Carpet Flooring Versus Hardwood Flooring

There is an ongoing debate over which type of flooring is best: carpet or hardwood. This is a big question for any home flooring plan. Both are classic types found in almost all homes. Many will argue that one kind of flooring is superior to the other. However, the truth is that the best choice of flooring is highly dependent on many individual factors. There are quite a few similarities, but also many significant differences between carpet flooring and hardwood flooring. Let’s begin examining some of these factors.

Differences Due to Material

Typically, hardwood flooring has an aesthetic edge over carpet flooring. Hardwood looks more luxurious, comes in many types, and has a classic feel to it. Conversely, carpet flooring is limited to the colors available in terms of aesthetic choices. When it comes to care and durability, both are susceptible to spills and physical damage with the caveat that carpet tends to need replacing much more often than hardwood flooring. The resilience of hardwood flooring is useful in places like the kitchen, whereas homeowners couldn’t even think about carpet flooring in their kitchens!

Despite the above, many homeowners end up choosing based on the comfort of the materials. Carpet flooring has a bit of a leg up in this aspect. It has a few benefits when it comes to its material. Carpet is softer and more comfortable under foot, which leads to more cushioning in the event of a fall. It also makes it quieter when walking around the house. Hardwood flooring tends to be cold, loud, and a hard surface for something to fall on.

Cost

The pricing is often a major deciding factor for many homeowners, and with good reason. Because hardwood flooring is made from a natural material, it runs more expensive than carpet, somewhere around $9-$13 per square foot. Carpet flooring, on the other hand, runs at about $3-$5 per square foot, quite the difference if looking at extensive square footage. The top of the line hardwood flooring selections can come in at $25 per square foot and might immediately remove hardwood from the choices based on cost alone.

Sustainability

With the evolving times, people are more conscious of the environment when they make purchasing choices, especially significant choices such as building materials. Unbeknownst to most, carpet is actually made from petroleum and is not as sustainable of a resource as something like wood is. Trees can be planted to produce more wood while petroleum is not as easy to reproduce. Hardwood flooring is, thus, more environmentally-friendly and sustainable than carpet for this comparison.

RPS Flooring is Here to Help

Is your home or commercial building in need of new floors? RPS Carpet and Flooring Wholesalers has over two decades of experience providing residential and commercial flooring throughout Maryland. Give us a call, or come and visit our showroom to check out our expansive selection. For tips, tricks, and to see what we have been working on, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.