The choice will depend on the use of the room. You may have a mixture of carpet and hard flooring throughout your home or business.
The varying characteristics of each make them suitable for different environments. In a room with heavy footfall where spillages are common, hard flooring is best as it’s durable and easy to mop up spills.
However, if you’re looking for a more luxurious finish and comfort underfoot, carpet will offer warmth, softness, and a quieter environment.
Types of carpet or carpet tiles
A natural carpet made of wool is resilient and sustainable. It’s soft, easy to clean and comfortable underfoot. You can choose 100% wool or a wool blend. The benefits of natural wool are that it’s long-lasting, holds heat and is flame retardant.
A synthetic carpet like nylon is hardwearing and will spring back into shape even with a heavy footfall. The latest nylon carpets are much softer than they used to be, giving comfort and durability.
Polypropylene is another synthetic carpet that’s hardwearing and stain-resistant. It’s also easy to clean and can be used commercially and in any room in the house.
Benefits of carpet or carpet tiles
Carpet offers a broad choice of styles, textures, and colours. It’s soft in feel and appearance and provides a cosy, warm finish to a room.
Carpets are simple to keep clean with regular vacuuming, and stains can usually be wiped off with a carpet cleaner. To rejuvenate a carpet, you can hire a professional cleaning service to give your carpets a steam clean.
Disadvantages of carpet or carpet tiles
Whether natural or synthetic, most modern carpets are resistant to water damage. But in a consistently damp environment, mould can form, particularly if water gets under the carpet or carpet tile.
Carpet is also damaged by heat and burns. Therefore, a hard flooring is more appropriate for bathrooms and kitchens.
Also, hard flooring may be more suitable if you suffer from allergies as dust mites can settle in carpet fibres.
Types of hard flooring
Vinyl is one of the most common forms of flooring and can be used in any room. Luxury vinyl and vinyl tiles can look like wood with embossed textures and visual designs that give the appearance of timber.
Vinyl stone tiles will look like natural stone flooring, and you can choose from limestone, marble, and concrete designs. Alternatively, decorative vinyl flooring includes patterns such as geometric designs, squares, rectangles, chevrons, and herringbone.
Linoleum is an inexpensive flooring that’s practical for bathrooms and kitchens and is available in a multitude of colours and patterns.
Benefits of hard flooring
Hard flooring options come in an endless array of styles, patterns, and textures. You can also opt for non-slip and safety flooring if you’re worried about spillages or slippages.
The beauty of hard flooring is that it’s extremely durable and easy to clean. You can vacuum hard floors or mop up any stains. Hard flooring usually lasts a lot longer than carpets and, with simple maintenance, can stay looking pristine for years.
Unlike carpets, it doesn’t trap dust, making it a healthier choice for allergy sufferers.
Disadvantages of hard flooring
The main disadvantage of hard flooring is that it’s colder to look at and feel than a carpet. Although today’s vinyl is much softer than it was, it won’t have the same comfort underfoot as a thick wool carpet.
Whereas carpet looks warm and cosy, hard flooring offers a sleeker, more minimalist style.
Choose the right flooring for your home or business
FineLine Flooring specialises in supplying and installing flooring solutions for domestic, commercial and public sectors.
Our flooring installers are all CSCS registered and monitored to the highest standards. We meet all health and safety guidelines and are fully covered for commercial and employer’s liability insurance.
For any questions, or to receive a quote, please contact us on 01256 701569 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.