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Carpet comes in a great variety of colors, styles, textures and thickness. It is a good insulator and even muffles sound, which is why many homeowners and renters still prefer it in their bedrooms.
Hardwood is usually ¾ inches thick and there are many species available for different budgets and aesthetic tastes. It is also a good insulator and is very low-maintenance.
Not only is it available in a variety of colors; carpet comes with options for fiber or pile so you can zero in on the most appropriate type for your home.
These options range greatly in hardness, grain, color and price.
Species Cost per Square Foot Description MAPLE $3.50 – $6.00Carpet as a material costs as little as $1 – $2 per square foot and as much as $9 – $11 per square foot. For an average 12’ by 12’ space, you could pay $150 to $1,500 for the material alone.
Hardwood as a material costs as little as $3 – $6 per square foot and as much as $8 – $14 per square foot. For an average 12’ by 12’ space, you could pay $450 to $2,000 for hardwood alone.
Lowest Material Cost: Carpet
Carpet installation costs homeowners an average of $1,600, and most stay within a range of $700 and $2,500. Labor tends to run $0.50 – $1.00 per square foot, and additional services like furniture removal and specialty cuts can add $0.50 – $2.00 per square foot. Installation is often easier than with hardwood. The main determining price factors are the fibers, type of pile and square footage involved.
The average cost to install hardwood flooring is $4,400 with a typical range of $2,500 to $6,500. Labor makes up between $3 and $8 per square foot of this total price. This flooring needs more detail-oriented installation, and cost will vary depending on the type of species and amount of floor space involved.
Lowest Installation Cost: Carpet
If you’re thinking of tackling your project without a pro, there are several factors to consider.
Best for DIY: Carpet
If you’re planning to sell within the next 10 years, resale value can play a big role in your decision.
This option hasn’t completely lost favor with home buyers and is still king with older generations. New installations do not tend to affect resale value either way, but homes with old carpet will certainly suffer in the market.
According to the Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of Realtors, 21% of realtors would advise their clients to get hardwood flooring before selling their home. The report also estimates that this project has an average return on investment of 91 percent.
Best Choice for Resale Value: Hardwood
If you’re looking for the longest-term investment and you’re not interested in replacing your flooring within the next 20 years, there is a clear winner in the durability category.
Longest Life Expectancy: Hardwood
Most Moisture-Resistant: Neither
In general, floor repairs cost around $200 to $500. The cost of carpet repairs ranges from $75 to $450, while the price to repair hardwood flooring goes from $150 to $2,600.
Simplest Repair and Maintenance: Hardwood
Growing options for renewable and sustainable remodeling materials, help make our homes greener and more environmentally friendly. If sustainable choices are your priority, which material should you choose?
Carpet is usually made from petroleum and is not considered environmentally-friendly. In fact, as it breaks down, it tends to release volatile organic compounds. Wool is a natural fiber option that is more sustainable.
Hardwood options are renewable and sustainable. They are made from trees and are biodegradable. The Forest Stewardship Council oversees the harvesting practices and environmental impact of lumber producers in the United States and Canada. Look for the FSC certification when purchasing products.
Most Renewable: Hardwood
If your pets are like your children, you’re probably thinking of them as you peruse your options. See if one pairs and fairs better with pets.
Best for Four-Legged Friends: Tie
Are allergens a major concern for you and your family members? You should definitely consider this category while shopping for materials.
Carpet is not the best choice for those with sensitive allergies. It grips onto dust, mildew and pet dander, and you’ll need to deep-clean more regularly if allergies are an issue.
Hardwood is better for those with allergies because it is easy to clean and doesn’t grab onto allergens.
Best for Allergy Sufferers: Hardwood
Radiant heating costs an average of $3,600 to install. It can be a great home modification, but which material works best, and which potentially negates its effectiveness?
Most Compatible with Radiant Heating: Hardwood
Carpet is usually the best choice for bedrooms and master bedrooms because it is soft and cozy. It is warm and can reduce sound, versus hardwood, which helps sound resonate and makes bedrooms feel cold.
Hardwood is the best option for living rooms and family rooms for many reasons. First, they are easier to clean—a great trait for some of the busiest rooms in the home. Second, these are the rooms where buyers want to see that in-demand material and where it can greatly help your resale value.
Hallways and stairs benefit from either option. Hardwood is a good because high-traffic throughways would benefit from a durable, low-maintenance flooring. Carpet, on the other hand, would muffle those high-traffic sounds and make for a safer stairway. If you do have hardwood stairs, you may want to consider a runner to increase safety.
Carpet works better when it comes to basement flooring. It is a good basement insulator. Some fiber materials perform better in basements than others, however, and you must take care to choose the right type for your basement. You or your professional should also be sure to prep the subfloor (concrete) in order to minimize moisture.
Carpet does not fare well in bathrooms or kitchens. It traps moisture, dirt and spills and will be difficult to maintain. Hardwood doesn’t do well in bathrooms either because it is so responsive to moisture. You can install hardwood in the kitchen, but it must have a sealant that protects it against the moisture in the space.
Need to find a pro for your flooring & carpet installation?The cost to install laminate flooring averages $2,750, compared to hardwood’s average of $4,400 and carpet’s average of $1,600. Laminate is more DIY-friendly and moisture-resistant than both wood and carpet. It also beats out both of them as an ideal material for pets. If these are your priorities, you’ll want to learn more about hardwood vs. laminate.
Removal costs $0.20 – $3.00 per square foot. Installation and material costs for hardwood range from $6 to $22 per square foot, for a total of $6.20 to $25 per square foot. As you work with professionals, be sure to discuss whether or not they have included removal in their total quote.
Yes. They are available in tiles that look like wooden planks and create a unique aesthetic, and there are larger “photorealistic” wood options as well. In fact, photorealistic options are available in looks like tile, rocks and stones as well.
If you do not want to remove your wood flooring before installation, you stand to save $0.50 – $2.00 per square foot on removal and disposal costs. Expect to pay closer to $2 – $12 per square foot for professional installation and materials.
Experts do not recommend this. You must fully remove the old flooring for the best results. Laminate, on the other hand, is a more feasible option for installing as a floating option. Many renters are interested in this option, as they can easily remove the product when their lease is up.
If you’re updating your flooring for yourself, ceramic tiles are a great economic option. If you’re upgrading to sell, hardwood will have a greater chance with buyers.
Need to find a pro for your flooring & carpet installation?