It sounds like it’s time for new flooring!  Putting down new flooring in your home can be one of the best ways to make an older space look brand new again.  New flooring can bring back the life to a space by adding that clean new glow with warm colors, glossy finishes and a uniform appearance without stains, wear marks or other ugly spots old floors can have.  New floors can also change the whole look and feel of a space.  Adding elegant hardwoods where you used to have old out dated carpet can help a space feel less like your grandmother’s parlor and more like a modern space where you’re excited to entertain guests.  Removing old carpeting can also help reduce the odors in a space as your carpet has absorbed years of stains and spills, removing it could take those old odors and allergens with it.  Lastly adding new floors can bring back a softness and warmth to a room if you decide to use new carpeting with warm colors and a high pile height.

When you are recovering the floor in a room in your home, there are a lot of decisions to be made.  Not only do you need to decide where to buy the flooring, but you have to decide if you will do the work yourself, how high quality of flooring you should purchase, not to mention the color and style.  There are so many large warehouse style stores selling carpet today that it can be an overwhelming decision and feel like you get little or no help.  In the Charleston area you can always look to Carolina Flooring Services for help with any flooring project.  We have a trained staff whose only job is flooring.  Our staff focuses on customer service and the quality of your flooring and can help you understand how to get the most out of your flooring.

In this article we want to help decide if you want to use carpet or hardwood.  This can be a tough decision as each floor covering brings with it different benefits and challenges.  We think that depending on your space and what you want to do with it, we can help you make the best decision for your home.

Carpet has been a floor covering option since the late 1700s.  For a brief history, you can checkout this article about the history of carpet.  It has a proven track record of looking great and not going out of style if you choose the right colors.  Carpet also has had some great advancements in technology recently that makes modern day carpeting much more attractive than its wool predecessors.  Materials such as advanced nylons, special coatings and even advanced polymers made to resist stains completely make modern day carpeting surprisingly easy to care for.  Modern day carpets can be expected to last for 5 to 10 years based on traffic and care, but some luxury carpets may last up to 20 years.  The biggest thing on most of our minds is cost.  Carpeting can start for as low as $4 per square foot for contractor grade carpet and can be as much as $20 per square foot for high quality carpeting.  You can expect to spend an average of $10-$12 dollars per square foot on mid-grade residential carpeting.  The biggest benefit of carpeting is going to be the warmth and softness.  Due to the padding and pile, nothing is going to make you want to snuggle up on the floor like brand new carpet.  Also, nothing will ever feel as warm underfoot or bring comfort to a room like wall to wall carpeting.

Hardwood has been used since house were being built.  It is a widely available natural resource that doesn’t take much to produce into flooring.  Hardwood floors are available in all sorts of different grains, colors, sizes and finishes.  Hardwood is exceptionally easy to clean, is surprisingly durable and in most cases is hypoallergenic.  If properly cared for, hardwood can be expected to last 100 years or more making it an almost permanent feature in your home.  Hardwood can be a little more expensive than carpeting, but given how long it may be in your home it can be a great investment.  Depending on the quality of the wood you choose, and the installation service you chose, hardwood flooring can cost anywhere from about $8 per square foot to $25 per square foot.  The biggest benefit of hardwood flooring is its timeless beauty and elegant feel.  Hardwood always helps a room feel more sophisticated and special.

Traditionally, carpeting is used in rooms like bedrooms and family rooms while hardwood is used in entry ways, kitchens and dining rooms.  If you are looking to make your room feel more refined, are looking for easy clean up, and don’t mind spending a little more now for a greater return in the long run hardwood flooring is best option for you.  If you are looking for a warm cozy feeling room with less upfront cost, then carpeting is the best option for you.

If you still need more help deciding if you are going to use carpet or hardwood, stop by Carolina Flooring Services showroom at 3830 Dorchester Rd. in North Charleston to experience the difference for yourselves and get more advice from one of our experienced staff.  Also, for more information you can visit us online to learn about our flooring options and services.

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Carpet or Hardwood – By wyvic.cond.net Licensed by Creative Commons Share Alike 3.0 Original Link
Carpet – By Roger Mommaerts Licensed by Creative Commons Share Alike 3.0 via Flikr Original Link
Hardwood – By Daniel Rothamel Licensed by Creative Commons Share Alike 3.0 via Flikr Original Link