Carpet VS. Hardwood
Carpet VS. Hardwood & Deciding what flooring to layout in your home may be difficult, especially if you may not know much difference the two will serve. Although both have pros and cons, a lot of factors may depend, like your personal goals and the atmosphere you want to create. As well as kids, pets, and job may also play a role on what you would want to choose to match your lifestyle. Here are some things to consider before making your decision for your home.
CARPET
For starters carpet is cheaper than Hardwood. The total pricing for carpet including materials and installation would come out to an average of $335-700 for a 12×12 room. Comparing to hardwood which would come out to $1,580-3,190. However carpet needs to be replaced about every 10 years.
Carpet is softer, sixth generation nylons, (Nylon 6.6) are the softest. This may bring a soothing feeling in bedrooms, children’s room, some family and living room areas, when you want to promote an atmosphere to comfort and relaxation. Carpet is also warmer, dense carpeting with a good quality bonded polyurethane padding beneath can create an R-value of four or more meaning the warmth carpeting leads to a room is very real.
Carpet is known to be quieter, it creates a surface with excellent sound dulling properties. Carpet is one of the most efficient building materials available when it comes to absorbing noise. With a noise reduction coefficient (NRC) of .40 to .50 carpet easily bets hardwood NRC of .05 to .15.
Cleaning carpet would include vacuuming, and attempting to remove stains as soon as you notice them. Occasional deep cleaning services may extend the life of your carpet, but it’s rare that a carpet will las more than a decade or so.
Visually carpet has a more soft appearance. There is more variety in terms of color, texture, and feel, but both hardwood floor and carpet are available in hundreds of styles to meet almost any interior design need.
HARDWOOD 
Even though hardwood is more expensive than carpet it can add value to your home if you sell your house later on. When it comes time for selling your home, buyer will pay more for a house with hardwood than carpet. Because it is seen as high maintained and luxuries, both because it is natural material and because it is much longer lasting than carpet. Costs start around 4$-8$ per square foot.
In appearance hardwood creates a bold statement, as firm to the eye as it is to the feet. Most people find hardwood flooring to be more attractive. Many homeowners believe that having hardwood floor even makes the space look bigger. Major complain is sound. They are loud. If installing on upper levels, people below often complain that they can hear every footstep.
Hardwood as a very beneficial factor to it when it comes to cleaning. It is much easier to clean. They can be swept, steam-cleaned, or vacuumed to remove any dirt or debris that has accumulated. They are significantly more stain resistant than carpets. Proper care of wood floors, can make it last for decades. Some higher-end materials can last for generations. Solid hardwood floor can be fully sanded down and refinished when wear becomes severe. If done correctly, most floors can be sanded three or four times over their lifespan.
A great benefit that comes with hardwood is that it serves very well for those you suffer with allergies. Unlike carpet which can easily trap pollen, dust, and animal hair. With hardwood even if these substance are on it it is easy to just mop it down.
CONCLUSION
By standard comparison, hardwood has better longevity, is more elegant appearance, and better real estate value. However carpet Is a great choice for making your home comfortable and soft. In the end it all comes to how you want your home to look, the texture you would prefer. In addition, knowing your budget will also help determine what would be a better option for you.
