Carpeting is a fantastic choice of floor for absolutely any home. It's stylish, insulating, soft, slip-resistant, cozy, and adds a bit of sound proofing to any room it's in. Best of all, it is wonderfully warm on your feet, which is particularly appealing when you live in Michigan during the winter. It isn't any wonder why so many families choose carpeting for their homes when they need a new floor.
If a plush carpet fits the vision you have for your home we are 100% in support of that decision. As we mentioned above, carpeting is not a bad choice at all. But if you are unsure, are simply settling for carpeting because of it's price tag, or have ever dreamed of classic hardwood floors filling the rooms of your house we want you to give your a few reasons to reconsider. Both floors have their own good points, but in these areas hardwood flooring comes out on top.
1. Long-Term Value
Carpeting is great, but it doesn't necessarily add monetary value to your home. Sure, any new floor is a good floor, but people looking to buy a new house rarely have carpeting on their wish list. Hardwood floor, on the other hand, is a common desired item for buyers. It adds so much elegance and character to a room that it's hard to pass up. If you're planning on selling your home anytime soon, hardwood flooring will allow you to get more return on your investment and will draw in potential buyers.
2. Carpets are High Maintenance
This one comes as no surprise, but carpets leave little room for error. Pet accidents, spills, and stains usually leave a calling card on carpets. You have to diligently clean any messes up immediately and go to the trouble of shampooing your carpet regularly to keep it in pristine condition. Drying carpets takes forever and if it's not done properly it can result in hidden mildew growth. On top of all that you have to vacuum your carpet regularly each week.
Honestly, if you don't like cleaning a carpet might not be the right choice for you. Missing any steps in maintaining your carpet could lead to odor, allergies, mildew (so gross we had to repeat ourselves), or discoloration. Hardwood, on the other hand, is a pretty low-maintenance type of flooring.
3. Carpet May Cause Sneezing
Carpets are big collectors. They attract and collect goodies such as pet hair, dander, dust, pollen, and mites. These lovely nuisances aggravate allergies. So if you have a problem with the sniffles, your carpet could be the cause.
The sleek surface of a hardwood floor may be a landing spot for some of these things, but it doesn't trap them. All you have to do is take a dry mop to your floor and you should be able to breathe easily again!
4. Carpets Don't Last
Just because your grandma's 70's-style shag carpeting was still gracing her home when we entered the second millennium doesn't mean it should have. Apart from going out of style, carpets get matted, worn, and downright uncomfortable to walk on. They are not made to last for more than 10 years. Hardwood floors, on the other hand, can last a lifetime if they are cared for properly! It sure makes the higher price tag on the initial investment look a bit smaller, doesn't it?
Happy Flooring!