Heavy-duty carpeting - anyone use it?

[HotRodKush]

I thought this forum was the most appropriate place to ask this question. It pertains to my business, but technically it's still a "shop" so I thought I could slip it in

I'm converting part of my place to a customer waiting area - it'll be a partitioned space that customers can sit down while waiting for their order or to place a new order (or just come to chat). I'd like to visually separate the space by laying down some carpeting also, but it needs to be pretty tough - this is also the main entrance of the shop so it needs to hold up to water, dirt, snow, etc.

Any tough carpeting out there that also looks decent? I'd like to stay away from the Astroturf look.

 

[AlphaGarage]

Why mess with carpet than needs to be babied, cleaned, and constantly maintained? Visually denote and spruce up the area by putting down a nice epoxy coating.

It's not as if the customers are going to be rolling on the floor playing with Barbie Dolls and Tonka Toys, heck I don't think kids with all their iPods Nintendos even play on floors anymore. Carpet's okay, but we have dozens of dentist and doctor's offices with epoxied waiting rooms and offices.

Your logo's cool, and actually part of your product line, so embed it in the floor to help move more product.

 

[thegarageguy]

Make your waiting room a conversation piece! Seamless, low maintenance and customizable.



Add your company logo



First Impressions are everlasting!



Stand out from your competition!

 

[HotRodKush]

Actually, that's a great idea to put our logo in the floor. We do that for customers, just didn't think of it for my own place. Our floor is actually concrete underneath the tiling, maybe reconditioning and coating it isn't such a bad idea assuming it's not impossible to get all of the old glue off the floor. Otherwise maybe an industrial strength laminate tiling would look good too.

 

[chris h]

Just to offer a different solution...

Industrial/commercial carpet tile, available in all kinds of textures colors and patterns. I have about 800 square feet installed in my basement, and have for about 5 years now. Wears like iron (my kids roller skate and ride scooters on it all winter), and I installed it myself with rows of carpet tape. If one gets dirty, I take it outside and hose it off. I did buy the stuff with a hard rubber or vinyl backing made by Interface, which any commercial flooring contractor should have access to.

 

[HotRodKush]

That's what my original though was to do - looks great. I need to do about 150 square feet, the ability to remove tiles to clean when needed is also a good feature of those. Where'd you get yours, if you dont mind me asking?

 

[chris h]

I got through the local Salvation Army store when a local hospital disposed of all warehoused floor coverings (overages and replacement stuff for accidents, etc).

Flor is the residential division of Interface carpet.
www.flor.com will send you samples and such.

http://www.interfaceflor.com/default.aspx?Section=5&Sub=2 will get you a dealer locator for your area

http://www.carpetbargains.com/ showed up in a google search, looks like overstock and small lots for big discounts.

 

[HotRodKush]

http://www.carpetbargains.com/ showed up in a google search, looks like overstock and small lots for big discounts.

I just placed an order with them, thanks! A buck a square foot for industrial grade carpeting, can't beat that. It won't be as glamorous as an epoxy coat, but it's inexpensive and it'll look a helluva lot better than what's currently there.

 

[chris h]

Cool, post up some pics when you get it done!

 

[HotRodKush]

Got the carpet today! Posted pictures here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62263