Hardwood wasn't commonplace in homes until the 19th century but it remains a popular choice for homeowners today.
When it comes to the great debate between carpet vs hardwood flooring, homeowners are often torn between the two because each has its own set of pros and cons.
At National Floors Direct, we specialize in bringing our clients the best brands in carpet and flooring. Our flooring professionals bring you personalized service and can give you instant, accurate estimates for your home or office flooring.
When it comes down to it, the decision rests on personal preference because either one makes for great flooring. If you're torn between the two, read on to learn about both before you start choosing floors for your home.
Cleaning Carpet vs Hardwood
Neither flooring is particularly difficult to clean but the cleaning process for each is very different.Hardwood flooring will often take regular sweeping, sometimes every day depending on the foot traffic in your house, and mopping. You will find that dust and debris easily wind up on your floor even if you have swept the day before. Luckily, sweeping is easy!
One of the benefits of hardwood floors is it's easy to pick up and clean when you spill anything. Except for very few types of stains, you should be able to clean up almost anything that spills onto the floor with some elbow grease and cleaning solutions.
A vacuuming routine is the best way to keep your carpet clean. Do this a few times a week and your carpet will feel fresh. Because carpet holds on to dirt and debris that gets lodged into the fibers, you will also want to shampoo your carpet every few months.
Shampoo machines can be bought from a department store or you can usually rent one from your local grocery store. If you want carpet in most of your home, it's best to invest in a shampooing machine for yourself.
Cleaning a carpet is not always as easy as hardwood when it comes to cleaning nasty spills. Some carpet cleaners may help get some or most stains out, but, unfortunately, certain stains will likely stay. Liquids like spilled ink may be impossible to get out entirely.
For this reason, some homeowners who favor carpet flooring opt for carpets in darker colors. White and beige carpets are beautiful, but stains will stand out on them loud and clear.
The Pet Factor
When it comes to pets, your flooring does make a difference! The type of flooring best for pets will also depend on what kind of pets you have or plan to get.Hardwood flooring is easier to keep clean if you have animals that shed often, like dogs. A quick sweep will get rid of unwanted hair that may accumulate on the floor.
If you have aquatic animals that require tanks neither flooring is better or worse. On carpet, constant water exposure might eventually ruin your carpet. With hardwood, constant water exposure will damage the wood eventually.
With animals like cats or small rodents, either flooring will likely work. If you plan to house train your animals, just be aware that if they do relieve themselves on the carpet at any time they may do it again as animal scents are hard to fully remove from carpet fibers.
If you have senior pets in your home, carpeting might help cushion their limbs as they walk around your home.
When it comes to allergies, hardwood is the clear winner. If you or someone in your home has pet allergies a hardwood floor will be infinitely easier to live with. Carpet fibers tend to hold on to pet dander and dust, making it feel impossible to keep allergies under control.
Cost Differences
With all the different service options for flooring, the cost is often one of the first things you should consider. Different things will affect the cost, like how big your home is and whether or not you have stairs.When it comes to cost, carpet flooring is the clear winner if you're looking to initially save money.
On average, carpet is about $3 per square foot, although you can still find decent carpets for as cheap as $1 per square foot. The downside to this is that after about a decade, or even sooner, you will likely need to replace your carpet.
Hardwood flooring starts at about $5 per square foot. While it is initially more expensive, the upside to paying for it is that it's common for good hardwood floors to last up to 100 years if you take care of them.
In the long run, it may be the cheaper option if you don't want to deal with replacing your flooring every ten years or so.
Different Kinds of Comfort
One of the biggest benefits of carpet flooring is that you cannot deny how soft and comfortable a decent carpet feels!If you love feeling the softness of a carpet beneath your feet first thing in the morning, a carpet is more for you. It's also convenient because you don't need to buy additional rugs to lay out so that you can be comfortable when you lay on the floor.
Carpets mean your whole family can lay on the floor during movie night or roughhouse and play without the fear of hitting the hardwood.
Hardwood floor isn't as comfortable as carpet, but some people prefer the solid, cool feel of hardwood. It's also easier to live with hardwood when temperatures are particularly high.
If you want hardwood floors with added comfort, you can invest in plush rugs to put throughout your home.
Install Your Flooring of Choice Today
Now you know all the facts when it comes to carpet vs hardwood flooring. There are benefits and drawbacks to both, in the end, it all comes down to your personal needs and preferences.At National Floors Direct, we take pride in our work, whether it's hardwood installation or carpet installation, we only provide our best service. Contact us today to find out more information about your flooring installation with us!
