Real Estate Marketing & Beyond

Do You like Hardwood Floors or Carpet?

By Allison Halliday | May 7, 2014

It's a decision most of us will have to make when looking at how to renew flooring in the home. An article in AOL.com points out that it's worth considering several different factors when making your choice, including ease of cleaning.

Apparently hardwood floors are currently more fashionable, and may make your home easier to sell in the future. Figures from the National Association of Realtors show buyers are willing to spend a couple of thousand dollars more on a home with hardwood flooring. Another survey, carried out by Lumber Liquidators showed 100% of real estate agents preferred homes with hardwood floors compared to those with carpets. The experts from propercarpetcleaning.com.au can help with getting the carpets clean.

Of course one of the major benefits of choosing a home with wood floors is that they are very easy to clean. Oak is extremely popular, but bamboo flooring is becoming increasingly popular as it’s eco-friendly. Even though bamboo isn't technically a hardwood, it does have the durability associated with wood. In fact it's actually classified as a grass and grows at such as fast rate it can be harvested sustainably. Some older homes have wood floors that have subsequently been covered up with carpets, giving the buyer the choice of switching from carpet to hardwood with very little trouble. However experts point out it's possible the original wood flooring could've been damaged by moisture and will need to be replaced.

Even though wood floors are pretty easy to keep clean, it's possible they will require polishing. However they can be a lot more hygienic. In comparison, carpets can hold onto dust, old skin cells, hair and other particles that can cause allergies and respiratory problems. Wood floors don't harbor any of these microbes provided they are regularly swept, but it is important that they are kept clean. This is because carpets have the ability to trap allergens so they are removed from the air whereas they are likely to be disturbed if they remain on a hardwood surface. In addition, modern carpets can have antibacterial coatings. However it is easier to clean up spills on wood floors, although any type of spillage should be cleared up as soon as possible to prevent it from penetrating.

In general, wood floors should last longer, as carpet will typically have a life-span of ten years before it needs replacing, and after this time it is likely to begin to look old and worn. Warranties for the finish on wood floors are a lot longer, and can be between twenty five and thirty years. Some will be even longer than this and are transferable to the next home owner.