These days, you would be hard-pressed, when scrolling through renovation projects on social media or HGTV, to not see a video of someone demo-ing a layer of carpeting to find much-desired original hardwood flooring underneath.
Why is it that it older homes have a high propensity for hardwood floor to have been covered up over the years with numerous other flooring materials and yet today, installing wood floor may just deplete your entire nest egg?
In the early 20th century, carpet was seen as a luxury – they were handwoven and costly. Hardwood floors, on the other hand, were much more streamlined with lower maintenance needs.
Fast forward to the second half of the 20th century, the cost of carpet plummeted, and it swiftly became the more affordable flooring option. Carpeting became much easier to manufacture, install and clean, thus making it a more affordable option for American homeowners.
So, you can see the shift that happened with flooring costs and how that can impact desirability and design trends in a home.
The question for any homeowner today in Central Texas is whether hardwood flooring worth the price? Here are some factors you should consider when looking to install hardwood flooring in Central Texas.
The Look and Feel Underfoot
While carpeting is available in a variety of different textures and depths, so too is hardwood, especially when you include engineered wood within that category. While carpeting is certainly softer and warmer underfoot, hardwood provides more firm ground – a great option for more high-trafficked areas.
Resale Value
If your goal when redoing your home’s flooring is to increase the resale value of your home, then definitely consider hardwood flooring. Today, homes with hardwood flooring are more desirable for home buyers and real estate agents. On average, homes with hardwood flooring typically average a return of 70 – 80% on their investment.
Installation Costs
When it comes to the price per square foot, carpeting is significantly less expensive than hardwood flooring. On average, for carpeting – you could be looking at $2 – $7 per square foot with carpeting while hardwoods could run you somewhere between $6 – $15 per square foot. Installation costs are also a bit higher for hardwood as it is a more laborious process than installing carpet.
Durability and Lifespan
While carpeting does cost less, its lifespan is decidedly shorter than hardwoods. As you can see from all those HGTV finds, hardwoods can live long lives even tucked underneath carpeting in houses. So long as mold and mildew are not a major issue, hardwoods can last an extended period of time. Carpeting, on the other hand, can start to show wear and tear within 10 years.
Allergies
Lastly, another major factor to consider when looking at hardwoods vs carpeting for your home is your own lifestyle and individual needs. For any family members who suffer from allergies, it’s best to take the leap and go for hardwoods. Carpets can retain dust, dirt, dander, pet hair, and many other allergens in their fibers. While regularly vacuuming can help, it usually takes a deep clean to remove those allergens completely. Hardwoods would serve you better as a quick sweep and mop session will rid your floors of any extra allergens hanging around.
If you’re ready to make the leap and install new flooring in your home, give us a call. We can help walk you through the pros and cons of all your flooring options and help you decide which floor is best for you.
