The Benefits of Carpet

With so many floors covering options available today, it can be tough deciding which one is best for your needs and lifestyle.

Carpet is one of many options. While every floor covering product can be shown to have its own advantages and disadvantages, carpet has several distinctive benefits when compared to other products.

1 – Style

Carpet styles range from luxurious to casual, it will give the space an entirely different vibe based on material, colour, texture and pile. If you are environmentally conscience, then wool carpets maybe the preferred choice.  If most of your home is hard surfaces, consider area rugs to accent or cozy up a space. It defines the living space and serves as floor art.

2 – Comfort

Do you notice at the end of the day you body feeling achy and sore after standing or walking on hard surfaces?  Hard surfaces offer no flexibility underfoot, so they lack the ability to act a shock absorber. 

Carpet feels nice to walk, sit or lay on. It provides the shock absorption our bodies need.  It is flexible and cushioning.  The effect is increased noticeably if there is a good under pad beneath the carpet.  Under pads extend the life of a carpet and add to the cushy feel that we all love.

3 – Warmth

Carpet provides excellent insulation value to a space. In a study conducted by the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Textile Engineering, results indicated that a thicker carpet provides a higher insulation factor (“R-value”) regardless of the fiber type of the carpet. Also, under pad has its own R-value, and the use of under pad in conjunction with carpet combines the R-value of each material, giving greater overall insulation.

Reducing heat loss means that carpet can help you save on the costs associated with heating a home, such as electricity or natural gas. For regions that experience cold winters, this could amount to big cost savings every year. Sorce: The Carpet and Rug Institute.

4 – Health

There has been a long-running debate about whether carpet aggravates or alleviates health problems such as asthma and allergies. For years, people with such respiratory concerns were advised to rip up all the carpets in their homes and replace it with hard surface flooring. However, numerous studies over recent years have consistently shown that carpet can be more beneficial than hard surface floors for those with breathing difficulty.  Wool is proven to help with allergies.  Wool is made without using chemicals, it is fire retardant.  It is resistant to dust mites and allergens. It has been proven to filter the air, improving the air quality of the home. 

5 – Quiet

Sound carries much further on hard surfaces. Carpet contributes to a much quieter space because it absorbs sound. This is a perfect choice when making the decision for young children.

6 - Safety

Hard surfaces can be slippery and when a fall does happen the recovery can be long and painful. Carpets provide a soft landing, and it helps to prevent falls in the first place, most especially on stairs. Carpets are especially beneficial for children and the elderly.

7 – Cost

All products have a range of qualities and price points. There is no particular floor covering type that is guaranteed too always be more or less expensive than another. However, in general terms, carpet often costs less than hard surfaces.

Many hard surface flooring products, such as solid hardwood and vinyl floor, require special preparation before they can be installed. Specific sub-floor requirements must be met, or existing flooring must be coated before installation can occur. Carpet typically eliminates these concerns, as it can be installed over a variety of sub-floors, with far less stringent requirements. This saves a great deal of cost.

Additionally, carpet is generally less expensive than other materials such as hardwood. So, while of course there are exceptions to every rule, carpet is generally more cost-effective than hard surface flooring.

Learn More

Stop into Marquis Tile and see our extensive selection of carpets. You will not be disappointed.