Carpet vs Vinyl

With such a vast range of flooring options available, it can be difficult to know which would be the ideal floor type for you, and which will best suit your budget, lifestyle, taste, and requirements.

Carpet and vinyl flooring are two of the most common options for flooring. If you are considering either of these popular floor types but is unsure which would be best for you, read on to find out how they compare, and what the benefits and drawbacks of each are.

Appearance

The most obvious difference between carpet and vinyl flooring is their appearance and feel. Carpet is warm and soft and comes in a wide choice of colours. Vinyl flooring is colder and harder than carpet, but it is available in an unrivalled array of colours and patterns.

Insulation

Carpet is an excellent heat and noise insulator, which will help to keep your room both warm and quiet. The thicker the carpet and underlay are, the more heat it will retain and the more it will reduce noise.

Although it fares better than laminate, tile, and wood flooring when it comes to insulation, it still does not offer significant heat or noise reduction, especially when compared to carpet.

Maintenance

Carpet is relatively easy to maintain with regular hoovering and spot cleaning, but they are more prone to staining than other floor types. To prevent staining, make sure you deal with any spillages immediately. To help prolong the lifespan of your carpet and as it becomes discoloured over time, you should deep clean your carpet or have it professionally cleaned once or twice a year.

Vinyl is considerably easier to clean than carpet as it is a hard surface, and spillages and dirt can be easily mopped or swept up. However, vinyl can become scratched, unlike a carpet.

Cost

The price of carpet and vinyl varies depending on the quality of the flooring, and both are typically considered to be a more inexpensive option when compared to other floor types.

Installation

Due to the specialist equipment and level of skill required to fit a carpet, we highly recommend having carpets professionally installed to ensure that it is done so properly.

Vinyl must be installed on a perfectly flat surface to prevent noticeable lumps and bumps. If your floor is not level, it will need to be levelled out before the floor can be installed, which will incur an additional cost, either in materials or hiring a professional to complete the work.

Conclusion

Carpet and vinyl flooring both have a wide price range, so the choice ultimately comes down to which you prefer the look and feel of, and where the flooring is to be installed. If you are looking for flooring to go in a bathroom or kitchen, vinyl is the obvious choice. Whereas you might prefer to have a carpet in your bedroom or living room, where you may want to prioritise comfort over low maintenance.

If you are still unsure about which flooring would be the best floor type for you, please contact our team on 01522 524374 for expert advice.