment should be regularly tested, wiring kept out of the way and secure, and there should be ample room between, underneath, and behind workstations to ensure the safety of your employees.

You should always conduct a health and safety risk assessment in any building type, including offices. They may not seem like the most hazardous premises but, in truth, there are still many accidents waiting to happen.

6 essential considerations when purchasing office carpet tiles

Carpet tiles are an excellent flooring option for any office, thanks to their ability to provide insulation, absorb noise, and their ease of maintenance. The main considerations are highlighted below.

Durability

Commercial flooring should be able to withstand the demands of a business, a Class 33 rating is for heavy commercial use and Class 32 moderate commercial use. The standard specifies that the flooring product will serve at least 10 years without presenting problems if used in the designated room type, providing that the floor has been installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions and is used and maintained as prescribed. When looking for durable commercial carpet tiles, it is important to consider where they will be placed, and the amount of traffic they will see.

Impact on health and well-being

Full-time office workers spend a large portion of their week in the office, so your design needs to prioritise their health needs. In addition to circumstance that might demand additional noise reduction properties, and extra comfort under foot, it is worth considering how different materials might help mitigate allergies. Nylon carpets tile resist dirt, moisture and mildew, this can make it a good flooring option for some allergy sufferers especially, if you choose a quality yarn such as Antron® 6.6 found in our Freedom Ranges of which Freedom Bark is a great example. The minute scales on the fibre’s surface will hold airborne particles until vacuumed, which helps to improve indoor air quality..

Maintenance

Maintenance is key, particularly if the building you are fitting out doesn’t come with facilities management. Clients are busy people and most will not want to have to spend time and money considering maintenance for niche carpet materials. Carpet tiles are easy to maintain but some will have greater soil hiding properties than others, and can even incorporate technology that helps ensure cleaning is easier, again Antron® 6.6 is a good example.

Style

Choosing a style (or design) for commercial carpet tiles is a key considerations, as it is this which will communicate a company’s brand, ethos and its corporate culture. Does the client want their environment to be welcoming and warm or energetic and vibrant? We offer a range of popular design to choose from. Design can also involves choices around sustainability. Some great example of a carpet tile ranges that incorporates a modern style with significant sustainability credentials are our previously mentioned Freedom Collection and also our new Cubism range.

Colour

This feature is yet another critical factor when purchasing carpet tiles. Colour doesn’t just help represent a brand but it can also be utilised to influence the psychology of the workers. Bright colours such as yellow and green promote optimism and energy, while cooler tones such as blue promote calmness. You may even choose to use different colours to demarcate areas of the layout for specific uses, or to encourage traffic flow.

Cost

Budgetary constraints will clearly play a primary role in choosing carpet tiles for a fit out. We offer a wide range to suit all budgets. It is worth noting however, the cost of your choice of flooring material should be weighed up against ease of maintenance and life expectancy; cheapest is not necessarily the most cost-effective in the long run.

Make your next carpet tile hexagonal

Freedom with hexagonal carpet tiles in office

Carpet Tiles don’t have to be square.

Companies are still embracing geometric trends when it comes to flooring, and as a result hexagonal carpet tiles continue to gain in popularity. They are great for creating colour and texture; thereby livening up offices and commercial spaces, as well as providing a more original cost-effective flooring solution.

A Touch of Sophistication

The hexagon carpet tiles are an innovative way of bringing sophisticated design elements and colour into a commercial environment. Hexagonal carpet tiles can be used to create a more impactful designs across the floor. Our Hexxtile range has been carefully created using the popular textured-greys and solids from our Progression range with pops of colour from our Bright Ideas range, this means you can create a dynamic yet stylish floor-scape.

Against a plain background of office furniture and neutral colours, the hexagonal tile truly stands alone and creates a lively interior environment – you can also transition from square carpet tiles or planks to create zones for activities.

Cost Effective

Up until now, traditional hexagonal tiles have often been priced out of reach of regular commercial environments. Often, projects have one thing in common – a tight budget and fast turnaround time. This is why the hexagonal tiles Duraflor offer are such good value for money.

Practical Yet Stylish

Duraflor’s over 10-year guarantee on both the Progression and Bright Ideas ranges and the heavy contact rating assigned to the tile makes Hexxtile a solid investment in the future of your business. Each tile is a sizeable 433mm x 500mm.

The most important things to any redesign is to find a floor design that remains fashionable as well as practical and long-lasting. The Hexxtile is all of these and more, creating a sophisticated look that lasts for years and states a bold creative intention. When you find yourself next choosing carpet tiles, think outside the box and go hexagonal.

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