Why so many Americans use carpets instead of hardwood floors ?

Question

Me and my husband have been searching apartments for rent and 90% come with carpets. Being both from Europe, we are not used to the smell of carpet. We just wondered what happened in this country that so many people use carpets.

Answer 1

After WWII, wall-to-wall carpeting was considered a luxury-- something that signified success, etc. Previously, homes were built with wood floors and people put down area rugs for comfort, warmth, and to muffle sound. For several decades after the war, just about everyone who could afford it had wall to wall carpeting--- soft for the feet, comfortable to sit or lie on, etc. I've even seen bathrooms and kitchens carpeted-- how impractical is that? But people wanted their homes to be like soft "nests"... a cozy refuge from the 'cold cruel world'.
Newer homes in the U.S. have gone back to more wood, marble, tile etc. because people like the look and the cleanliness. In older homes many people are ripping up the carpeting to refinish the underlying wood, if it exists, or put in new flooring. As people have become more aware of the effects of molds and dust on our health, many people want to avoid carpets, which trap such things.
Things come and go in fashions, including in home decorating. One reason, however, that many apartments still may be carpeted is to dull the sounds for the people who live below. If the apartment was not built with good sound insulation in the floors and walls, carpeting helps to absorb noise, and makes living close to others easier. Newer buildings have much sound insulation, so, while more expensive because they are new, they will have less carpeting.
I, personally, have some parts of my home with natural wood and ceramic tile, but the "family" room where everyone tends to sit/lie around on the floor as well as the furniture when we watch movies etc. is thickly carpeted. We are very casual-- and the kids like to roll around, do somersaults etc. and the carpet is soft. (and relatively clean)

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Hardwood floors are more common in houses and building built I'd say around 50 years ago. A lot of the housing and apartments are fairly newer so they just put down carpet. My guess is because when they build an apartment complex it's much cheaper. The smell that you're not used to may be the shampoo or cleaner they used to clean the carpet. I'd think the smell will go away after a while.

Answer 4

Putting down a harwood floor can be ex$pen$ive.
In old apartments, chances are there is a hardwood floor under the carpet. Back when the apartment was built, it probably had hardwood floors, but they were covered up with carpeting because it's warmer and less noisey.

Answer 5

well theres not really a big reason for it its just that most of the time its the living room and bedrooms that have carpet which makes the floor warm, when you are just walking in your house barefoot you dont want to walk on a cold hardwood floor the whole time, some like carpet because it can be considered a luxory ( i have no idea why it is i guess because its expensive ) others have it just because of the color! well thats the only reasons i have known. if you are buying the apartment you can always take the carpet out of the house, thats what we had to do in our house because of my 2 littlest brothers they would always spill drinks etc. on the floor so we just pulled up the carpet, and there you have it. =)

Answer 6

Because American houses aren't built tough, unlike European. So the floor in the apartments are kinda thin and shitty, and the neighbors downstairs can hear every step you make. Carpets are dampening the sound. Where I live there is also a regulation that, I think, is 70% of the apartment should be carpeted.

Answer 7

Mainly due to the cost. Carpet is the least expensive floorcovering and for landlords, they make more profit by keeping their overhead low. Chances are however, with older properties, there are hardwood floors under the carpet, as long as not on concrete

Answer 8

I'm an American and we have all hard wood floors.
Carpet is cheaper though, and people who are getting their first home probably would want to get other things that are more inportant.
By the way wats up with the upside down Christmas trees from europe what happened in there?

Answer 9

It feels nicer on the feet when you walk, and during colder days the floor does not feel as cold as a hardwood floor does.

I dont like carpet either it carries dust and dustmites and other kinds of bad things in it.

Answer 10

i guess that most are smart like me and would rather step onto and have their children crawl on warm soft carpet then a hard cold floor ???
carpet is not a germ trap if you are a clean person and vacuum daily and have it cleaned often!

to the dumbass under me like i said if you are not too cheap and poor to buy a vacuum and have your floors cleaned by a professional then there is not a problem with carpet!

to brainiac...i am a very proud mother of 2...sorry that you cant find someone to have children with...it is a gift...i am just sorry that your mom wasnt smart enough to use birth control!!