Carpets vs Hardwood Floors: What’s the Better Choice?

Floors are an essential part of every home, so picking out flooring is an important decision. The two most frequently found flooring solutions are carpets and hardwood floors, so it’s possible that you might have trouble deciding between the two. 

In this article, we will outline all the differences between the two; material, endurance, cost, and maintenance, and hopefully, help you decide which one is the better choice for your home. 

Carpet vs Hardwood: The Main Differences

Just by looking at a carpet, we can see how different it is from hardwood floors, as they have a completely different appearance. But the differences are many and we’re going to outline them, so you get a better sense of what to expect from each of them.

Carpet Flooring

Carpets are made from threaded fibers, either from natural fibers such as cotton and wool or, more commonly, from synthetic materials like polyester and nylon. During the production process, the fibers are threaded together to create a sturdy, yet soft flooring solution, which is then sold in large rolls. 

As we’ve mentioned, carpets can be made from several different materials and the choice of available colors and patterns is nearly endless, so there’s no lack of variety. What’s even better, you can buy as much (or as little) carpet as you need — it’s sold by the foot. 

Another factor in the carpet vs wood floors debate is softness; carpets, being made from fiber, are much softer than wood, meaning that they’re also more comfortable. On the downside, carpets tend to shed a lot and degrade more quickly; a lot of these particles end up in the air, and many of them don’t degrade naturally with time. 

Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood floors can be made from a few different trees. Usually, hardwood flooring is made from oak, beech, walnut, ash, or another broad-leaf tree, which means that the choices in terms of color are much more limited than with carpeting. 

Seeing as hardwood floors are made from wood, they’re very solid and hard to the touch, so not as comfortable as carpets. Still, many people believe that hardwood floors look better than carpets. It’s worth noting though that their installation is more difficult and takes longer and you probably won’t be able to do it yourself. 

The hardwood floor has other things going for it, particularly, durability. If hardwood floors are made from high-quality wood that has been properly treated, professionally installed and well-maintained, they can last up to 100 years. For comparison, the average carpet probably won’t last more than a decade. 

 Carpet vs Hardwood Cost: Budget-Friendly or Not?

One of the biggest considerations when furnishing a home is the budget; when it comes to flooring, many people are looking for the most budget-friendly option. That’s why we decided to compare the cost of installing a carpet to the cost of getting hardwood floors for your home. 

Cost of Carpeting

Carpets, being made from more widely available materials, are cheaper than hardwood floors. The average price for brand-new carpets ranges from $2 to $8 per square foot, although there are carpets that cost significantly more. 

Like with anything else, the price will depend on the type of carpet you choose; carpets made from natural fiber cost more than those produced from synthetic materials, and also, the price can vary depending on the weave style. 

One of the best things about choosing carpet flooring for your home is the fact that you can install it yourself and avoid the installation cost. However, if you don’t know how to go about this, keep in mind that you’ll have to pay an additional $0.50-$1 per square foot for installation. Comparing the total cost of wood floors vs carpet, carpeting is cheaper — you can pay as little as $2.5 per square foot. 

Cost of Hardwood Floor

When you’re picking a hardwood floor, you have two choices; you can go for a solid hardwood floor, made entirely out of wood, or you can get an engineered hardwood floor that consists of a board of solid wood attached to a thicker plywood board to reduce the cost. 

If you decide on solid hardwood, you’ll have to pay between $3 and $10 per square foot, while engineered hardwood floor is cheaper, ranging from $2.50 and $7 per square foot. From the prices displayed here, you can see that hardwood flooring is not more expensive than carpeting, but there’s a catch — the installation cost. 

Unlike carpets, hardwood floors are quite difficult to install, so you’ll probably have to hire professionals to install the floor for you, and this isn’t cheap. Installation of hardwood floors will cost you between $3 and $8 per square foot, meaning that the installation is nearly as expensive as the floorboards. If you decide on a hardwood floor, be prepared to pay between $5.50 and $18 per square foot. 

Cleaning Carpet Flooring vs Hardwood Floor

Cleaning and maintenance play a key role when choosing a flooring solution; we all want a floor that’s easy to clean and with the proper maintenance looks fresh for years to come. 

Cleaning a Carpet

Carpets are quite simple when it comes to day-to-day cleaning; they require regular vacuuming to remove the dust that has settled on the floor, as well as to pick up any sheddings from the carpet fabric. Vacuuming the carpet should be done at least twice a week, especially in the most commonly used rooms in your household. 

However, from time to time, you’ll need to conduct a deep clean to ensure that your carpet is bacteria-free. You can go about this in one of two ways: you can deep-clean your carpet at home, or you can call a professional carpet-cleaning crew and allow them to restore your carpet to its former glory. 

When it comes to carpet maintenance, stains are the biggest issue; if you spill something on the carpet, it seeps into the fabric and often, it can be quite difficult to remove these stains. Additionally, frequent cleaning and removing stains will wear down the carpet and you’ll have to replace it with a new one. 

Cleaning Hardwood Floors

When comparing carpet vs hardwood, one of the most notable differences can be observed in the cleaning process. Hardwood floors are extremely easy to clean and much more stain-resistant than carpets. 

The hardwood floor can be either swept or vacuumed to get rid of dust and dirt and this is quite quick, seeing as you’re dealing with a hard and smooth surface. For more thorough cleaning, you can use a damp mop soaked with a wood cleaner. This will keep your hardwood floor looking fresh and shiny. 

Concerning stains, you shouldn’t have too much trouble; as long as you wipe any spill as soon as it happens, the hardwood won’t stain at all. However, it’s a good idea to have your wood floor professionally cleaned from time to time – call a team of experts that will make your hardwood floor look as good as new. 

How to Decide Between Carpet vs Wood Floor?

Before you make the final decision regarding the flooring in your home, there are several things you need to consider. Read through the following list of considerations and make sure you make the best choice for yourself and your loved ones. 

1. Cost — hardwood floors cost more, but they’re more durable and don’t have to be replaced as often. Getting a hardwood floor might be a good investment in the long run.
2. Comfort — carpets are the more comfortable option of the two, but they’re more difficult to clean and shed particles that decrease the quality of the air in your home. 
3. Children — people with small children might want to choose carpeting over hardwood flooring, seeing as children spend a lot of time on the ground, and carpets are generally softer and warmer. 
4. Allergies — carpets are full of allergens, so people prone to allergies should avoid carpeting and go for hardwood – the allergen-free option. 
5. The area of the home  — bedrooms can benefit a lot from carpets, but common areas in the home might do better with hardwood; you can combine carpets and hardwood in different areas of the home. 
6. Market value — if you plan on eventually selling your home, a hardwood floor will add to its value, so it’s a worthwhile investment. 

Each of the two flooring options has its benefits and drawbacks, and eventually, the choice comes down to personal preference. And whatever you choose, keep in mind that we at Certified Clean Care are always available to help with the maintenance of your flooring. Whether it’s hardwood or carpeting, we can take cleaning off your hands and make your floor look shiny and new. 

Carpet or Hardwood: The Ongoing Dilemma

The choice between carpet vs hardwood can seem complicated, but all you need to do is weigh the pros and cons of each flooring solution and take into account what you want to get out of the floor you choose. 

After reading through this article, you should have a clearer picture of what you’ll get out of each floor type — consider everything and take your pick. We’ll always be here to assist you with any cleaning or maintenance!

FAQ

Is it cheaper to get carpet or hardwood?

Carpets are cheaper and installation costs are lower, but they’re less durable than hardwood floors and need to be replaced more often. 

What flooring adds the most value to a home?

Hardwood floors increase the value of the home because buyers are willing to pay more for a home where they don’t have to add new flooring or replace an existing one. 

What rooms should have carpet?

It’s always a good idea to carpet a bedroom, and children’s playrooms should also be carpeted to make the child feel more comfortable and cosy.