Saying Goodbye to Carpet - 10 Things You Need to Know
By Sandy
Posted on
Monday, May 21, 2018 9:10 AM
Saying Goodbye to Carpet: 10 Things You Need to Know
You’re not alone if you’re thinking of replacing your carpet with any number of today’s hard surface flooring options.
Hardwood, laminate, luxury vinyl, ceramic tile – they’re more beautiful and desirable than ever. And with so many options to choose from, you’re sure to find something you’ll love that fits your lifestyle and is in your price range.
But there are some things you probably haven’t thought about that can make the transition from carpet to hard surface flooring more challenging than you think.
Here are the top 10:
1 Cost
Carpet is one of the most affordable flooring options there are. Not only it is generally less expensive than any hard surface flooring you’ll replace it with, it costs less to install.
That means that you need to budget for higher installation costs. Part of the cost will include tearing up the old carpet and pad, removing the tack strip (those little wood boards with the nails sticking up to hold the carpet in place – so add in the cost of Band-Aids if you’re doing it yourself) and disposing of the carpet (many landfills now refuse carpet, adding to disposal costs).
2 It’s a Dirty Job
One of carpet’s great benefits is that it traps dirt deep down in the fiber where it remains undisturbed. Start pulling it up though and you could find yourself in a swirl of dust and dirt you hadn’t expected. Cough, cough. Wear a dust mask if you’re doing it yourself.
3 Sound
Hard surface flooring, especially laminate, hardwood and tile, can be loud (vinyl offers some softness underfoot that cuts down on the noise levels). If you’ve been used to the soft hush of carpet underfoot, get ready – you’re about to experience a notable difference in the decibel levels in your home. And it’s not just the kids stomping around or the clack clack clack of the dog’s paws in hot pursuit – it’s the reverberation of sound across the entire space, bouncing off the walls, bouncing of the floors. Believe me, you’ll hear the difference.
4 Insulation
Hard surfaces can be cold underfoot and they don’t do nearly as good a job of insulating your home. Yes, you can add underlayments to mitigate some of this – but that’s another expense you may not have anticipated.
Of course, you can go all out and get radiant heat – especially for hardwood or ceramic. It may cost more up front but some of the energy savings over the longer term may make this a good option, especially in colder climates.
5 Subfloor Prep
Do you know what lies underneath your carpet? Chances are, no. Take a look because squeaky boards under hard surface flooring – need I say more? If your subfloor needs extra prep, you’ll pay more.
6 Moldings and trims
You may find that all the trim around the edge of the room has to be adjusted to accommodate the height of the new flooring materials. That means removing, categorizing and replacing every inch of it.
7 Drafty doorways
Doors often have to be cut when carpet is put in to avoid it dragging across the pile. Take the carpet out and you may have gaps under your doors that could make your home drafty.
8 Allergies
There are a lot of differing opinions around flooring and allergens in the home. Yes, carpet traps allergens and does a great job of keeping them out of the breathing space. That alone can reduce allergy symptoms for some people. But carpet is also bad if you’re allergic to dust mites because it traps them too. With hard surfaces though, allergens remain in the breathing zone, swirling around with every footstep you take. The good news is that hard surface floors are easy to clean, letting you get rid of allergens before they build up.
9 Moisture Meter
Moisture is generally not a problem for flooring, except for hardwood. It is always recommended that you monitor relative humidity levels in the home if you’re going with hardwood flooring, especially solid hardwood – engineered wood has more dimensional stability and may help you avoid this problem altogether.
10 Area rugs
Most folks end up getting area rugs along with their new hard surface floors. The look, the feel, the design – it all makes sense. Add it to your budget if you’re making the transition.
- Sandy