Which Is Healthier Between Carpet and Hardwood? (5 Great Distinctions)

which is healthier between carpet and hardwood

This is the question on the lips of every single person in the world. Okay, maybe that’s a bit farfetched. However, if you’re a homeowner or a house design expert, you’re sure to debate this quite a few times.

You’ve probably wondered which is healthier between carpet and hardwood, sadly the answer varies from person to person and hugely dependent on factors like allergies, asthma, water resistance, sound and even comfort.

Read on as we throw more light on this.

Related: How to Repurpose Hardwood Flooring

Which Is Healthier Between Carpet and Hardwood

Carpets and hardwood are the two most common types you could find when it comes to flooring. However, this two have very distinct differences.

One is hard, natural, expensive, very durable, and leaves a bold statement, while the other is soft, synthetic, affordable with a relatively short lifespan, and elegant. I bet you can guess which is which.

Some people have both in their house at different parts where they could fulfill their function satisfactorily while some people have only one all through their homes.

Selecting the healthiest and most appropriate floor for your house is a huge decision to make, and you would be taken through points of consideration before the final verdict is made.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Which is Healthier

Allergies and Asthma

Asthma victims avoid any triggers which can be caused by exposure to dust. Research says that carpets create room for the storage of allergens and dust.

If a carpet is used in the bedroom and gets dirty, this means the person will be exposed to dust and allergens each night as it will harbor them and this can lead to worsening asthma symptoms and reduce the quality of life for those who suffer from allergies.

Hardwood floors, however, can be easily cleaned of dust, pet furs, and allergens. You should note that dirty hardwood flooring causes the same damage to people with allergies as an unclean carpet.

Cleaning your floor in both cases is pertinent in reducing the concentration of allergens. Although, if you’re not able to steam your carpets regularly, the best advice is to get hardwood flooring and save yourself the stress.

Sound and Comfort

Carpets have great sound deadening features. If you’re a house owner who suffers from sleep issues and the tiniest sound would wake you, or live in a duplex with rooms below you, carpets are a great choice.

It comes with good padding, so the noise will not pass up and down very easily, and you won’t hear footsteps that could disrupt your sleep. They are also really soft beneath the feet.

The major benefit of carpet flooring is comfort. As a result of the comfort it gives, it’s best to put it in the kid’s bedrooms or living and family room to provide them with a relaxed feel.

The softness of the carpet also makes it a safe choice because it prevents injuries. This is why they would be good in houses with kids or aged people.

In the case of hardwood, they do give comfort, though not equal. If you install them in rooms on upper floors, people will be concerned about the noise of the footsteps.

Read: Plush Vs Frieze Carpet

Resistance to Water and Heat

Many modern carpets are manufactured with synthetic fibers that are highly resistant to water damage.

However, if the water seeps through the carpets, it would cause mold. So you must prevent the water from backing down on the carpet.

When molds appear, they are notoriously difficult to remove, so it is not advisable to have carpets in wet areas like bathrooms or kitchens. In addition, carpets are very easily damaged by heat such as burning cigarettes, hot pans, and of course, real fire.

Some carpets will release toxic gas if a home fire ignites. On the other hand, hardwoods are not recommendable in places that are constantly wet as well. They will get damaged due to water.

It can be easily cleaned up in places like the kitchen where spills are made. Hardwood flooring is below grade installation against concrete slab since ground moisture frequently seeps through the slab.

However, intense heat like fires generally affects wood floors, but mild scorch marks can sand out. So, in such instances as this, these two even out when talking of resistance to water and heat.

Neither is good for humid places like basement slabs or bathrooms. Hardwood is damaged by water, and carpet is damaged by heat.

Insulation

A very important consideration is the warmth of the home. Here, carpets take the obvious win. Carpets keep your home better insulated and inherently lower your utility bills.

Carpets warm your house with the trapped air in their fabric. It acts as an insulator, making the carpet a floor–wide insulation against heat loss.

This really helps especially during wintertime, it equally acts as fuzzy socks then. Hardwood will end up feeling cold under naked feet and does nothing to help as regards warmth.

Cost, Durability, and Maintenance

Carpets are more affordable compared to hardwood but have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years, while hardwoods last a lifetime because damage can be repaired without replacements.

Carpets also have high maintenance. Once spills happen, it’s very hard to clean them. Also, regardless of strict cleaning and in the cases of heat, they have to be replaced.

On the other hand, hardwood has low maintenance because spills can be easily detected and wiped off. It is spill and stain-resistant.

Read: How to Blend Hardwood Floors

Conclusion

Choosing which is healthier between carpet and hardwood from the above factors listed, both hardwood and carpet are healthy. Carpets are harder to clean, which is not ideal for people with allergies.

They are not very durable but are comfortable, water-resistant, soundproof, and help with interior insulation, therefore saving money.

Hardwoods are easy to clean, so it’s good for people with allergies and asthmatic people; they can be comfortable, they’re very durable, and are mild –heat resistant, but they are not soundproof, nor do they help with insulation.

The last thing to break the tie would be the ecological factor. Hardwoods are gotten from fallen trees, so this is not healthy for the environment.

So, Carpets are eco-friendly and the healthier choice for us. Anyway, the choice is yours. With all this information, you can now decide which one fits more into your lifestyle and keeping your priorities on top, would be more suitable for you and your home.

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