In This Post:
Comparing Carpet with Vinyl Flooring on:
– Style
– Ease of installation
– Durability
– Price
– Climate
– Maintenance
– Comfort
Flooring can make or break a room. Choosing the right flooring is important as it can play a significant role in bringing character, elegance and style in the house. Over the years, carpet was the only feasible flooring option in Pakistani homes. However, many alternatives to carpet have popped up in recent years and are quite popular for both residential and commercial purposes. Vinyl flooring is one of them. In this blog, we will debate over carpet vs. vinyl flooring and help you choose the right flooring for your house.
Carpet Vs. Vinyl Flooring
We will compare carpet vs. vinyl flooring along the following metrics so that you can understand the advantages and disadvantages of both before making the final decision.
- Style
- Ease of installation
- Durability
- Price
- Climate
- Maintenance
- Comfort
Let us compare carpet with vinyl flooring.
Style
Carpet gives a warm and cosy feel to the room. You can choose from a variety of designs and patterns for wall to wall carpet. You can go for the basic one which is low-budgeted, loop style which is casual and requires low-maintenance, the cut and loop design type which gives a formal look to the room. When choosing carpet for your home, you can also select among different textures, prints and patterns. For the drawing room, people usually go for cut and loop design or select from a variety of printed carpet designs to complete the formal look.
Vinyl flooring has the ability to mimic more expensive materials like stone, wood and tiles. Once properly installed in the room, you can’t pick any difference from real stone and vinyl stone tiles. That is why vinyl flooring is one of the modern flooring trends for 2020.
Ease of installation
Vinyl planks can be easily installed without any hassle. You need to just make sure that the sub-floor made of concrete is completely clean and has no traces of grime, grit or dirt. You would need a good quality glue that can stick the planks together. It is so easy to install that you don’t need to hire a professional to do the job.
Almost anyone can efficiently lay the vinyl flooring, but to install a carpet you would need a particular set of tools to properly stick the wall to wall carpet. Moreover, if you can afford to hire a professional, then do so when laying the carpet flooring as it can help avoid small errors that would badly affect the finished look of the room.
Durability
Take a look at the durability factor when debating over carpet vs. vinyl flooring. Carpets are durable until the time when your kid spills tomato sauce on it or your pet leaves fur, hair and dander that stick to the carpet and becomes hard to remove. Moreover, carpets need to be changed every few years depending upon the foot traffic in the house and how well-maintained it is. Having said this, you can find a variety of sturdy carpets according to your budget. Loop pile design tends to hide away the footprints that your kids or pets leave on the carpet.
Vinyl flooring is well-suited for high traffic areas and is more durable than carpet in this matter. However, you need to install good quality vinyl flooring planks, otherwise it could easily rip and tear away. It should also be pasted properly or else moisture can seep in and cause the plank to come loose or tear away. Air bubbles can form if the vinyl flooring planks are not properly installed, which gives an untidy and unfinished look to the room. Once torn or broken, vinyl flooring needs to be completely replaced. Good quality vinyl planks resist all kinds of stains and are impervious to water spills. So, if you have kids, who are naughty and playful, having vinyl flooring should be your top choice.
Price
Carpets are a little cheaper than vinyl flooring. You can buy a good quality carpet anywhere between PKR 35-55 per sq. ft. The final cost will depend upon how big your room is, the transport cost for carrying the carpet to your house and the cost of installation.
Vinyl flooring is relatively more expensive than carpet flooring. Keep a budget of PKR 50 to 100 per sq. ft. Prices vary according to the quality of planks. You will have to pay separately for the transport. The installation of vinyl flooring is usually included in the per sq. ft. price given by the vendor.
Climate
A quick comparison of carpet with vinyl flooring can tell you that carpet is meant for cool weather. Cosiness and warmth are associated with carpet flooring so they are best suited for temperate and cool climates. Carpet flooring acts as an insulator and absorbs heat and warm air, therefore it is not recommended to go for wall-to-wall carpet in hot and dry areas or in warm and humid weather conditions.
On the other hand, vinyl flooring is suited for all kinds of weather. It is particularly recommended in hot and humid areas as it doesn’t trap the heat inside the house and also resists water and moisture. However, keep in mind the quality of vinyl planks.
If you go for cheap quality vinyl planks, you might save a few bucks for the time being, but in the long run it will leave a dent on your wallet as vinyl flooring is hard to be repaired. You would need to change the entire flooring if the vinyl tiles are torn or chipped. Moreover, if the tiles are not of good quality, they will get faded in the sunlight filtering the room and have discoloured patches.
Maintenance
Carpet flooring requires maintenance and upkeep. Carpets are susceptible to stains and spills so if you have playful kids around then you should not opt for carpet flooring. Vinyl flooring is the best kid-friendly flooring as it is impervious to water spillage and any kind of stains can be easily wiped off the surface.
For carpet maintenance, you need to regularly vacuum the floor to remove dust that is deeply ingrained in the carpet weave and is not easily removed during normal brushing of the carpet. You need to invest in a good quality vacuum cleaner that efficiently removes dirt and miniscule dust particles. On the other hand, vinyl flooring is quite easy to maintain. Sweeping on vinyl flooring is quite easier than its counterpart. Mopping the vinyl floor keeps it clean and tidy all day long.
Comfort
The last point to consider when debating over carpet vs. vinyl flooring is comfortability. Carpet has a higher weightage when it comes to the comfort level. Nobody can deny the warmth and cosiness carpets add to a room. Therefore, they are the most popular choices for master bedrooms and suites.
The plushness of the carpet also helps reduce the noise level in a room. People who prefer a calm, peaceful environment prefer carpets over any other flooring as it is a major sound dampener! One of the downsides of having a carpet flooring is that it is not good for asthmatic patients or people having other respiratory diseases. Dust particles and allergens harbor inside the weave of the carpet which cause irritation and difficulty in breathing for patients already suffering from asthmatic conditions.
So, this was a comprehensive guide to choosing between carpet and vinyl flooring. You should also look at the pros and cons of installing carpet before taking the final decision. If you are looking for other flooring options than carpet and vinyl, then our comprehensive guide on modern flooring trends in Pakistan will help you make the right choice. If you want to place marble tiles in the house, then read our detailed blog on marble tiles and their rates.
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