Carpet vs Hardwood
Are you torn between carpet vs hardwood floors for your home? You are not alone! While carpet has been a favorite for many decades and is lower in cost to install, there are many pitfalls that homeowners have to consider before officially committing to carpet.
Many people shy away from
hardwood floors because they want a soft area for their small children to enjoy. But, those children do not stay small forever. Others may avoid hardwood floors because they assume their pets will destroy the wood with their claws, but that is not necessarily the case. Don’t settle for options based on assumptions. Hardwood flooring is not only an easy way to modernize your home, but it is also an investment in your property. Don’t stick with carpet! Here are our four reasons to settle the carpet vs. hardwood flooring debate from Patrick Daigle Hardwood Flooring:
Reason #1: Carpets Collect Dirt and Stains
Did you spill something on your carpet? Great…now you have to soak up the mess, pat it dry, and go through the bothersome process of scrubbing your carpet or shampooing it clean. You may even have to call in a professional for particularly bad stains like wine, Kool-Aid, or grease/tar. Also, don’t forget the expense of having your carpets cleaned annually (or more often for lighter colors). Carpets are not easy to clean and, depending on the type, you may have to invest more rounds of cleaning than you would like to in order to maintain quality carpets in your home. You could choose from synthetic fiber or natural fibers, and you would still have to endure the cleaning pros and cons of each. Installation carpet comes in all types and textures, but they all have one thing in common: they are a hassle to clean.
In contrast, hardwood floors are easy to
take care of. All you need to do is weekly vacuuming and dust mopping. You will consistently have beautiful and clean floors to enjoy. Whether you choose natural wood or engineered wood, the cleaning process is still going to be much easier than cleaning carpet. Also, with wood floors, you can completely bypass the old smells found within carpet fibers.
Tip: We recommend vacuums with a floor-brush attachment or an electric broom to avoid damaging the wood. For a deeper clean, use a slightly dampened rag mop or good old-fashioned sponge with diluted wood cleaner to remove pesky allergens, dirt, and other irritants in a flash.
Reason #2: Carpets Get Worn
We’ve all seen it: those paths in the carpet where people walk the most and have matted it down just a bit more than the surrounding areas. They’re called traffic patterns, and once they’re there, there is not much that can be done to fix them. They are the result of years of foot traffic that has worn down the carpet fibers as well as the pad below. When this happens, there’s no other solution than to replace the carpet. Carpets can also develop large wrinkles near these patterns that require hiring a professional to rest retch the carpet.
Wood floors, however, hold up to
foot traffic much better. The average wood floor lasts ten years before it needs any maintenance like professional cleaning or refinishing. When refinished, it will last another 10 to 15 years or so. Solid hardwood floors can be refinished many times, and the color and finish can be changed as well to keep your home up-to-date. When it comes to carpet vs. hardwood flooring, you definitely will have more flexibility with the latter as your tastes in interior design change over time.
Reason #3: You Can’t Escape Your Allergies
Your carpet can easily become a
magnet for allergens like dust mites, pet dander, and even mold spores, which can irritate your immune system. These pesky allergens can get trapped within carpet fibers and down in the pad, and they are difficult to get rid of completely. If you are tired of dealing with allergy issues inside your home, consider installing hardwood floors to reduce the allergens that are lurking beneath your feet.
Reason #4: Update Your Home
Do you watch HGTV and admire the beautiful hardwood floors? Or, are you preparing to put your home on the market and want to revamp your living room? Hardwood floors are a popular flooring choice due to their beauty, durability, longevity, and versatility. While initially a little pricier than carpet, hardwood flooring is a worthwhile investment in the long run because it lasts
so much longer than carpet. When you consider the carpet vs. hardwood flooring debate, keep in mind that cost is relative. The pricing for either option is based per square foot installed. You can run the numbers on your own to compare pricing. For carpeting, you want to figure 12 per square feet for the width of your room and multiply it by the length of the room. For hardwood flooring, it is usually sold by carton that contains 20 square feet. You can do the math and compare numbers, but keep in mind the prices also represent the quality of your flooring. Carpet might be cheaper by square foot, but it will cost you more in the long run with upkeep. Toss out your pesky, out-dated carpet and transform your living space with hardwood floors that make a statement.
Here at Patrick Daigle Hardwood Flooring, we understand that flooring installation can be overwhelming. Whether you want to liven up your family rooms or boost your image for real estate, we have you covered. Hire the best hardwood floor refinishing contractor in Manchester, Connecticut! We are a fourth generation business in the flooring industry since 1927. We also install wood flooring, laminate flooring, and engineered wood floors. Call us today for FREE ESTIMATES!
