If you’re trying to sell your home, installing hardware flooring can improve your home’s resale value by 70 to 80%.
Deciding between carpet vs hardwood can be very difficult, especially considering if you’re trying to sell your house or just give it a new look.
There are pros and cons to both, but we’ll break it all down to help you come to a decision!
Pricing
Maybe you are buying a house with the flooring you’ll need to tear up. Or maybe you’re trying to figure out how much it will be to redo your own flooring.
Regardless, the pricing may be one of the most important deciding factors when it comes to deciding between hardwood or carpet.
The price is vastly different between the two, so if you’re trying to save money, you may just want to go with the carpet.
Hardwood is one of the most expensive types of flooring because it is a natural product. You can’t engineer it to make more of it unless you cut down more trees.
On average, hardwood could cost around $10 per square foot, but some of the nicer versions might cost even more.
On the flip side, carpet could cost an average of $4 per square foot.
Installation
Hiring a professional to install your flooring is going to be the easiest way to upgrade your flooring.
However, if you want to do it on your own, the carpet is definitely going to be easier to install than a hardwood floor.
To install carpet, you’ll have to staple a pad underneath the carpet and nail it down. Next, you’ll just need to roll the carpet over and attach it to the underlying pad.
It does take a little bit of work, but when you compare it with the process of installing hardwood, it is a lot easier and faster.
To install hardwood, you’ll have to lay out each individual board and then make sure it all lines up with the wall and the other boards.
It’s very easy to mess up this process, and most people end up leaving it to the professionals.
Aesthetics
Another thing you should consider is how the carpet or hardwood will look in your home.
The latest trend is to go with the look of hardwood, and carpet is now viewed as outdated to some people.
Carpet can be more comfortable and versatile in terms of texture and color, but hardwood also comes in all kinds of designs and colors.
Hardwood flooring can also go with just about any kind of interior design you want to incorporate in your space.
Carpet offers more of a soft, subtle look to a room. On the other hand, hardwood offers a bolder statement, so it really just comes down to personal preference.
Durability
If you’re going to be spending a lot of money on upgrading your flooring, you’ll probably want to know which one is going to last you the longest too.
Hardwood is more expensive, yes, but you’ll get more use out of it as it can last over fifty years. However, this does depend on what quality type of wood you get.
While carpet is cheaper, it will only last for about ten years, which means that you’ll be paying more money to replace it in the long run.
Comfort
Comfort is another factor that you’ll have to consider before deciding.
While the appearance of the flooring is important, you also want something that’s going to be comfortable for you.
Carpet can be nice and soft, but depending on how much you pay for quality, it could be rough and uncomfortable to walk on. In general, though, carpet is very easy on your feet and soft, which is why many people have it in bedrooms.
While hardwood can be harder on your feet and isn’t very comfortable to lay on, you could always get a rug for a room if you really wanted more comfort.
Environmentally Friendly
While hardwood might not seem environmentally friendly because of all the trees it needs, carpet actually is worse for the environment.
To make carpets, they have to use petroleum which is not good for the environment. Once it starts to break down, it can release harmful chemicals. If you do opt for carpet on your floors, you should get wool that is environmentally sustainable.
While hardwood floors use trees, they are biodegradable when you do get rid of them. Also, when they harvest the trees to make the hardwood floors, the Forest Stewardship Council is in charge of overseeing just how many trees can be cut down.
When you do buy hardwood flooring, make sure that there is an FSC® certification on it to ensure that it was harvested in an environmentally friendly way.
Noise
Lastly, noise is also something that you should consider.
The hardwood can make your home feel noisier since there won’t be anything to absorb the noise in your house. If this is something that you’re worried about, having rugs placed strategically on your hardwood floor can help reduce the echo effect.
However, the carpet will help to absorb that noise and reduce the echo that you’ll feel in your home.
Learn More About Carpet vs Hardwood
These are only a few things to consider when trying to decide between carpet vs hardwood, but at the end of the day, the decision comes down to what you want your house to look like.
Regardless of which one you choose, you should find a professional company to lay down your flooring and make sure that it is done properly and efficiently.
If you’re looking for a company to hire for this job, make sure that you check us out!