What’s Better – Carpet or Vinyl Plank Flooring?

While the history of flooring is, surprisingly, a fascinating one – the modern day reasons for choosing one flooring type over another is often comes down to aesthetic and style. As interior design and home layouts have evolved over the years, so have the flooring options presented to us. Of course, there are some that have stood the test of time, finding their way inside American homes decade after decade.

Wall-to-wall carpeting has been a popular option ever since it first came on the scene in the 1930s, though with time that popularity has begun to waver (especially with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic). Factors like harboring allergens and germs, being difficult to keep clean, and lacking durability have made carpets a less popular option for homeowners in recent years. Hard-surface flooring, specifically vinyl plank flooring, has risen as the more durable, affordable, and stylish alternative.

Why vinyl flooring? Let us count the ways.

1. Maintenance

Vinyl flooring is easier to clean than carpeting and far sturdier than hardwood floors. Resistant to scratches from pets’ nails and busy traffic, vinyl is also 100% waterproof which makes it the best flooring choice for bathrooms and kitchens. On the contrary, carpets need frequent vacuuming, regular deep cleaning, and they are notorious for becoming stained and faded over the years.

In short? Carpet will never be as clean as the day it was put in, and it will continue to demand more of your attention and time.

• Climate and weather

Carpet acts as insulation to retain warm air, so it is best suited for places with year-round cool temperatures. On the flip side, carpet is not good for hot or humid environments and having carpet in the such climates will require you to install a moisture barrier underneath to prevent mold-causing moisture from collecting in the fibers.

Vinyl Plank flooring is ideal for any climate because it is waterproof, so humidity does not affect it and, its padded underlayment provides insulation, making it a great option for cooler climates too.

• Cost

Like many things, there is no one price fits all for carpet options. Different brands and qualities mean different prices; however, carpet is generally more expensive to install (and maintain). Vinyl plank flooring is generally less expensive to install but still comes in a range of prices and styles. If your budget allows for a plank with a high-density core and thicker wear layer, it is absolutely the best investment to guarantee a quality floor that can last forever.

• Style

At Refloor, we offer dozens of options for vinyl plank flooring that are affordable and fit beautifully into any home’s style – and enhance it. Today’s vinyl plank flooring is not your grandmother’s vinyl floor! It comes in many colors and patterns that look and feel amazingly like real wood. You will do a double take, run your hand over the grain and still find it hard to believe you are not looking at real wood! Vinyl plank flooring will not only give your home an entirely new, beautiful canvas for your furniture and décor, it will raise the value of your home and make you the envy of the neighborhood.

While there are various carpet options, thanks to tufting and dying technology, the patterns, textures, and styles of carpet can quickly go out of style.

• Cleanliness

Vinyl plank flooring has a solid surface and that means there is no opportunity for dirt, grime ad allergens to seep into it. Vinyl flooring is also easy to clean and requires no maintenance. That’s not the case with carpet. Carpet will attract, trap, and hold everything from dust mites to pet dander and urine. Carets hide germs in plain sight. If creating a healthy and hypoallergenic home for you family is important to you, then vinyl plank flooring is your best flooring option.

If you’re exploring new flooring options and are ready to introduce beautiful and versatile vinyl planks in your home, contact Refloor today.