Carpet vs. Hardwood: Which is Better in New Homes?

St. Albert, Edmonton, Calgary – you name the city, new home buyers everywhere across Canada are having the debate: Carpet or Hardwood? Both types of flooring can be beautiful and both can be somewhat cost-effective. The question is: which is right for you? New homes in St. Albert and across Alberta have followed the home decorating trends over the years. In the late 1960s, carpeting in homes became increasingly popular. Then in the 90s, hardwood flooring started making it’s comeback. The comfort and warmth of carpet seemed comparable to the ease of cleaning and clean lines of hardwood flooring. The popularity of hardwood overtook carpet easily (especially in bathrooms – yuck!) but now has evened out again, and the debate rages on.

Any experienced new home sales team will tell you that right now, hardwood flooring is easier to find in a house. The majority of carpeting in houses right now is going to be fairly old and in need of replacement. So, when you and your real estate agent are searching through the MLS listings in Alberta, take a minute to look at the home’s features and decide whether you want existing carpet or hardwood; or whether you’d rather spend the money replacing your flooring with a material of your own choosing. Any high quality flooring chosen and installed properly is going to add value to a home – new or old; both carpet and hardwood have advantages and disadvantages so weigh them carefully when making your decision.

CARPET
Carpets are considered to be more of a dated choice when choosing flooring for homes, but at one point so were hardwood floors. Trends come and go and if you are planning to stay in your home for any extended time frame, trends should not be the only factor when making your decision.

Advantages of Carpet:

• Price: Even high-end carpeting can be less expensive than hardwood.
• Noise: Carpet absorbs sounds and helps keep the noise level to a minimum.
• Foot Health: Carpet provides a necessary padding that your tootsies will appreciate.
• Health: With allergen and pollutant levels on the rise, carpet manufacturers have finally seen the light and started making hypo-allergenic carpets available.
• Installation: Carpets are usually easier to install than other types of flooring.

Disadvantages of Carpet:

• Price: If you are tearing up new carpet and find hardwood underneath, it is probably more cost effective to refinish your hardwood, rather than installing new carpet.
• Overall Health: Carpets are notorious for harbouring harmful bacteria and emitting toxic vapours. Even the carpets touted as hypo-allergenic can be more harmful than the new stains used on hardwood.
• Life Span: Carpets will probably need to be replaced every 10-15 years, whereas hardwood can last a lifetime with proper care.
• Endurance: Carpets are easily stained and patterned carpets can be easily damaged as they usually have loops that can pull.

To reap all of the benefits of carpet, be sure to plan a maintenance schedule for cleaning. Infrequent cleanings will leave dirt in your carpet which will eventually leave immovable stains. To avoid staining, blot up liquids immediately, and place mats on high-traffic areas (entranceways, exercise areas, etc.)

HARDWOOD
Hardwood, when stained correctly, can be a beautiful addition to any new home. Sales agents across Canada can attest that buyers’ ears seem to perk up when they see that the specs for a new home contain “hardwood flooring”. The popularity of hardwood has been steady over the past century with some noticeable peaks over the years. Hardwood flooring, however, is not necessarily better than our fuzzy friend, the carpet, just better in different ways.

Advantages of Hardwood Flooring:

• Price: With the invention of engineered and tongue in groove hardwood, the price for materials has come down significantly.
• Health: Hardwood floors are a much healthier option, as long as a water-based stain is used to avoid other, toxic fumes. They obviously cannot hide any bacteria or dirt as everything stays on the surface of the floor and can be easily vacuumed or swept up.
• Maintenance: Hardwood is extremely easy to maintain on a regular basis and should only be re-stained every 10-15 years.
• Lifespan: As stated earlier, hardwood flooring can last a lifetime with proper maintenance and stained in a variety of colours should you get bored with the appearance.

Disadvantages of Hardwood Flooring:

• Price: High quality hardwood flooring is generally very expensive as are the installation and staining costs.
• Endurance: Hardwood floors may last a lifetime but they are quite easily damaged. Even a fine layer of dust and dirt can cause the finish to scratch. Little ones can be tough on this floor as well with trucks, strollers and frequent un-noticed spills. Hardwood can also warp, stain, splinter, dent and break with heavy use.
• Health: Some stains and sealants can emit toxic fumes when used in your home. Try to choose water-based products whenever possible (your choice may depend on the type of wood you choose.)

To keep your hardwood in fine form, clean up wet spills A.S.A.P.; liquids can warp and stain your floor. Use hardwood floor cleaner and place mats or area rugs in high-traffic areas.

Lilly Gordon is a freelance writer and web publisher. Lilly is a real estate enthusiast and loves to stay on top of decorating and real estate in Edmonton, where she currently resides.