The two most common flooring materials are hardwood and carpets. One is a hard, natural, and expensive flooring option that is long-lasting while the other is a soft, synthetic, and cost-effective material with a short lifespan. Each offers different features to match your needs. In this blog, we’ll let you know which option is good for you. Continue reading to get your answers:
- Appearance
- Carpet
As compared to hardwood, carpet comes in a lot of textures and colors to meet any décor. It is not only soft and warm to feel underfoot, but also to appearance.
- Hardwood
Hardwood, on the other hand, is also good in appearance because of its appealing pattern of wood’s grain and natural wood-tone colors.
Well, it does totally depend upon your preferences but hardwood flooring is more common nowadays.
- Heat and Water Resistance
- Carpet
Synthetic carpet fibers are highly resistant to water but you may have to protect yourself from water because mold can grow faster beneath the carpet layer. That is why carpets are not recommended for moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.
- Hardwood
Hardwood flooring is also not suitable for wet places but it’s often fine in kitchens only if you can wipe up the stains immediately.
So, we can say neither of the options is good for humid areas. Moreover, they are susceptible to heat and can be easily burned or scorched by cigarettes.
- Cleaning
- Carpet
Cleaning of carpets is not as difficult except for frequent vacuuming. Some people might feel difficulty in cleaning their carpets because they can easily trap micro-bacteria and dust. This is the reason carpets are not good for allergic patients.
- Hardwood
By contrast, hardwood flooring is easier to clean. All you need to do is simply vacuum or sweep to remove dirt. To remove deeper stains and dirt, periodic damp-mopping with a wood cleaner would work best.
As hardwood is less susceptible to dust and stains, this is why it is considered best for care and cleaning.
- Durability and Maintenance
- Carpet
Carpet cannot last for so long no matter how much you care for it. To extend its life, you can call professional cleaning service providers for deep cleaning.
- Hardwood
Hardwood, on the other hand, can last for many decades and even generations if taken care of properly. It can be sanded down and refinished every 3 to 4 years.
Hence, in terms of durability, hardwood flooring is what you should consider.
- Cost
- Carpet
Carpets are considerably cost-effective as compared to hardwood flooring. But keep in mind that you need to replace your carpets every few years. On average, carpet costs about $3 per square foot.
- Hardwood
Hardwood flooring is a bit more expensive than carpets but it lasts for decades. You may don’t have to replace them again and again. On average, a hardwood floor costs about $8 per square foot.
Hence, we’ve come up to the conclusion that hardwood flooring is superior to carpet for so many good reasons such as more elegant appearance, better longevity, and better real estate value. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t go for carpets. If budget and comfort are your primary comforts, carpets should be considered.