Carpets, Hardwoods and Tiles, Oh My!

Many people wonder if that wood flooring salesman at the mall was right in slinging his mud at carpeting. Although wood flooring appears long-lasting and easier to maintain, it might not offer as many benefits as carpeting or rugs. Let’s consider some of these points.

• Prettier and happier. Rugs and carpets come in thousands of styles, textures and colors. They offer options to suit your tastes and personality that many wood or tile flooring simply cannot reach. It’s often easier to find rugs to compliment your carpeting as opposed to wood or tile floors, and there are documented reports of the variety of colors and patterns improving a person’s disposition.
• Cozier. Carpeting offers thermal resistance, or R-value. In colder climates or seasons, carpet retains warmth more than wood or tile. Soft, padded carpeting offers a more welcoming place to sit, lie down, or perhaps spread out a game or project. Puppies and other pets usually prefer the tracking of carpet over slippery wood floors.
• Comfier. Not only does carpeting help animals to keep their footing, but humans as well. The fibers of the carpet and the cushion pad underneath provide softer impact for our feet – or our hands and knees, if we haven’t learned to walk yet. If we trip or fall, it’s easier to recover from meeting a soft, cushy carpet than a slick tile floor. Ouch!
• Quieter. While hardwood and tile floors resonate noise, carpeting assists in absorbing these sounds, offering a quieter indoor experience. Carpeting also comes with a cushion pad, which helps to absorb noise even further. This advantage becomes clear in multi-level homes or apartments, creating a sound barrier between floors.
• Breathier. Rugs and carpets act as passive air filters, collecting allergens and other harmful pollutants, keeping them from the breathing zone. Studies show reduced symptoms for asthmatics and allergy sufferers living in carpeted homes. Modern carpets are listed as the best choice for the lowest emissions of VOC (volatile organic compounds). Whereas wood or tile flooring allow particles to waft up into the air, rugs and carpeting keep it in place until your vacuum picks it up.

Now, that wood flooring salesman might say hardwood and tile floors are clearly better when it comes to accidents (from puppies, other pets, hand/knee users, etc.), including spills and stains. However, modern carpets come with protection to resist most liquids, so they can be dabbed up. Along with that, carpet protection from Preferred Carpet Care gives added protection from spills and stains for up to two years, and repeat treatments continue the protection. It will even repel that salesman’s mud-slinging.

With proper maintenance – and assistance from your friends at Preferred Carpet Care – you can fully enjoy the benefits of rugs and carpets. If you have any further questions or concerns about wood or tile flooring versus rugs and carpets, contact us today!