In a corridor, you replace one stained tile, not the whole run.
Why carpet tiles suit corridors
A corridor is long, narrow and busy, so wear and stains show fast. Commercial carpet tiles make less waste than broadloom, because you cut less to fit the space. If a tile gets stained or damaged, lift it and put in a new one. Heritage Carpet Tiles, for example, are approved for moderate commercial traffic and list hallways among their uses.
Accessibility, adhesion and fire rating
Our commercial carpet page states the ADA rules for carpet. The carpet must not be thicker than 1/2", and shorter, compact fibers are best. The carpet must also be glued or tacked to the floor, so it does not bunch up under wheelchairs. For that reason, do not use peel-and-stick backings in accessible corridors.
Safety also matters in a corridor. The same page explains that carpets with a Class 1 fire rating are made from materials such as nylon that resist fire better. Check the fire rating on each product page before you order.
Install the tiles
- Prepare: make sure the subfloor is smooth, level and clean. Repair cracks and level dips.
- Mark: find the center point between the two longest walls, and connect the marks with a line.
- Square: draw a perpendicular line through the center point to the walls.
- Lay: start where the two lines cross, and work out to the walls.
- Cut edges: lay a full tile upside down over the last tile, mark the overlap, and cut along the line.
- Glue: for commercial or permanent installations, use a pressure-sensitive or acrylic adhesive.
Send us the corridor lengths and widths. We will help you choose the tiles and the adhesive.
Plan for future repairs
Pressure-sensitive adhesive is releasable. If a tile is ruined, you pull it up and put in a fresh one. Pressure-sensitive adhesives can often take foot traffic immediately after installation, which helps in a corridor that must stay open. Keep spare tiles from the same order, so a repair matches the floor around it.