Are Hardwoods Better Than Carpet?

Are Hardwood floors better than carpet? This has been a highly debated topic for years. Of course, there are pros and cons for each. However, if you had to choose only one for an entire house, we believe there is a clear winner.

A Case For Carpet

Most people do not choose to use carpet for their entire house. However, a lot of people decide to use carpet in certain situations. It is also important to remember that each family and home is different, and this is ultimately a personal decision.

Staircases can be essential parts of a house to use carpet on. Hardwood flooring can sometimes be slippery on a staircase, especially if someone wears socks or slippers. This is even more true when toddlers or children live in a home with hardwood staircases. Using a rug “runner” in the middle of a staircase with hardwood is a way to make stairs safer, but using carpet is a more straightforward solution and is usually more cost-effective.

Carpet can also be a great way to make a bedroom or den feel cozy. For many, carpet creates a space that feels warm and comfortable. Carpeted rooms are where people want to sit back and kick their shoes off. Even if it is only a bedroom or child’s playroom that gets carpet, these rooms tend to break up the floor design of a home and make it a special place to relax and be more comfortable.

Carpets are typically less expensive compared to hardwood floors. Even some engineered hardwood flooring options will cost more than carpets. This is also the case for most luxury vinyl options.

We have surprisingly seen a slight rise in the popularity of carpets. Of course, they are not as popular as they once were, but carpets might be making a bit of a comeback in the housing market. Only time will tell if they once again become the go-to for functional, family homes.

Hardwoods

Hardwoods seem to be the popular choice over carpets, especially in recent years. There are many stories about homeowners ripping up their carpets to find beautiful hardwood floors. Replacing carpet for hardwood floors is still a first step when most people plan on renovating older homes.

Hardwood floors are much more durable and easier to clean and maintain than carpets. Hardwood flooring can last for the lifetime of a house if adequately maintained. They are far superior in terms of waterproofness and durability. They can also be repaired and refinished without replacing an entire room of flooring. Hardwood floors are also much more hypoallergenic, where dust and pet dander can’t hide in the carpet fibers.

Another advantage to using hardwood over carpet is they are much better suited for high-traffic areas, especially in the entrances to your home. Dirt and grime that get brought into your home are much better handled by hardwood flooring. Even with diligent cleaning and upkeep, carpets will age quickly if used in high-traffic areas of a house.

A downside to hardwood flooring will be the cost. If you’re trying to save money, hardwood flooring can get expensive. However, hardwood flooring has different price points and features that can be adjusted to your budget. If cost is an issue and you want that hardwood floor look, there are some incredible luxury vinyl flooring options that look almost identical to hardwood.

Everyone is different, and so are people’s tastes. However, we believe that hardwood flooring will always be a superior flooring option over carpet. Carpet is a great way to go for special rooms and surfaces or unique circumstances, but maybe it isn’t the best bet for an entire house.

If you would like some pricing on hardwood flooring options, we would love to hear about your project and find ways that we can help. So for all your flooring needs in Florida or Westchester, NY, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us!