Although carpeting appeals to many homeowners, more and more people seem to prefer hardwood floors, laminate flooring, and natural stone or tiles.
Carpeting can warm up a room and does offer advantages, such as comfort, sound absorption, and insulation -- especially with a good quality carpet padding underneath.
If you choose the right color, style, and density for your needs, then carpeting can be a choice you'll be pleased with for years. It may have a downside, however.
While carpeting does often look great shortly after it's installed, wear and tear does take its toll on both its appearance and cleanliness. If you're thinking about replacing or covering your existing flooring with wall-to-wall carpeting, you may want to reconsider your choice if you fall into any of the following categories:
Home seller: Although a brand new carpet is going to be less of a turnoff than an old, trampled carpet, many home buyers are expressing a strong preference for hardwood floors and other types of flooring. How long your carpets stay clean and new looking will vary, but time is not on your side! Permanent staining, fading, and wear and tear is almost unavoidable in a few short years. Regular vacuuming and professional steam-cleaning can help keep your carpets looking their best, but sooner or later, they're going to deteriorate and begin to look shabby. For that and a variety of other reasons, today's house buyer tends to look down upon homes that have carpeted flooring -- no pun intended!
Pet owner: It's a toss-up whether pets or young children are the number one enemy of carpeted floors! While there are many products that can remove spots and neutralize odors, some have been known to fade colors and leave you with permanent lighter spots on your carpet. Once that happens, no amount of vacuuming, wiping, or steam cleaning is going to help! Even the best trained pets do have accidents every now and then, and if you don't discover it right away, you'll find yourself dealing with difficult-to-remove stains and odors!
Allergy sufferer: It's no secret that carpeting tends to lock in dirt, dust mites, pet dander, pollen, dust, and other assorted allergens. Using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter (High Efficiency Particulate Air) is one of the most effective ways to temporarily improve air quality in carpeted rooms. Hiring a carpet cleaning service once or twice a year also helps. If you, any member of your family, or frequent visitors have allergies or other respiratory issues, it's very possible that your carpeting may worsen their symptoms.
The good news about carpeting is that there are stain-resistant products that are easier to clean, more durable, and less prone to discoloration. If you are considering buying a stain resistant carpet, it's always a good idea to check the warranty to make sure the manufacturer backs up their claims with a solid customer satisfaction policy.
