PROS/CONS: hardwood or carpet?

Question

I am asking for some help putting up a pros/cons list of hardwood x carpet (wall-to-wall). What should be taken into consideration:

1. I have 2 kids: an active 3 y.o. and a 9 m.o. that is learning to walk (lots of falls);

2. The cost is comparable, given that the carpet (cheaper) will be installed by professionals but the hardwood (pricier) will be installed by my husband & father-in-law.

I guess my question concerns factors such as: inconvenience, time for installation, warranty, ease of cleaning, ease of maintenance, and other factors I am sure I am overlooking.

I thank you in advance for your help.

Answer 1

Hardwood is timeless. I recommend area rugs over the wood until the children are older. One thing to defiantly consider. Laminate wood flooring is garbage. You will be disappointed after a year or two. If there are budget constraints, and you prefer wood floors, bamboo is becoming very popular.

Answer 2

Hardwood is beautiful, no doubt about it. We just finished putting it in our home. We put in a dark Brazilian Cherry and when it's cleaned to perfection it's gorgeous, but let someone walk on it with wet shoes or damp feet just getting out of the shower and you've got shoe prints/feet prints all over the place. Then the dog drools. Have to be careful when cleaning it because you can see every little streak. So my advice to you is if you're set on hardwood floors, go with a light color, it won't show the streaks and the little messes that will occur, especially since you have two little tikes running around.

Answer 3

Hardwoods are easier to clean, better for allergies (you would be surprised what's hiding in your carpet), makes the room feel larger and look better. These days hardwood floors can be purchased pre-assembled and installed within one afternoon. The only downside would be that hardwood floors are obviously more expensive than carpet and for the baby, falls would hurt a bit more than carpet.

Answer 4

Hi , Sounds like you have your hands full,so here goes....

CARPET
Pros....Looks good ,soft to walk on,warmer in Winter...
Cons.. Collects dust mites, allergens, hard to keep clean, NOT practical if have young kids, pets , worse still if spills often happen looks absolutely terrible.

HARDWOOD..
Pros Too many to list but a few standouts, Healthier for you 1st n foremost,Easy to keep clean especially with young family with pets...enough said..LOL
Use a few rugs this looks great...

Cons ..Cold in winter , noisy to walk on unless insulated underneath, which most are,
Scratch or scuff easy when Ppl walk on with boots etc, or Kids with toys, Furniture needs to have protection so as not to mark floors...
OK hope this helps.....cheers

Answer 5

hardwood
dust accumulates very quick hence costant cleaning
if you sit on the floor in summer you sweat
no cushioning when the little on falls
colder in winter
great if you suffer with allergies
cleaner than carpet
can be a slippery surface (when wet, or if wearing socks)

Carpet
Stains
holds the dirt/dust
warmer in winter
needs to be professionally cleaned every 6mnths
softer to fall on

Answer 6

Hardwoods. Easier to clean and you can get ride of allergies.

Answer 7

get the hardwood
kids are very messy
hardwood cleans sooooooo much easier and faster
and looks newer longer