Rugs, Carpets and Carpeting - Carpet Tile recommendations

HD sells Legato and Lowes sells Fluor brands. Are these good tiles or is there another brand that would be cheaper/better?

Any suggestions or tips on what to look for, or during installation?


---- Background: I have a 120 sq ft home office that I just built in my above grade basement. The carpet will be going on a well aged concrete slab with no water problems.

I'm planning on installing carpet tiles because of the ease of installation and it will be easier to swap out tiles for the inevitable dirt tracking that I see in the future.

Your reasons for using carpet tiles are valid and the choice makes good sense. The words, "cheaper" and "better", however, do not go in the same sentence. If you want cheaper, that's what you'll get. If you want better, that isn't cheaper. I laid a whole library of HD carpet tiles and hated them. I couldn't make the seams go away, no matter what I did. If you insist on using "cheap" materials, be prepared to live with the results. Philadelphia and Queen both make good carpet tiles, but they are not cheap. There are other manufacturers that make good ones also. Check out some real flooring stores. If you compare apples to apples, they can normally meet the big box prices, in some instances beat them.

This is in response to the query posted by Walkman. I have my own flooring business and have installed all types of carpeting both commercial and residential. Carpet tile is definitely a favorite because (a.) it's fast & easy to install (b.) if there is a stain or spill you can take it out and clean it (if the stain is permanent you only have to replace the effected tile or tiles - with broadloom you have to have someone come out for a repair to patch in a new piece = $). I have worked with Legato (Milliken) and FLOR (from InterfaceFLOR). FLOR stands out as a better product by far. It's well made and the fibers are fused to the backing so shedding is not an issue as it is with the Legato. Also, the backing does not allow moisture / liquid to go through the tiles potentially damaging your under floors. They have many styles and colors to choose from so you can have a look that shows a grid or if you prefer the look of regular broadloom you can choose a style with a more seamless look. It also has a more residential feel and color palette. Anyway, that's my two cents worth. Good luck!