Carpet or Hardwood Flooring – How to Choose?
Whenever you are planning to renovate your home, improve its functionality and comfort, or build a new one, the dilemma of what type of floor to choose is always on the agenda. It couldn't be any other way, indeed, since the floor is one of the most important elements of the interior of every property and it should not only serve an aesthetic purpose but also be the right choice for durability, lasting power, functionality, and convenience in the context of the lifestyle of the entire household. Indeed, different types of flooring can contribute to different homes to a bigger or a smaller extent. Therefore, you need enough time to consider all the factors reflecting your requirements, needs, and desires and determine the best type of floor you should select. To help you make the best choice, today we would like to discuss two of the most popular types of domestic flooring - carpet and hardwood flooring.
The majority of the houses in the country already have a carpet installed as a common flooring choice. However, carpets, unlike hard floor coverings, are known for not lasting for decades. So, probably, the time to replace the old carpet will come sooner or later in your home too. Now, the main question of the agenda will be whether to go on the beaten path and invest in a new carpet, the floor covering you are already used to or go for something new yet something that has withstood the test of time in millions of households already - a hardwood floor. There are many aspects you would need to consider when choosing between these two.
Of course, keep in mind your needs, requirements, and desires. At the end of the day, you want to make a choice you won't regret, therefore, you would first think of the needs and preferences of your household, not just go for what is trendy at the moment and what the interior design magazines tell you to do. Of course, your budget will also be a determining factor in this dilemma. Everyone knows that hardwood floors tend to be a more serious investment compared to a carpets. However, keep in mind that a carpet will last significantly shorter and you will have to replace it in a few years. Unlike the carpet, a hardwood floor is designed to last up to a whole century when maintained and cleaned properly and regularly.
Lifetime Value
On an average base, a carpet will last you up to a decade. This means that ten years later you will have to replace your carpet with a new one, invest the money not just for the carpet itself but also for its installation and experience all the disruption of the carpet installation service all over again. When you look at the whole situation from this point, ten years is not that long. On the other hand, we have already mentioned that a hardwood floor is designed to last up to a whole century. Considering the quality of hardwood flooring nowadays and the average amount of high traffic and wear and tear it will go through daily in a domestic setting, you can expect a hardwood floor to last for many decades.
Proper maintenance and regular cleaning can prolong the floor's life significantly and professional services such as sanding and refinishing can improve its durability and make it look brand new even after years of everyday use and wear and tear. A hardwood floor can usually be sanded four to five times in its lifetime, of course, it all depends on the thickness of the floor and its quality. Of course, you should also be aware of the fact that every additional service you hire for the maintenance of your hardwood floor will cost you additional investment. In conclusion, it can be assumed that the cost of a hardwood floor and a carpet is approximately the same throughout a few decades.
Return of Investment
At this point, you may reconsider investing on a hardwood floor. Yes, indeed, a hardwood floor can last for many, many decades. However, you are not planning to live in the house for that long so what is the point? Well, recent studies and statistics show that a hardwood floor can be a major selling point of a property. Homes with hardwood floors installed sell out quicker and for more money when listed on the real estate market. More than half of the people wanting to buy a new home are willing to spend more for a home with a hardwood floor. The amazing ninety-one per cent return on investment is estimated for hardwood floors, which is one of the highest among home improvement projects. Therefore, you can assume that a hardwood floor is truly a smart investment that will pay off.
Hidden Costs
Of course, another important factor to keep in mind when choosing between a hardwood floor and a carpet is the cost of maintenance. When it comes to a carpet, there is not much that can be done to restore the floor if it is already damaged and needs a replacement. Deep cleaning is always an option for a carpet, however, it focuses on improving the carpet's appearance and hygiene, not its condition and durability.
According to experts, you should clean your carpet thoroughly and professionally at least every two years and the price of a professional deep cleaning service is budget-friendly indeed. On the other hand, with a wooden floor, there are many things, treatments, and services that could be performed. A wooden floor can be professionally deep cleaned, sanded and buffed, refinished and stained, recoated and polished, repaired and restored. There are also floorboard replacement services, gap filling, spot repairs and more.
Every service is designed to treat different issues that may occur with a hardwood floor and every service will contribute to significantly improving both the condition and the look of the wooden floor. However, hardwood flooring upkeep could be a bit more costly compared to carpet maintenance and cleaning. However, wood floor maintenance and cleaning are not required as often and regularly as it is with a carpet. So when you assume the added expense of regular and professional carpet cleaning, it becomes clear that a hardwood floor is a real winner in this category.