Even though many may say the carpet has better sound reducing capabilities, this is by far outweighed by the dirt that can build up on the carpet. The tile is much easier to clean in a room that has a high volume of traffic. I once taught in a room with carpet, we eventually took it out and replaced it with tile. The repair people dressed in masks to take out the moldy dirty carpet. For me tile is the best.

Good luck.

Michael

I agree, I was the music supervisor for 13 years in a large school distirct in the state of Washington. When ever possible,we did not use carpet. It is harder to keep clean, it is not as much of a sound absorber as you might think. Probably, it would be effective as a sound absorber if it were on the walls.

The concern I have is no windows. No matter how effective an air conditioner may sound, there is the need for fresh air. Not air that has be circulated in the room. Usually, when air conditioners are put in rooms they make way too much noice, both heater and airconditions.

A couple of other important areas:

Doors into the music room need to be double doors that do NOT have that middle post. Anytime  you move a piano in and out of your room you will find the double doors to be most helpfu.

Water fountains, ask for two and make sure they are built in such a way as to allow the students to actually use them. If you go into most schools the water barely comes out of the fountain.... custodians don't like cleaning up spilled water.

No builtin risers! Several school requeste built in risers in the music room. These turn out to be a pain. The potential of movement, different standing formations etc. is gone. Flat tiles floor.

Hope this helps.

One other point, if you send me your snail Mail addresss, I would be glad to donate a couple of charts to you and your group. I am sad to hear of you situation.

Cheers, Frank DeMiero

www.smpjazz.com      check out our website.  My email address is: Frank(a)SMPJAZZ.Com

 Hi Mario -

 

You can sanitize tile - carpet, not so much!

 

Best wishes,

Mike

It is always possible to add carpet later if it is needed.  

 

I would have to agree with everything Frank MeMiero said about water fountains and risers. 

 

Anything you can do to get acoustial treatments on the walls would be good if the funds are there.  Some schools are built with a kind of masonry block that has an extremely rough texture.  This makes a great reflective/diffusive surface in a rehearsal hall.  It reflects enough that the students can hear each other but it doesn't set up standing waves.  If there is any way you can avoid a smooth cinder block wall and stay within budget you might want to lobby for it.  I have seen some schools have the rough texture everywhere except the music rooms. 

 

Concerning air conditioners:   I used to be in a room that was destroyed by a tornado before it was a year old.  The air conditioner was on the roof and it made the entire building hum when it was on.  When the room was rebuilt they poured cement slabs behind the room and put the AC compressors there instead of on the roof.  The HVAC was super quiet.  Maybe there is still time to check on this.

Well, I guess I'm from another planet. Given the choice, I would never take tile over carpet tile. I've had both, and I much prefer carpet.

Carpet tiles are low pile, and not at all difficult to keep clean. I do not have a dirt or mold problem. (I am a high-allergy person, so I would know if there were a problem.) My carpet is vacuumed daily, and shampooed 3 or 4 times a year. I can request interrim shampooing, if needed. I do not allow any food in the room, and the only permitted liquid is water. I've been in this room for 8 years, and only had 2 carpet tiles replaced. By contrast, every year a number of our hallway tiles have to be replaced due to damage.