When building a new home or renovating there’s plenty of decisions to be made. When it comes to flooring, there are many options and many pros and cons to consider. There’s of the aesthetics different flooring provide however your decision is much more complex than that.

In this article we’ll take a look at the two most popular options, carpet or tiles. There are of course alternatives to these including timber floors, laminates, cork and vinyl however, by examining the top two options, you’ll get a sense of the benefits for the alternatives too.

Carpet Flooring

Throughout many parts of the world including Australia, carpet is the most popular flooring option used in family homes. Many homes are carpeted throughout, excluding wet areas such and the kitchen, laundry and bathroom.

There are many benefits to carpet that make it a popular option. Carpets are soft, warm and comfortable. They provide an inviting feel where the floor can be used for sitting or reclining which is fantastic for young families, giving them space to play.

Carpet is soft so it’s considered to be more practical and safer option for young children and also the elderly who may be vulnerable to falls. In these instances, a low-pile carpet is a wise choice.

There’s a huge range of design options for carpet as it comes in a variety of colours, shades and styles. This gives you great flexibility when it comes to interior design. Carpet can be used to provide texture and aesthetic appeal to a room.

Since carpet fibres can retain heat and provide insulation, they’re a great option particularly in cooler locations. You’ll have no trouble walking around bare foot in the winter if you install carpet flooring.

There are a few disadvantages to carpets that should be considered. If you or your family members suffer from allergies, carpet can present challenges since the tend to collect dust and other allergens and VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds). Carpet can also house dust-mites and bacteria. For most families, thorough and regular deep carpet cleaning will mitigate these risks.

Even for non-allergy sufferers, cleaning and maintenance is the challenge with carpet floors. Because carpets use fibres that can absorb stains, they are more difficult to keep clean than hard floor alternatives.

Tile Flooring

Tiles are a popular flooring option due to their versatility. Like carpet, they also come in a broad range of designs, styles and colour options. Interior designers love them for this reason since they can be used as a feature to showcase the home styling.

Maintenance is easier with tiles since they don’t stain or hold dust and other allergens. They can be easily swept or vacuumed for your weekly maintenance however the grout will require a deep clean from time to time. The new Britex grout and tile cleaning system is a great option for that.

Tiles do have their disadvantages too. Tiles tend to be quite durable and cost effective however if you do happen to drop something heavy you risk chipping or cracking the tile. Tiles may also crack if your home is prone to movement in the foundations.

Tiles can also be slippery which poses a risk particularly to the elderly. They are more likely to slip on tile than carpet and of course the tiles are extremely hard so they are likely to cause more injury if an accident occurs.

Tiles can be cool or cold to touch so they may not be a great option in cooler climates. On the flip side, this may be an advantage for those that live in the northern states of Australia.

Which should I choose?

Every family has its own set of circumstances and preferences. Every flooring type has its advantages and disadvantages. Each room in your home serves a different purpose so a combination of carpet and tiled flooring is often a great choice.

So how do I clean them?

When it comes to cleaning carpet and tile flooring, hot water extraction methods are generally recommended to reach deep into carpet fibres and tight grout lines to remove dirt build up. For affordable carpet, floor grout and tiles and upholstery cleaning solutions, look no further than Britex Deep Cleaners.

Enjoy an affordable and effective way to deep clean your house and businesses and save time and money along the way by doing the cleaning hands-on yourself. All Britex products are available to hire at the Britex hire stand in Bunnings Warehouse, Woolworths, selected Coles, IGA, Mitre 10 and Home Hardware stores.

For enquiries and more information, contact us here or call 1800 804 973.

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