May: Spring Projects in Full Swing, So Is Allergy Season

Spring Projects in Full Swing, So Is Allergy Season

When updating your home’s interior, what should you choose? To carpet, or not to carpet?

I don’t know about you, but each Spring my wife and I choose a project or two to knock out at the home and office. Painting the exterior, painting the interior, updating windows.the list goes on and on! Sometimes just updating your flooring gives you home a fresh, new look. Is it time to update your home or office?

Recent allergy awareness campaigns and home fashion trends have sparked the floor-covering debate for both the home and business environment thus giving voice to the great debate: To Carpet, Or Not To Carpet?

Here’s a summary of the advantage of carpeting, according to Jeff Bishop and Paul Amos, leading experts and trainers for the carpet cleaning and maintenance industry:

1. Safety - Carpet minimizes slip and fall hazards during humid or rainy weather and in high spill areas. In addition, carpet cushions you from a fall and results in less serious injuries.
2. Sound absorption - Carpet is six to ten times quieter than vinyl composite, tile and hardwood flooring.
3. Insulation - Carpet acts as insulation, creating a warmer indoor environment in cold months.
4. Cost - The initial installation cost of carpet is usually higher, but the cost of ongoing maintenance is less than with vinyl, tile and hardwood flooring. A study showed that over the 22-year life of a vinyl floor, carpet was approximately 30 percent less expensive than vinyl. Similar studies have been conducted with tile and hardwood flooring.
5. Aesthetics - Tile, vinyl and hardwood experience more abuse and neglect, resulting in a poor appearance. 
6. Health - Carpet acts as a sink to hold pollutants and allergens until they are removed by periodic maintenance (vacuuming) and restorative cleaning (truck mounted hot water extraction). All other flooring cannot trap these particles resulting in the recirculation of dust and contaminants throughout the home or office.

Carpet is the best all around floor covering. Home fashion trends will continue to demand both tile and hardwood, but these should help to accent your home or office, not to be the predominant option for your floor covering.