While it might sound silly at first, there really are a lot of less obvious differences between hard and soft flooring than the way they feel. Here are some of the biggest differences between hard flooring and soft flooring and how they can each work in your home.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SOFT FLOORING AND HARD FLOORING
Comfort
Soft flooring is the obvious choice in this category, but there’s more to comfort than softness. Carpeting is obviously much more comfortable on your feet than hardwood or concrete, but hard flooring can have other comforting benefits. You can heat a concrete or tile floor in a bathroom or kitchen, for instance, which isn’t possible for carpeting. Heated floors are the height of luxury, and they can be an incredible comfort in the winter or right after a shower. Heated floor systems can be installed under tile and other types of hard flooring, and they can actually offset heating costs in the winter. Warm floors can help to warm the whole room and reduce your gas or electricity bill if installed throughout a home. So, while carpet is the obvious choice for comfort, hard flooring has its benefits. Another area where carpet can actually negatively impact the comfort of your home is in the case of allergens. Carpet fibers can trap allergens like pollen and pet dander, reducing your home’s air quality. If you have severe allergies, the hypoallergenic nature of hard floor options like hardwood flooring or concrete can actually be a great comfort.
Durability
Carpet isn’t the only type of flooring described as “soft.” Did you know that in some respects, people classify hardwood flooring as soft flooring? So what is considered soft flooring? For us, soft flooring is any type of flooring that has a decent amount of give or elasticity. Flooring like linoleum, cork, rubber, and obviously carpeting would all be considered soft. In almost every case, soft flooring is less durable than hard flooring, with a few exceptions. Carpet does not have a great life expectancy when it comes to quality, as it can degrade from frequent soiling, high levels of foot traffic, and spills and accidents from pets or children. On the other hand, linoleum flooring is very durable and can put up with a lot of abuse. Hardwood floors can support a lot, but they are prone to scratches. Painted concrete can also scratch, but that’s relatively easy to repair compared to the soft options.
Many versatile flooring options like vinyl and linoleum are waterproof when installed correctly. These soft options have advantages over carpeting or hardwood, which can both be damaged by spills if not immediately cleaned. Maintaining a hard floor is generally easier than a carpet because carpets need shampooing or vacuuming with more regularity. It’s also important to steam clean a carpet at least once per year to help prolong its life, which can be difficult to schedule and perform, from calling local companies to moving furniture.
Cost
Cost is another important thing to consider when weighing hard floor vs. soft floor options. Soft flooring and hard flooring both have very diverse costs, depending on the quality of the product. You can usually find either type of flooring to fit your budget, but the value can be different. For example, a cheaper carpet is going to be less desirable than a cheaper hardwood or concrete pour. One of the main compromises with carpet is comfort, so the cheaper the option, the less comfortable it’s going to be. Hardwood floor quality is determined by the type of wood involved, and while there are differences in the quality of wood types, cheaper wood does not usually sacrifice durability. Instead, aesthetic choices like wood tone, color, and pattern are lost when you go down in price. You can still find great quality floors at any price point, but the search is a bit trickier.
No matter what flooring you choose, Ozburn-Hessey is prepared to help you every step of the way. Whether you have more questions on which flooring option is best or are ready to get a free consultation and estimate, give us a call today!