Exploring the Pros and Cons of 3 Popular Flooring Options Carpet, Laminate Flooring, and Hardwood Floors

Are you ready to make a big change in terms of improving the look and feel of your living space but aren’t sure exactly where to start? Maybe you don’t have the time or funds to commit to a complete overhaul or a major home remodeling or renovation project. If this sounds like you or someone you know, then it’s time to strongly consider flooring options. Simply upgrading the flooring in a space or room, even without changing the furniture, painting, or upgrading the appliances and decor, can be enough to give the entire area the fresh, new look you’re hoping for. And the best part about it is that it’s a lot more affordable then a total renovation project.

Flooring serves a very important purpose in your home, one that’s easily forgotten or taken for granted. Not only does it beautify a space and enhance its overall aesthetics, but it also serves as a walking surface. This surface not only supports your body weight and the weight of all the appliances and furniture on top of it, but floors can also add comfort, make your home easier to clean, and many flooring options are even designed to keep you and other members in your household safe by being slip resistant.

So if you’re considering installing a new kind of floor to spruce up your living area, there’s a lot to think about when it comes to choosing the right kind of flooring. Here’s a break down of some of the most popular flooring options and the benefits of each one.

Carpet

Did you know that at 51%, carpet accounts for more than half of the flooring market in the United States? Carpet is an extremely popular flooring option and is found in the majority of American homes. It’s comfortable, soft, easy on the eyes, and provides a nice texture that compliments nearly any room. It’s especially popular in bedrooms and living rooms. There are also high traffic carpet options that are less plush than traditional carpet and is specifically meant for areas that experience a lot of footsteps. Carpet however should be avoided for people that suffer from seasonal, indoor, and even outdoor allergies. Because it’s not a hard surface, carpet easily collects allergens such as pet dander, pet fur, dust, dust mites, pollen, dirt, and other irritants.

Laminate flooring

Laminate flooring is an extremely popular flooring choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and many other areas of the home due to its affordability, versatility, and its hassle free maintenance. Unlike other flooring options such as hardwoods or tile that can be difficult or take a long time to install and require a professional touch in order to be installed correctly, laminate flooring is easy to install for even the most amateur of handymen or women. And in many cases, it can be installed right on top of the existing floor. Laminate flooring is also a great option for people who have allergies due to its flat surface, which makes cleaning extremely easy and simple. There are however some major concerns with laminate flooring due to the potentially volatile organic compounds or VOCs found within it.

Hardwood floors

Hardwood has been used as a flooring option for centuries if not longer and it’s easy to see why. With a variety of different rich tones, textures, and colors, hardwood flooring is extremely versatile in terms of how it can be customized to create the specific look and feel that you want. Another benefit of hardwood flooring is that it’s extremely long lasting and can last for over a hundred years or more with proper maintenance and care. And because hardwood flooring is made of wood, it can easily be repurposed and used for other purposes once its time has expired. Unfortunately, the downside of hardwood flooring is that it can be expensive. However many people feel that its well worth the expense in the long run due to its durability and longevity.