Pros and Cons of Carpet Floors: To Carpet or Not?

Pros and Cons of Carpet Floors: To Carpet or Not?

Carpeting is not new to the home interior. However, carpet floors lost its popularity as new materials come into the market. Hardwood, tiles and vinyl are now the popular options other than carpets. Because of its wide variety of design, colour options and affordability. On the other hand, many homeowners are still into the idea of carpeting the bedrooms. But what are the pros and cons of carpet floors? Do you really need full carpets? Read along as we list down the factors that you need to consider before carpeting.

Pros and Cons of Carpets

Here are the important pros and cons of carpet floors:

Aesthetic

PROS: Flaws of uneven and cracking floors can be easily hidden through carpets. If you have old-style flooring or damaged floor material, carpet is a good way to hide it without the labour intensive flooring replacement. With regards to designs, you can choose from many colour options and patterns. Which means you can find the right carpet for your taste and personality. You can also choose the perfect type of carpet depending on the room, or foot traffic. Other than designs, carpets add warmth and softness to the room.

CONS: Some carpet suppliers have limited design options. Aside from this, carpets are easily stained. Stained carpets are a drawback with regards to aesthetic quality.

Insulation

PROS: Compared to hard floors, carpet offer the best heat insulation. Wall-to-wall carpets are warm and cosy. It does not get cold faster than ceramic tiles and it stays warm for a long time. Hence, they maintain your utility bills low as it helps in heat insulation especially in winter. Other than heat insulation, carpet is also a good sound insulator. Carpets absorb the sound, so you don’t have to worry about footsteps and floor noise. In contrary, the noise reverberates on hard surfaces like hardwood or ceramic tiles.

CONS: If you are living in a warmer climate, wall-to-wall carpets are not a good option.

Comfort and Safety

PROS: If you have kids who like to roll and play on the floor, carpets are a great choice. Certain rooms like bedrooms, play areas are mostly carpeted as it is safer to fall on, especially toddlers. Even adults have fewer risks of slipping because of their surface texture. Nevertheless, you still need to be cautious. Carpets are also more comfortable to walk on. It is softer even walking barefoot compared to hard floors.

Cost

There are two common types of carpet: Woven or tufted. Woven is the most expensive option. It uses a traditional loom method which is labour intensive. With that, comes a premium look and price. On the other hand, tufted is the most common choice. This is the mass-produced carpets and synthetically manufactured.

PROS: In terms of affordability, carpets are cheaper. Carpets are an inexpensive option if you are going for home renovation or improvement. But keep in mind that the price of carpet depends on the brand, style or design. Compared to hardwood or ceramic, entry-level carpets are relatively cheaper to buy and install.

CONS: One of the drawbacks of carpet is its maintenance. Sure carpets are cheaper to buy and install, but they may cost you high on maintenance. Professional cleaning of carpet floors is expensive as steam cleaning is required.

Maintenance

Vacuum Maintenance of Carpet - PRos and cons of carpet floors

PROS: If you aren’t really using the room regularly or a careful homeowner, you may not need regular maintenance other than vacuum.

CONS: One of the main concern of using carpet is having to deal with dreaded carpet stain. You won’t avoid staining floors no matter how careful you are. If not cleaned sooner, carpet stains are difficult to remove. Make sure that you select a carpet that is treated with a stain guard. Stain resistance is an important factor to consider in carpets.

Health

PROS: Somehow, carpets help alleviate common allergies. Carpeting traps and prevents them from circulating freely in the air. But always ensure that your carpets are regularly cleaned! Carpets also have low VOCs compared to other floorings which mean better indoor air quality.

CONS: Generally, carpets are not too health-friendly. As the fibres can be a breeding ground for allergies. If you have asthma and allergies, carpets are not the best option. However, if you opt for carpeting, you must regularly clean and sanitize.

Durability

PROS: Some carpets are very durable. They are available in different grades and quality but it will impact the price.

CONS: Generally, carpets are not as durable as hard floors. Carpets are manufactured synthetically and they tend to not last as long as other flooring options.

Before Buying Carpet

Now that we have listed down the pros and cons of carpet floors, you may have decided to go for carpeting. If so, here is a brief checklist that you need to know:

  • Ask for a Low-VOC or Zero VOC carpet
  • Compare Underlay material and thickness; A good underpad can make your carpet material more durable
  • With stain inhibitor and treatment
  • Measure square footage and have the salesperson to compute. This is to avoid short measurements which will be a costly mistake
  • Good warranty Period
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