Appearance

Hardwood flooring has a classic appearance that can range in style from contemporary to rustic depending on the color, finish, and species of the wood used. Hardwood can be found in wide or thin planks, installed in straight rows or a herringbone pattern, and can range in color from pale to nearly black. Wood floors can also be stained a variety of colors, so you can refinish them in another color later if desired. Some hardwoods may change color over time if exposed to sun and humidity. For example, cherry will become darker in tone.

Carpeting has a broad range of colors and designs available, with newer carpeting types such as cut-and-loop, also known as pattern carpet, which gives a deeper variation in color and texture. Carpeting can be thick or thin, plush or hard, and may be composed of several colors at once or have one single color throughout. Because carpets are made of fibers rather than wood, they have a softer and warmer appearance. It’s common for hardwoods to be covered with Oriental or throw rugs to soften their appearance, but this is unnecessary with wall-to-wall carpeting. Many carpets also fade in direct sunlight over time.

Costs

There is a range of prices for both carpeting and hardwood, depending on the type and quality of each. For example, a wool carpet will typically cost more than synthetic. A good quality wool may cost as much as $35 a square foot, while synthetic could cost as little as $1 to $2 a square foot. Carpeting costs must include the kind of pad, with thicker pads costing more than thinner. Typically, the cost of the carpeting and padding ² is around $5 to $10 a square foot for the material, and installation costs around $5 a yard or roughly $2 a foot for a total of $7 to $12 a square foot installed.

Hardwood ranges in price depending on the type and quality of the wood. Exotic hardwoods ⁴ may run as high as $25 a square foot, while oak and maple, which are the two most common kinds of woods, run around $4 to $14 for pre-finished material. Including installation costs, most wood floors run between $12 to $20 a square foot installed.

Moisture and Mold Growth

Both hardwood and carpeting can be affected by high moisture and humidity levels. For this reason, it’s recommended that solid hardwood floors be installed at grade level or above, and only engineered wood floors be installed below grade. Natural fiber carpets should also not be used below grade, but some synthetic fibers can be.

In addition to moisture issues, carpeting may harbor microbes, such as mold and mildew, as well as dust, dander, and other allergens. Hardwood is impervious to most of these issues, which may be the reason it is recommended for the homes of allergy sufferers.

Maintenance

Hardwood floors are arguably easier to clean than carpets. Hardwood can be swept or damp mopped to remove dust, surface stains, and other debris. Newer finishes applied to hardwoods help them resist staining and spills. If a stain does occur, most can be sanded ³ down and refinished to repair them.

Carpeting is harder to maintain because dust, dirt, and allergens can become trapped within the fibers. For this reason, the carpet should be vacuumed regularly to help free these particles. Stains, however, may be more difficult to remove and can require shampooing or special chemicals and treatments. Some carpets may be pretreated chemically to resist stains at the time of manufacturing. Synthetic fibers may resist staining better than natural carpet fibers.

Safety

Carpet is considered a safer flooring simply because it’s cushioned and is less likely to produce an injury if someone falls on it. However, old carpets that are stretched out of shape may cause a lump in the floor that could be a tripping hazard.

Radiant Flooring

Both carpets and hardwood floors can be installed with radiant heating. However, because the insulating properties of carpet, care must be taken to choose both a carpet and radiant heat system that work with one another. In some cases, the radiant heat system may need to be set higher for the carpet to warm sufficiently. In other cases, using a high-density but low-insulating carpet may produce the best effects.

Hardwoods work with many radiant heat systems because they transmit heat with little loss or insulation. However, there are some limitations such as the fact that it is not recommended to use radiant floor heating ⁵ under a plank wider than three inches. As the temperature changes and condensation builds up, the floor may be damaged quickly. To know more about the use of hardwood/bamboo flooring over radiant heating, consult the American Hardwood Information Center.