Is your flooring scratched, dirty, and simply not looking good? Do you have smelly, old carpeting that just has to go? If so, you may be wondering whether you should install hardwood floors or wall-to-wall carpeting.
Hardwood floors are a great choice for a number of reasons. Here, we’ll explore the top 5 reasons why hardwood floors are better than carpet.
1. Hardwood floors are easier to clean.
Anyone who’s lived in a home with broadloom has had the experience of spilling something all over the carpet. While a glass of milk can easily be wiped off a hardwood floor, it’ll soak into the carpet, requiring much more work to effectively clean it off.
Carpets need regular vacuuming with a beater-brush vacuum, and must be shampooed regularly to avoid buildup of dirt.
On the other hand, hardwood floors are easily cared for with simply regular vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping as needed.
2. Hardwood floors are better for allergies.
Wall-to-wall carpet is a hotbed for common allergens such as dust mites, dander, and pollen. Because carpet is made of fabric, it absorbs the allergens making them harder to clean and remove.
Hardwood flooring, on the other hand, is easily cleaned and doesn’t absorb allergens because it’s a hard surface.
If you or someone in your household suffers from allergies, installing wood flooring and vacuuming regularly can help them breathe easier.
3. Hardwood floors are better for pet owners
If you own a pet, the choice should be clear. Anyone who owns a dog and has carpets knows that they’re very hard to clean when your pet has an accident.
Pet messes are much easier to clean off hardwood floors than carpet because it’s easy to wipe off the bulk of the mess and sanitize the floor. With carpets, the mess will soak into the fabric, making it much harder to clean and sanitize.
4. Hardwood floors are more stylish
There’s a reason hardwood is so popular, and it’s not all practical. In addition to being easy to clean, versatile, and hypoallergenic, hardwood floors are extremely stylish.
Think back to the shag carpets of the 1970s. Now imagine the clean lines of a freshly-installed hardwood floor. Carpet simply doesn’t look as good as hardwood.
Hardwood flooring comes in many shades and styles and is easy to match to your decor.
5. Hardwood floors are more versatile
Even if you like the feel of carpet on your feet, you can still benefit from hardwood floors. It’s easy to purchase an area rug and place it in areas you would like to be carpeted, while leaving the majority of your home with hardwood floors.
This is a good way to get the best of both worlds, with the cleanliness of hardwood and the softness of carpet.
But if you install wall-to-wall carpet, you won’t be able to put hardwood where you need it.
