Considering new flooring for your home? Soft surfaces like installed carpet or area rugs can give your home an entirely new look and feel. Each has its benefits and disadvantages, so read on to find out what is best for your home and your lifestyle!
Installing Carpet
Covers a Larger Area For Less
If you have a traditional home with several bedrooms (the preferred areas for carpet), installed carpets will be a more cost-effective solution per sq ft. Since these areas are not as heavily trafficked as common areas in the home, and are typically a “shoes-off” zone, they will not deteriorate as quickly as installed carpeting near the kitchen or entrances to the house.
Less Stress Trying to Coordinate Decor
Don’t want to spend hours, days, or weeks searching for the right rugs for your home? Installing carpet will establish a comfortable palette in the home so you can design on top of it, not around it. You know that the carpet will be the right size and color the first time.
More Cost-Effective Over Time
According to a study done by the IICRC, properly-maintained installed carpets will cost less to clean and maintain than other hard surfaces like vinyl, hardwood and tile. The upfront costs for installing the carpet and the material itself can initially be more, but the maintenance and products needed to keep hard surfaces clean will be more in the long run. With that being said, neglecting to maintain your investment will result in a loss. By neglecting to vacuum, professionally clean and limit staining on the carpets, the lifespan will be shortened and replacement will be necessary faster than the projected life of the carpet. If you have young children, pets, or a heavily trafficked home, installed carpeting may not be the best option for you.
Buying Rugs
Loose area rugs can be a great alternative to installed carpet for several reasons.
Better For Pet and Kid-Friendly Homes
The benefit to having a loose area rug in a stain-prone area is that the rug can be taken out of the home and treated by a professional. In most cases, we can remove more odors and stains from a rug in our facility than an installed carpet in the home. Low pile, polypropylene and low pile, colorful wool rugs respond best to higher use areas for different reasons. Professional rug cleaners have more options to treat staining with synthetic fibers because they are less sensitive to heavy duty stain treatment. Wool rugs have natural stain repellency built into the fiber to slow the absorption of liquid staining. Heavily stained and soiled rugs usually need to be flushed or fully submerged to effectively release soils and staining. This extremely thorough process cannot be completed in the home or on installed carpet.
High Quality Rugs Can Last Longer Than Installed Carpets
While the highest-quality carpets can last 10-20 years, that is considered a short lifespan for rugs. High quality polypropelene rugs can last 20-30 years, while high quality wool rugs can last centuries if properly maintained. Rugs can add to your decor whether you have installed carpets or hard surfaces. Make sure to always use a rug pad to protect your rug and the flooring underneath from dye transfer or abrasion.
Colorful Area Rugs Can Add To Your Home Decor
Adding rugs to a space can help define different areas in the home. A rug under the sofa and a rug under the dining room table in a small living/dining combo can help separate the two spaces and make the room appear larger. A neutral rug can brighten a dark room and add texture to the space, while providing a plush, comfortable feeling underfoot.
Benefits of Rugs and Carpets in the Home
No matter which option you choose, opting for area rugs or installed carpets in your home can have numerous benefits
Sound Dampening
Adding soft surfaces into the home helps control the volume as it carries through the home. Whether you have young children, dogs, or a sports enthusiast in the home, soft floor surfaces help keep their sounds of their excitement at a reasonable level.
Insulation
Soft surfaces not only make the room feel more comfortable, they help regulate the temperature as the seasons change. Most people love hard surfaces with area rugs on their main levels, while carpet in a basement and bedrooms help warm up our cozy spaces. Wool carpet is well known as a great insulator, but any soft surface or rug will help maintain consistent temperatures throughout the year, saving you money on heating and cooling costs.
Comfort
The last place you want to put your feet on a crisp morning is on an ice cold tile or wood floor. The most convincing reason to add rugs and carpets to your home is to make walking around the house a more pleasant experience. Soft surfaces help cushion joints and make the overall room feel more comfortable.
Make sure to keep your soft surfaces well maintained to protect your investment and keep your family healthy. We recommend that your carpets be professionally cleaned every 12-18 months, and rugs cleaned every few years depending on your lifestyle. If you’re looking for expert rug, carpet, or upholstery cleaning in the Portland Metro Area, call Gallagher’s today at 503-477-4097!
