Floors are a very important decision when it comes to your living space. Based on your budget and preferences it may be hard to choose which flooring is the best for you and your family. Here are some positives and negatives of both carpet and hardwood flooring to help you make a decision.
Carpet
Pros: The number one pro of installing carpet is the price. Carpet is the most cost-effective. Along with it being the cheapest alternative, it can also save you money on your heating bill because carpet is a great insulator. If you have children in the house you might want to opt for carpet because it is soft enough to have your child roll around and play on the carpet and also is a great buffer when someone falls. Carpet can also act as a noise canceler, unlike wooden floors that pick up every sound and footstep. If flooring is a problem you want a quick solution to, carpet might be the best option because of how fast installation is. Installing carpet can be done in under few hours, some rooms as large as 20x20 can take up to 10 minutes. Lastly, carpet is Eco-Friendly; Many carpets today are either made out of wool, synthetic fibers, or recycled materials.
Cons: Although carpet is cheap to install, it should be changed every 3-5 years, sometimes longer depending on how you maintain your carpet. Another thing that can shorten your carpet's lifespan is stains! Again children can play a big factor because although carpet is safer for play, its also a giant sponge for everything the children can spill and knock over. Stains are harder to remove on carpets than hardwood floors, and carpet is much harder to clean and sanitize in comparison to hardwood. Carpet tends to hide dirt very well, which can cause allergy flare ups and bring unwanted guests such as ants, which can be very difficult to spot in a carpet. Did you know one of the top causes of deaths of senior citizens are caused by falls due to carpets and rugs? Loose, under-maintained carpet is sometimes slippery to walk on or bunches up in certain areas which can be hazardous to anyone, especially those who have to take their time with walking.
Hardwood Floors
Pros: Hardwood floors, unlike carpets, can last a very long time depending on how you maintain it. The most work that might have to go into your hardwood floors is refurbishing them. Maybe after 10-15 years, your floors may need to be sanded and refinished, but your floors will look brand new without having to totally replace the floor, and you can also have the floor lacquered, improving its scratch and dirt resistance. Hardwood floors are beyond easy to clean! Stains are rare, and when they do occur, a little elbow grease and they come right up, sometimes using just water!
Cons: Hardwood floor does come with its cons sadly. Installation is long and can take days-weeks to install by yourself and is even more expensive if you have someone else install it for you, and that can take days as well. Although you would be investing for the long run, it can be a hefty price to lay out in one shot. Aside from expense, you have to watch out for scratches, especially if you have pets. Pets and flood zones are huge factors to consider when choosing hardwood, because moisture damage can ruin hardwood quickly if not taken care of immediately. Again lacquering the floor can help significantly with most of the maintenance cons above, but you should still be careful about them. If you forgo the lacquer, you will need to oil your floors weekly to keep the wood strong and healthy. This is a con because of its maintenance on top of cleaning, and for some, that regular time and monetary input can turn them away, but its well worth it to see that wood shine every week.
We here at Tom Crimmins Realty hope that this was helpful for choosing the right type of flooring for you. We may not be floor experts, but we can find a home with the right flooring for you. Contact Tom Crimmins Realty today to be set up with an agent to find you the perfect homes within your budget and preferences.
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