My husband and I are in the middle of remodeling our home and are having a hard time deciding on going with carpet or hardwood flooring for the main floor and basement. We are definitely going with carpet throughout the upstairs. Is hardwood cleaner and easier to maintain? Will hardwood add a higher resale value? OR, if what would a combination of carpet and hardwood be better? What are the pros and cons of each? Please help us decide!
Hi Susan,
This is a question that often comes up when remodeling.
Hardwood will have far more resale value than carpet will. Carpet will start to go down in value before the installers have left your home. Carpet holds dust and other nasties that cleaning just never seems to get. Carpet, either by you or by some owner, in the future will end at the dump. And in high traffic areas such as your main living areas it will get there sooner. Some people prefer carpeting in their bedrooms as it's warmer on the feet during those cold winter Canadian nights we get and as it usually has little traffic it holds up much better so lasts longer. I would recommend that a neutral colour is used so that it will last through future wall/bedding colour changes. I would never recommend it go into a basement there are too many issues with dampness and possible future mold.
Hard surface flooring such as solid wood should increase the value of your home. It cannot be installed below grade though so it wouldn't be a good choice for your basement. Look at cork ( Wicanders makes the only click cork flooring, that I have found, that is ok to install below grade), there are laminate wood click floors that are ok for basements but I have't seen any that stand the test of time. You could also look at engineered wood floors that may be ok for below grade. Before going ahead with any choice be sure to check the manufactures warranties regarding grading.
This is an exciting time for you I hope you're enjoying the whole process.
Cheers
Mary
Mary Dancey Interiors
Wonderful information and advice...thank you Mary!
Hi Susan, we are in the home renovation business located in Burlington. A fantastic product for basement flooring is Allure Resilient Flooring available at Home Depot. $1.99 per square foot. Requires no sub floor at all, the product is self-adhesive and can be laid wall to wall. It is fantastic, 100% waterproof and scratch resistant. Can be damp mopped, swept or you can just use a swiffer sweeper. Great for kids and grandkids. Comes in 6 colours, actually looks and feels like wood, but it's not...
Also, carpet is now again becoming a thing of the past. Hardwood, engineered hardwood or laminate is the way to go. Purchase some gorgeous throw rugs, but always remember, they are like art on the floor, they do not need to be identical.
Hope this helps!
Cathy
Rob's Contracting
Carpet is becoming a thing of the past and a hardwood or laminate floor would bring more value to your house, Susan. I am also remodelling and I have replaced all my carpet with laminate flooring. It is hard wearing and cheaper than solid wood. If you spill a drink on carpet, it will leave a stain. If you mop it up quickly on a wooden floor, no damage will be done.
Good luck,
John White
We are puzzled on our first floor bedrooms and hallway on whether we should place a new carpet or do hardwood flooring. We already have the hardwood flooring on the main level. I need some advice on what would be the best choice
Feroz
Go for hardwood flooring. Carpets are not that much worthy as compare to wood flooring. Flooring experts also advice wood flooring as there are number of problems with carpets..for more information and to check variety of wood flooring online you can visit source wood floors online.
Thank you
I prefer carpets, because they add coziness to the interior. I have two country houses and one apartment, and in each of them I have several carpets. The only problem is that they need to be cleaned regularly, because they accumulate a lot of dust, which is harmful to the human body. Personally, I clean carpets with portable spot carpet cleaners. Here are some great examples: https://spotcarpetcleaners.com/
Pros Of Carpets:
Carpets are easy to clean and add a luxurious finish to any room. Apart from preventing foot pain, carpets are comfortable. They prevent the noise caused by shoes and other items that people step on.
Cons of Carpets:
Carpets can retain moisture creating mold that can be toxic for those people with allergies.
Pros Of Hardwood Flooring:
Hardwood flooring reduce dust and bacteria. This flooring is easy to clean and stain-free that make it ideal for families with children and pets.
Cons of Hardwood Flooring:
Hardwood floors may take a few days to install. While the upfront cost of installing a solid wood floor might be expensive.
But we suggest you buy hardwood flooring, it is very easy to clean and offer the best advantages, such as durability, maintenance, and resale value.
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