on October 17, 2012 at 6:01 PM Carpet vs. wood debate The professionals consulted in our carpet vs. wood debate are: • Werner Braun, president of the Carpet and Rug Institute. The nonprofit trade association represents U.S. carpet manufacturers and is based in Dalton, Ga. • Sarah Cantrell, office manager with The Maids, a national residential cleaning service with offices in Cleveland. • Michael Fleenor, director of preservation services at the Cleveland Restoration Society, a nonprofit group interested in preserving the area's architectural heritage. • V. LaTrelle Hogg, interior designer based in East Cleveland and owner of Interior Lifestyles. • Anita Howard, senior director of communications with the National Wood Flooring Association in St. Louis, Mo. The association is a nonprofit trade group representing wood-flooring professionals. • James Justice, founder and president of Architectural Justice, a design and remodeling center in Medina.
• Kevin Morrow, senior program manager with Building Green at the National Association of Homebuilders in Washington, D.C. Building Green is an education program for certified green professionals. What is the first thing your toes touch in the morning, hardwood or carpet? Flooring is one of the biggest decisions a homeowner makes. Some love the softness of carpet, the way it muffles footsteps and cushions little tushies when they take a tumble. Some people champion hardwood's natural beauty. It's easy to clean and can look new for decades if cared for properly. "The floor is the first thing you decide on," said East Cleveland-based interior designer V. LaTrelle Hogg. "Both products are wonderful and have a place in today's decor." Beyond aesthetics, homeowners must consider their lifestyles when choosing flooring, said James Justice, owner of Architectural Justice, a design and remodeling center in Medina. "Does the family remove shoes at the door? Are the pets house-trained?
Does the family take dinners into the family room?" Justice said in an email. "All of these living habits will have an effect on the life of the product they buy." If you're choosing flooring for a new home, or musing whether to replace a tired carpet with wood (or vice versa), there's a lot to consider. We talked to experts in various fields for their opinions in the carpet vs. wood debate. THE CASE FOR WOOD Expect to pay: Between $9 and $12 per square foot, installed. Reclaimed old wood can cost up to $30 per square foot. A floor-installation professional says: Hardwood floors are longer-lasting and can be refinished many times to freshen the look. Hand-scraped wood flooring, with deeper grooves, hides the small dents and wear that can come from active families and pets. It's a higher upfront investment than carpet, but hardwood adds a lasting value to a home that carpet can't. It helps alleviate allergies. A green home builder says: Wood is a sustainable, renewable and natural material.
Buy wood that comes from a responsibly managed forest that meets sustainability standards set by the Sustainable Forest Initiative. or the Forest Stewardship Council If you're concerned about indoor air quality, choose a floor that emits fewer volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, into the air. These can be released by wood sealants and finishes. Check with the Resilient Floor Covering Institute's Floorscore program, which identifies flooring products that meet indoor air quality requirements. Bamboo used for flooring grows quickly, but overseas shipping raises its carbon footprint. Use reclaimed, recycled wood, such as lumber from barns or old wine barrels. A historic preservationist says: Prior to 1890, most Northeast Ohio homes were built with softwood floors covered with patterned carpets imported from England. Between the late 19th century and early 20th century, homes were constructed with hardwood floors. A professional house cleaner says: It's easier to spot spills, pet hair, crumbs and debris on hardwood floors.
Spills can be completely wiped up. Wood needs to be cleaned -- vacuumed or swept, then mopped -- more often than carpet. Sweep it at least every other day. An interior designer says: The trend is toward hard surfaces in flooring, such as wood and tile. There's a larger variety of woods, and more colors, to choose from than several years ago. You can easily change a hardwood floor's look with area rugs. The hardwood-floor industry says: Wood can last hundreds of years with proper care and periodic refinishing. It doesn't hold on to allergens that can sink into the fibers of carpet. Exotic woods that come in shades of yellow, pink, orange, purple and black are available. The trend is toward natural finishes without stains. Bottom line: Wood is easy to clean and doesn't stain. It is current, durable and made from a sustainable resource. THE CASE FOR CARPET Expect to pay: $3-$5 per square foot, installed with pad, and up. Carpet is easier, faster and cheaper to install than wood flooring, which must be nailed down, glued or clicked into place.
Its life can be extended with frequent vacuuming and steam cleaning once a year. Be aware that it may stain and become matted over time. Patterned carpets make a design impact. Find carpets that do less off-gassing of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. ) evaluates carpeting, padding and adhesives. Look for carpets made with recycled content or that can be recycled when they are worn out. If your house was built in the 1920s, '30s or later, it's likely that it originally had wall-to-wall carpeting. After World War II, carpet was in the majority of Northeast Ohio homes. Carpet hides dirt, so it needs to be cleaned less often. A family of four should vacuum once a week, or at least every other week. Spills never really go away. However, the new, more stain-resistant synthetic fibers, and more-efficient vacuum cleaners, make cleaning less of a chore. It's quieter than hardwood floors and warmer in winter. Clients like the softness of carpet, especially in winter.