Carpet vs Timber Flooring – 2023 Guide

Whether you’re renovating your home, designing or building a new house, choosing a floor can be a difficult decision.

Often waging through the choice of flooring for your home comes the question: Carpet or Timber Flooring?

But, no need to worry. We have you covered through this article. By the end of this article, we hope to see you choose the most suitable flooring for your home, knowing the ins and outs of carpet and timber flooring.

Direct Comparison – Carpet vs Timber

Longevity

Carpet ranges from 5-15 years depending on the quality and range of the carpet floor. On the other hand, solid timber lasts a lifetime, as it can be sanded and polished. The alternative, engineered timber, lasts 25-30 years.

Winner: Timber Flooring

Water Resistance

Wool carpet is a natural material and damages quickly with water. Nylon carpet is better in terms of water resistance, due to its man-made advantages and functionality. However, timber is always better.

Winner: Timber Flooring

Design

A carpet provides a cozy, warm feeling for your home, while Timber flooring gives a natural, rustic feeling to the home. 

Winner: Depends

Cost

Timber flooring costs $85 – $130 per square metre depending on the species of wood (note: this doesn’t include installation). Carpets can be as low as $25, but can range over $100 in more expensive options. Most are much more affordable than real timber flooring.

Winner: Carpet

Health

With low maintenance and cleaning, carpets are not ideal, especially for those with respiratory conditions. Timber flooring, on the other hand, is much better in terms of health, due to the ease of cleaning and less absorption of dust.

Winner: Timber

Ease of Installation

Carpets are installed with an edge grip, which is much easier than gluing and nailing timber boards into the subfloor. Carpets are also much cheaper to install if you hire a professional.

Winner: Carpet

What Are Timber Floors?

Timber flooring is considered a ‘higher end’ flooring product which consists of real wood, as they are sawn straight from the tree and (usually) pre-finished with lacquer.

They’re a timeless flooring choice, providing a modern feel yet natural warmth to the overall home

Let’s get you into the types of flooring which may engage your taste.

Solid vs Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring is commonly referred to for Australian and local overseas timbers which offer a strong red, orange or golden tone. They come in two forms – solid timber, or engineered timber.

• Solid Timber – Consists of 18 – 21mm straight natural wood all the way throughout. These planks are expensive, but highly valued.
• Engineered Timber – A veneer of real timber fused to a plywood or waterproof composite core which is slightly more affordable. Interested in learning more about engineered vs solid timber?

Hardwood flooring comes from native trees such as Spotted Gum, Blackbutt and Ironbark, which have a higher density, meaning it has increased durability, yet is more expensive. However, it is worth the cost and deserves to be considered as an addition to your home.

Due to its increased density, its durability also improves and thus requires less maintenance.

Pros & Cons of Timber Flooring

Pros

Hardwood flooring provides a means to connect the natural world into your very home. It provides the grandiose feeling of a forest and essence of fresh wood in the midst of your modern home. Often prized as the most premium floor covering, hardwood flooring is well sought after.

Other Benefits that Hardwood flooring offers.

• Personality – Hardwood flooring changes over time. Over the years, it will acquire small scratches, bruises and change in colour shade. Hardwood flooring ages beautifully. In essence, hardwood floors have a timeless look.
• Unique Planks – Hardwood floors have one advantage over other floors. No two planks of hardwood flooring are the same. Every single piece of wooden floors is a work of art. This type of flooring material not only gives durability but variety due to its sheer natural process of grain growth. 
• Valuable – Increases property value. The graceful aging of hardwood flooring brings about value and brands your home.

Cons

As we love being upfront with our customers. There is only a setback to its high price since it is extremely valuable and unique as a piece of timber flooring.

• Noise – This is the biggest downside to this timber flooring. You will get the occasional squeak as you go to the kitchen to grab a bite. Also, if you live in a two-storey house or apartment, it can get very loud for the neighbour or family member below an unpadded hardwood. But with us, we ensure all your wooden floors are padded.
• Cost – Timber flooring is more expensive than carpet. Timber flooring costs $85 – $130 depending on the species of wood (note: this doesn’t include installation). Carpets can be as low as $25, but can range over $100 in more expensive options. Most are much more affordable than real timber flooring.
• Coldness underfoot – In winter, timber is chilly and uncomfortable at times. Carpet is definitely warmer and more cozy on your feet.

If you are interested in looking at timber flooring, we have a Guide to choosing your wooden floors!

Intro to Carpet Flooring

Carpet is a textile covering made from woven fibre. This type of flooring comes in all shapes, sizes and colours. In addition, it is used to add warmth and comfortability to the overall living room or bedroom experience, while you’re enjoying your leisure time after work. 

It is often used to create a nice play space for kids due to the warm and luscious fabric of the carpet, or to reduce sound as you transport yourself from the bedroom to the living room. Also, it can just add to the overall home decor of your home.

Carpet is the preferred winter flooring due to its snuggly warm feeling on your feet.

Unlike timber flooring, carpet is a more affordable flooring option. It will cut the cost of your flooring project and is highly advantageous. Carpets are definitely the budget friendly option compared to hardwood. 

Pros & Cons of Carpet

Pros:

• Provides Thermal Insulation –  Carpets are perfect for use, especially during colder months.
• Comfortable underfoot – Nothing is better than walking on carpet during wintery nights.
• Great for senior citizens – The elderly tend to hate winter. Even by wearing socks, they can still feel the chilly feeling of tiles or wooden flooring. But installation carpet gets rid of all those worries and trouble for the elderly, who deserve to have ultimate comfortability within their home.
• Great for families – Carpets provide a comfortable and cozy feel for your family home. It’s perfect to walk around on, sit on, play or work, and especially great for your small children. A hundred percent recommended for those who have family game nights on a weekly basis.
• Versatile – Carpets can take up any shape, size, colour or pattern to your choosing. There’s a wide array of choices to be made. Add your personal style to the mix. At the end it is your home.
• Improves indoor environment – Carpets trap debris, meaning they retain all the airborne dust particles. The German Asthma foundation has concluded after studies that, carpets actually improve the overall indoor air quality, for the most part.

Cons:

• Indoor air quality issues – Even though carpet may retain dust particles. If not properly cleaned, those with respiratory diseases such as Asthma may suffer from the use of carpet in homes. This is due to carpet having the tendency to collect dust, dead skin cells and pretty much anything within the home, and over time, dust mites will also be collected. To reduce this effect, make sure to vacuum frequently, especially within high traffic areas.
• More regular cleaning – Although warm and comfy, carpet is a floor that can easily get stained. But with proper care and maintenance, your carpets can remain beautiful and will last for a long time.

Conclusion – Carpet or Timber Flooring?

So now, the big question remains for you: Wooden flooring or carpet? Carpet vs hardwood? Natural material or synthetic? Soft or hard flooring?

Well, my friend, we’ve given the flooring options and opened up your knowledge into the flooring world. We leave the rest to you, but know this, whatever flooring you choose, rewards will be reaped.

Feel free to look into any of our other articles which narrow your flooring options, such as vinyl flooring, laminate flooring and other choices of wooden flooring.

Feel free to contact us below for any additional help, advice or perhaps an installation, whether it be an installation for carpet or wooden flooring.