Reasons to Replace Carpet with Hardwood Flooring

There are many different flooring options for you to consider, however, none of them are as iconic as carpet and hardwood flooring. There are many reasons behind this but the two most important ones are the fact that it’s A) traditional and B) quite pragmatic.

Although they share these two common features, this is where all the similarities end.

For this reason alone, it’s quite important that you get informed on all the perks and downsides that come from these two options so that you can opt for one that suits your home the best.

As of lately, the majority of people are replacing their wall-to-wall carpet with hardwood flooring and here is why.

1. Durability

When it comes to durability there are two ways to look at this issue. First of all, when it comes to hardwood, spills and dings are a major problem and need to be addressed right away.

When it comes to the carpet, however, spills don’t have to be cleaned right away. Still, this doesn’t mean that the carpet doesn’t get stained. In fact, if you fully commit to the maintenance of the hardwood floor and a wall-to-wall carpet, the latter will have to be replaced a lot sooner.

2. Sustainability

The next issue that we need to address is one of sustainability. You see, hardwood is most commonly a natural, sustainable and eco-friendly option (unless we’re talking about treated timber).

Sure, woolen carpets boast these features, as well, however, a wall-to-wall rug made from natural wool would be incredibly expensive.

This is why the majority of carpets that people use in their homes are made from petroleum derivatives, which makes them all but natural. In other words, those aiming to make their home eco-friendly are usually going for timber flooring.

3. The option for restoration

Even after years of use, if the timber that you’ve used in your hardwood floor is quality enough, you can just sand the top layer and apply a wood finish on it in order to make it look as new.

The best thing about this idea is the fact that it provides you with a resale value boost that is disproportionately large especially when considering the amount of time, work and resources that this project requires.

4.     Cost vs. cost-effectiveness

It goes without saying that hardwood floors are costlier than carpets but if this is so, why is their popularity exceeding that of their more frugal counterpart.

Well, it’s because cost-effectiveness tends to be more important than the cost itself. The above-listed two advantages are good reasons for you to go with a hardwood floor but there’s actually more to it than that.

The maintenance of a hardwood floor is much simpler and more effective, seeing as how it’s easier to spot and clean dirt. Also, a hardwood is a high-end and luxurious option, which means that it adds more elegance to your home’s design.

5. Advantages of a carpet

Now, let’s take a second or two to discuss several advantages that a carpet does have over hardwood. First of all, it’s cheaper, in general, which makes it ideal for those who are primarily concerned with the cost.

Second, it’s a lot softer which is a major boon for those who have kids. On the other hand, carpets tend to soak in different allergens (unlike timber), which also makes them a health hazard.

A hardwood floor also poses a higher slip risk than a carpet and, seeing as how it provides no padding but is instead a hard surface, it may make the fall more drastic.

Conclusion

While saying that hardwood flooring is clearly superior to carpet flooring may be presumptuous, the truth is that it does outperform it in the majority of different fields.

In other words, while the advantages of a carpeted floor (outside of just saving money) are mostly situational, hardwood is a better choice in the majority of cases.

Even the money-saving motivation may not be a clear-cut advantage, especially when the durability and ease of maintenance of timber floor are taken into consideration.

Author Bio

Triesa Standle is a Sydney based writer. Areas of her interest and expertise are mostly home improvement and home decoration. In her spare time, she likes doing shuffle, yoga, photography. You can find and follow her work on Twitter.