Interlocking Exhibition Flooring

Each tile carries moulded teeth along its edges that press into the matching recesses on the next tile, so the floor locks together by hand with no tools, tape or glue. You start in one corner of the stand and work outwards in rows, keeping the joins tight as you go. Two people can lay a small stand in minutes, which matters when your build slot is short. Because nothing is bonded to the hall floor, the whole thing lifts again in the same way at breakdown.

No, and in most cases you should not. The non-slip backing holds the tiled area in place under normal footfall, and organisers generally restrict what can be stuck to a hall floor because residue has to be removed afterwards. If your stand sits in a high-traffic through-route, weight the perimeter with your counters and cases rather than reaching for tape. Always read the venue's floor rules in the exhibitor manual before you plan any fixing at all.

Work in square metres: multiply your stand length by its depth, then divide by the coverage of a single tile. Order a few spare tiles beyond that figure — stands are rarely a perfect rectangle once a counter, a pillar or a service box is in the way, and a spare covers a damaged tile mid-show. If you are running a 3m by 3m space, remember the usable area shrinks slightly where a wall system sits on the floor.

Yes, and it is one of the main reasons exhibitors choose tiles over a bare floor. Lay your power and data runs first, then tile over them so nothing crosses an open walkway. Keep runs flat and taped to the hall floor before tiling so a cable does not create a ridge someone can feel underfoot. Note where the cables sit so you are not lifting the whole floor when you need to reach a socket on day two.

An exposed tile edge is both a trip hazard and the detail that makes a stand look unfinished. Use edging or ramp strips along any side that meets the aisle so the height change is gradual, and keep tile edges tucked under the base of your display where they meet a wall. If the tiled area meets a neighbouring stand's flooring, agree the join with them at build so neither of you leaves a lip.

Usually yes, because the benefit is felt by your staff rather than seen by visitors. Standing on bare concrete for eight hours is punishing, and a cushioned floor noticeably reduces fatigue in the legs and lower back. It also defines your footprint: visitors instinctively step onto a floor that is visibly yours, which is a subtle but real difference in how many people cross into your space. The tiles then go home with you and cost nothing at the next event.

Vacuum or brush the tiles down before you pack them, and spot-clean spills with mild soapy water rather than harsh solvents that can attack the backing. Let them dry fully before stacking, since damp tiles stored in a case will smell. Stack flat rather than on edge so the interlocking teeth are not bent under load. Kept dry and flat, a set will go through many events before any tile needs replacing.

Organiser-supplied carpet is fitted for you and taken away afterwards, which is convenient but is charged again at every single show, and you get whatever colour is in the shell scheme. Owning interlocking tiles means one purchase, your choice of colour and the same floor at a regional event, a conference and a major hall like SEC Glasgow. The trade-off is that you handle transport and laying yourself, so it makes most sense if you exhibit more than once or twice a year.