Getting a new floor sounds so fun, but this fun soon vanishes when you can’t decide between whether to go for carpeting or laminating the floor. Is carpet cheaper than laminate? What comes in your budget?
And when both types of flooring present great perks and the same style, then choosing one becomes more tough. Plus, people often have this common question: does replacing the carpet with laminate increase home value?
Without wasting more time, let’s get started to understand the contrast between the two.
How Does Construction Of Carpet And Laminate Happen?
Before starting on the difference, let’s first understand the construction of both flooring materials.
Carpet Construction
There are so many carpet styles and colors, and flooring manufacturers are constructing new styles and materials every single day.
This might make you lacking in the dynamic flooring industry, and the only way to be updated is to talk to someone who is professionally in the flooring industry.
In general, there are 3 main types of carpet, namely-
1. Cut Piled
Cut pile is carpet known for its resiliency. You can see the high-density fibers of this carpet that are twisted together to provide resiliency.
Cut pile carpets come both in velvet and shag, plush, and frieze.
2. Loop Pile
These carpets provide good support to traffic-traffic areas such as hallways and entryways.
For instance, commercial carpets are loop piles, and it gives that clean and subtle look that you can imagine in offices.
3. Cut-Loop Pile
It’s a combination of both loop and cut-piled carpets. It’s designed to conceal dirt and dust at the same time, look pleasing.
As it is a combination of both carpets, it’s known for a strong performance carpet.
Carpets can also be selected on the basis of their material, like nylon, wool, polypropylene, silk, velvet, and polyester.
Laminate Construction
Laminate is an artificial material put on top of plywood.
It is made up of 3 layers, namely- a core layer, a print layer, and a top protective layer.
1. The Core Layer
The core is made from high-density fiberwood (HDF), which consists of a recycled wood press with resins or wax.
This layer provides the rigidity and underfoot feel to the floor.
2. Print Layer
This layer is what gives texture and coloring patterns to the flooring.
The print layer comes from advanced high-definition printing and texture technology to display various stylish and modern designs.
3. Top Protective Layer
The last layer is the top protective layer and is made from aluminum oxide.
This layer gives laminate flooring its longevity and luxurious finish while also protecting the print layer from fading due to exposure to UV light.
How Do Carpets And Laminate Perform When It Comes To Durability?
When it comes to durability, both the flooring materials are durable.
However, the durability of both materials depends on the specific fabric and product you are using.
Carpet Durability
The durability of a carpet depends on its material.
There are 4 types of carpet material you can compare to determine their durability.
1. Wool Carpet
Wool is the most expensive type of carpet you can buy if you have a high budget.
It’s a natural type of carpet fiber made from the hair of sheep.
Keeping the factor of expensiveness aside, wool is also known for providing luxurious, long-lasting, and soft texture.
Unfortunately, it’s not the best option if you are looking for a durable carpet.
Wool carpets are more vulnerable. They can be easily damaged by insects and allergens, and it isn’t as resilient as nylon.
2. Nylon Carpet
Nylon comes with being the number one choice for both residential and commercial carpets.
It’s known for its durability, resistance to insects, mold, and stains. Nylon carpet material is not as expensive as wool.
It comes within the budget of most people but is slightly more expensive than polypropylene and polyester.
3. Polyester Carpet
Polyester is also a synthetic carpet fiber like nylon but not as durable as nylon.
It doesn’t provide a luxurious look to your home but is soft, water-resistant, and a budget-friendly option.
4. Polypropylene
Polypropylene or olefin carpet materials are a budget-friendly option that comes with properties like easy to clean, soft texture, and stain resistance.
However, it is not the best option when it comes to durability and can’t be used in high-traffic areas.
Laminate Durability
Laminate flooring is extremely durable when compared to carpets.
It comes with being resistant to scratches, dings, and dents and is easy to clean.
Quality laminate flooring can last up to 25-30 years, while a carpet would need to be replaced 5-10 years.
Also, laminate flooring comes with protective layers protecting it from UV rays that will prevent them from fading. They are also highly water-resistant.
How Do Carpets And Laminate Perform When It Comes To Ease Of Installation?
Installation is also a significant aspect to consider when choosing the flooring option for your house.
Ease Of Carpet Installation
Carpets are installed by professionals, which include trimming, nailing, cutting, and measuring the carpet.
They can be installed over any material like wood or concrete and can also hide any irregularities in the floor beneath.
Installing a carpet underlayment is very significant. Then comes trimming the carpet and padding to correct the dimensions.
The next step in the process is to install the carpet and padding using nails and staples and finally glue them down.
Ease of Laminate Installation
On the contrary, installing a laminate floor is much easier as compared to installing a carpet.
It’s composed of interlocking planks that do not require nails or glue. It can be put directly on any surface except for the carpet.
If you are a do-it-yourselfer, then we recommend leaving a gap between the walls and the edge of the flooring to allow the boards to expand. One must also know that if you are installing a lamination floor over the carpet, then it poses certain threats to the floor as well as to your health.
Is Carpet Cheaper To Maintain Or Repair Than Laminate?
Maintaining Carpet
Carpets are easily damaged by stains, dirt, dust, heavy furniture, and molds.
To ensure the long life of your carpet, you should regularly vacuum the carpet in low-traffic areas, while in high-traffic areas, you need to vacuum it more often.
You may also required to clean the carpet thoroughly using steam cleaners every 12-18 months.
Carpets often get rippled, matted down, or look worn down. All this leads to either replacing the carpet or getting it buckled or stretched.
Maintaining Laminate
Maintaining a laminate floor is relatively easy as compared to painting carpets.
Laminated floors can easily be wiped clean, mopped, and swept. However, leaving pools of water on both laminate and carpet will damage them severely and may require you to replace them.
It also has the potential to get scratched easily. So you might require to keep protective pads on the bottom of chairs and heavy furniture.
Is Carpet Better Than Laminate When It Comes To Environment?
Carpets
Carpets are made from non-renewable materials and emit a small amount of volatile organic compound at the time of their installation.
VOCs are the chemicals that are used in manufacturing. These are released when installing the carpet, which also makes many people wonder about how long new carpets smell last. Well, this off-gassing releases for 5 years and gradually decreases over time.
Carpets are also prone to water and heat damage. So, in areas where there is a chance of water leakage, like bathrooms and basements, installing a carpet may not be the best option.
Also, it is recommended not to keep any hot objects directly on the carpet as it can lead to discoloration of the carpet.
Laminate
Laminate flooring is made from melamine resin which reduces emission and danger to health.
This component makes laminate get recycled easily. Laminate flooring is versatile and can be used in various settings of the house.
Laminate flooring is an excellent choice to withstand the challenging water and heat environment due to its durability and low-maintenance requirement.
Which Is Better When It Comes to Appearance And Comfort?
Carpets
- Carpet flooring comes in a variety of colors, patterns, and material options.
- Along with giving a visual appeal, it also provides a soft and comfortable feel underfoot.
- Moreover, carpets have the property to absorb sound and create more shooting environments.
- It also provides excellent insulation and protection against tripping accidents when you have kids or senior citizens at home.
Laminate
- Laminate flooring also comes with an array of designs and vibrant colors like light to dark wood grains and a natural stone appearance.
- However, they can be very noisy, and unlike carpets, they don’t provide protection against tripping accidents.
- You can use underlayment or rugs to add extra cushioning and reduce noise levels.
Overall in terms of appearance and comfort, carpets are the best option. They provide extra comfort and coziness to any space in your home.
Is Carpet More Suitable Than Laminate?
Many homes have a combination of carpet and laminate flooring.
For instance, carpets are not a good option for kitchens and dining rooms, but a laminated floor works well in those areas.
Let’s understand the suitability of carpet and laminate floors in various spaces of your home.
1. Bedrooms
Carpets are the best option for bedrooms. They provide warmth, softness, and coziness to your bedroom space.
2. Stairs
Laminate flooring is more slippery, and this increases the risk of tumbling. Especially people who wear socks at home are more likely to slip on stairs with laminated flooring.
3. Living room
The living room is a space in your house that is highly-traffic. While some people may prefer carpets because of their warmth and softness but laminated floors also have certain advantages like:
- Easy to clean
- Fewer allergens
- Fewer stains
4. Basement
If your basement has flooding options more often, then laminated floors are not the best choice.
You can use linoleum and vinyl floors for basements.
Is Carpet Cheaper Than Laminate?
Carpet Flooring
| CARPET FLOORING | |
| Average Cost | $5 per square foot |
| Highest Cost | $15 per square foot |
| Lowest Cost | $0.55 per square foot |
If you are going to give a luxurious style to your home, then going for a higher and plushier pile will be expensive.
Laminate Flooring
| LAMINATE FLOORING | |
| Average Cost | $3.47 per square foot |
| Highest Cost | $6.64 per square foot |
| Lowest Cost | $0.55 per square foot |
On the other hand, laminate floors can be cheaper if they are not high-quality and offers a warranty of only 10 years.
Conclusion
If you are looking for an exact answer to “Is Carpet Cheaper Than Laminate?” then the answer is really with you only.
Both flooring material has their own perks and downsides.
Which is a better and cheaper option depends on various factors listed above, but more importantly, it depends on what you need and what you are looking for.
FAQs
Is Laminate flooring healthier than carpet?
Laminate flooring does not absorb dust and any kind of dirt. So if you are prone to many sorts of allergens like dust or pollen, then going for a laminate floor is the better option.
Waht are the cons of laminate flooring?
Laminate flooring is not natural wood and doesn’t give the comfort and warmth of carpets. You can often see repetitive patterns in laminate flooring.
What flooring adds more value to home?
The floor with the highest resale value is hardwood. It is in very high demand, and it is the easiest option to level up your home for resale.
Daleyza knows a lot about carpets! She has worked with carpets for over 7 years and can help with things like putting them in, keeping them clean, and replacing them. She really likes carpets and spends most of her time learning about new ways to work with them. When she’s not learning about carpets, she enjoys reading books. She’s really good at helping people choose the right carpet for their homes and making sure they’re happy with it. If you want to know more about carpets, Daleyza is the person to talk to!