Vinyl Flooring VS Carpet: Which One Is Better For You?

The design of the interior of your house or office is almost finalized.  But you are in a dilemma about the flooring part. Your friends and family members are now divided into two camps: Vinyl Flooring vs Carpeting.

But you want to choose the best option for you without any biases. If this is your current scenario, this is the right article for you.

With the experience of more than 20 years in the real estate business, I can give you the correct insights about both vinyl flooring and carpets. In this article, I will judge all the merits and demerits of vinyl flooring and carpet flooring from an impartial point of view.

Vinyl Flooring vs Carpet Flooring: An In-depth Discussion

Here, I tried to make a comprehensive comparison between vinyl flooring and carpet flooring:

• Design & Style:

Carpets have a large range of colors, textures, and patterns. But there is a trade-off between texture and color variation for them. Carpets with more color options come with fewer patterns.

Vinyl floors can be most fancy in terms of design. Only imagination is the limit. You can select any color or pattern from them. It is very useful for state-of-the-art designs.

• Price Range:

High-grade carpets cost from $1000 to $4000 in the USA for every 200 sq. ft.

But they can be cheap also if you are ready to compromise about quality. So high-quality carpets are pricier than vinyl floors. Again, the installation and maintenance costs of carpet are also higher.

In the USA, the national average price of good quality vinyl flooring is between $600 to $2,000 for 200 sq. ft. So, vinyl flooring tends to be less expensive than carpets. Its installation cost is also cheaper than carpets. However, if you decide on vinyl floors with unique quality and design, they may cost you more than carpets.

• Installation:

Carpets need to be installed by professionals only. Otherwise, you can assume a sure disaster.

Vinyl floors are easily installed with a few skills and tools. They are quite friendly with DIY guys.

• Comfort Level:

No one can deny the opulent look and touch of carpet flooring. You can feel the comfort on your feet. They can be a blessing during winter with the extra warmth.

Vinyl floors are not famous for comfort. But they can be made comfortable by setting foam or cork beneath them. 

• Maintenance:

You need to regularly vacuum a carpeted floor to get rid of any foreign particles. Spills on a carpet can be a nightmare, as they are instantly soaked. Again, you have to steam a carpet regularly to ensure they are not being inhabited by viruses and bacteria.

Vinyl floors are non-porous by design. That means, fluids cannot get through them. That makes them easier to clean. However, they are prone to receive scratches and grooves very easily. Then they have to be replaced in total.

• Adaptation With Weather:

Carpets are much appreciated in cold weather. It acts as an insulator that holds warmth. However, in a warm or damp environment, they are not that popular.

Where luxury vinyl is suitable for any climate, cheap vinyl flooring will lose colors if exposed to strong sunlight. They are not very comforting in winter.

• Durability:

High-quality carpet floors are known to be durable. However, their characteristics to stain easily make their lives shortened. Again, areas with a lot of activities need the installation of heavy-duty carpets, which can withstand a lot of pressure. Good quality carpets can sustain decades if treated with care.

Vinyl flooring is more durable in areas that have huge activities. However, they can be ripped out and become pale much earlier. Traditional vinyl planks are difficult to repair. Even partly damaged floors need to be replaced entirely. However, modern vinyl planks are claimed to be better in this regard.

• Value Addition:

According to a study, 54% of the buyers in the housing sector of the USA pay $2,080 more for a newly installed hardwood floor. . However, installing a new carpet floor does not add any value to a house.

Vinyl plank floors also do not increase the value of a house. So as an investment, they are as useless as carpet flooring is.

• Eco-Friendliness:

In the wake of global warming, we must count our ecological footprints carefully. Most of the carpets used in the USA  are made of synthetic fibers. However, some eco-friendly brands of carpet confirm environmental compliance.

Luxury vinyl flooring is completely synthetic and prone to chemical reactions more than carpets. They are essentially made of plastics, and plastics by no means are environment-friendly. Vinyl floors are notorious for emitting harmful chemicals and gas into the air. They are not biodegradable and hard to recycle.

• Health Impact:

Carpet flooring can be a big hazard for asthma patients or people, allergic to dust. Carpets are more likely to house sand, dust, hairs, and other microscopic particles. It is nearly impossible to clean a carpet enough to get all of the possible allergens completely out of it.

Vinyl floors are known to emit chemicals and gas, which cause cancer and many other severe diseases. The asbestos used under classic vinyl floors has also been marked as a cause of cancer. Polyvinyl chloride,  the main element of vinyl plank, is considered one of the most harmful chemicals for the human body.

Vinyl Flooring vs Carpet Flooring: The Winner Revealed

In this previous subhead, I have discussed the differences in details between the vinyl and carpet flooring. Here I am going to give you a quick comparison table in between them and then reveal the winner.

CRITERION	CARPET FLOORING	VINYL FLOORING	WINNER
Design & Style	Have a large range of colors and textures but fewer patterns.	Fancy in design. Useful for state-of-the-art designs.	Vinyl Flooring
Price	Price, installation, and maintenance costs are higher.	Price, installation, and maintenance costs are lower.	Vinyl Flooring
Installation	Carpets need to be installed by professionals.	Vinyl floors can be easily installed by users.	Vinyl Floors
Comfort	Very soft and warm for footing.	Not comfortable for walking.	Carpet Floors
Maintenance	Needs proper maintenance.	Easily maintained with less effort.	Vinyl Floors
Reaction To Weather	Not good for a warm or damp environment.	Lose colors, if exposed to strong sunlight. Comforting in winter.	Tie
Durability	Mainly durable but prone to stain.	Good for high traffic spaces.Can be ripped out and become pale.	Tie
Value Addition	Installing carpet floors does not add value to a house.	Installing vinyl floors does not add any value either.	Tie
Impact On Environment	Some carpets confirm environmental compliance.	Vinyl floors emit harmful chemicals and gas. Not biodegradable.	Carpet Floors
Impact On Health	Hazardous for asthma and allergy patients.	It Causes Cancer and many other diseases.	Carpet Floors

And The Winner Is:

We can see that the vinyl flooring is a bit ahead of carpet flooring in the comparison. But it does not make them the ultimate winner. At the end of the day, it comes down to your personal preferences.

If you prefer comfort over money-saving, you could go for carpet flooring. However, the activity level of the place is also a big consideration.

Commonly Asked Questions On Vinyl Floors & Carpets:

Is Vinyl Flooring Warmer Than Carpet?

Generally, vinyl flooring is not as warm as carpets. However, it can become warmer if you add some padded underlay under it. Pads made of foam or cork can do the job. On the other hand, carpets naturally retain warmth. You get a warm feeling every time you step into it. Vinyl floor feels quite cold when people walk on it with bare feet, but it is quite warm compared to stone or ceramic floors. 

So walking on vinly floor can be comfortable as opposed to stone floor. But when compared to carpet, go against vinyl flooring if you expect more warmth. In this case, carpet is definitely the best solution. The carpet warms up quickly and always maintains it. 

Can I Put Vinyl Flooring Over Carpet?

Putting vinyl over carpet is a good idea because replacing a carpet is quite time consuming. It is possible to install vinyl flooring over carpet, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Vinyl floors should be laid over carpet that can hold itself and stay firmly in place. The carpet needs to be firm but not too thick to act like a sponge. 

Another good way is when laying some thin layers over the carpet and installing the vinyl floor over it. Plywood protects the vinyl floor from damage to keep it in place. Plywood usually serves as an underlay. But plywood should be bought according to the width of the carpet and the room. Install vinyl flooring over carpet in areas with low traffic as frequent foot traffic can displace it.

Does Replacing Carpets With Vinyl Increase Value Of A House?

Buyers of the real estate sector prefer hard surfaces over carpeting. So, replacing carpet with vinyl flooring will add some value to a house that currently has carpet floors. Many consider hardwood floors to be the best replacement for carpets. But compared to hardwood, the value a vinyl floor can add is minimal. Vinyl floor looks classier than carpet and hardwood. 

Moreover, when it’s time to replace the carpets, you need to prepare a big budget to maintain the home’s luster. On the other hand, vinyl flooring can increase the value of your home even more on a budget because it is less expensive than carpet. Essentially homeowners can improve the quality of the property without breaking their budget.

Is Vinyl Flooring Better Than Carpet For Bedrooms?

When choosing between carpet or vinyl flooring for the bedroom, carpet is definitely better than vinyl. However, there are some considerations when choosing carpet vs vinyl in bedrooms. The softness and coziness of carpet flooring make them a better choice for bedrooms than vinyl floors. Carpets do better than vinyl planks to make your bedroom warm. It also acts as a noise reducer for bedrooms. 

But carpets can be inconvenient in some cases. If you have an allergy sufferer in your family then using carpet in the bedroom is considered as the biggest enemy. These frequently receive dirt that enters the airways along with the air. However, frequent vacuuming may be a better solution. Carpet is an excellent choice if one does not have allergy issues.

Vinyl Or Carpet: What Type Of Flooring Is Good For Basements?

This is a matter of big debate. Both vinyl flooring and carpet flooring are considered better for the basement by different quarters. Those who stand for vinyl argue, its waterproof characteristic makes it a better candidate for a basement. However, advocates of carpet flooring say dark and cold places like basements need as much softening as possible. 

However, some basements suffer from moisture again and again. Vinyl floor can be a good choice as it can fight against moisture. But carpet is a good option if you don’t get moisture. It gives a noble look while preserving the beauty. The presence of carpets in places like basements is really amazing.

Is Vinyl Flooring Bad For Your Health?

Vinyl flooring is not directly toxic but it carries some toxic chemicals that are harmful to health. This flooring material is usually treated with fire retardant chemicals that are much more harmful to children living in the home. There are health risks even for adults. These chemicals cause respiratory problems and sometimes cause skin irritation. It can even lead to serious health problems like neurological problems and cancer. 

Also, when vinyl floors are manufactured, they release VOCs into the air over time. It immediately damages the air layer of the environment. Therefore, considering the healthy environment and the presence of children, it is better to consider carpet between carpet or vinyl plank in living room because it is relatively safe.

Is Carpet Cheaper Than Vinyl Flooring?

There are varying qualities of products for both carpet and vinyl flooring. Carpet vs vinyl cost depends on the quality. If compared quality-wise, carpets are never cheaper than vinyl flooring. Besides carpet is also an expensive product in terms of price. You should compare the installation and maintenance costs of carpet and luxury vinyl flooring. 

Vinyl flooring is generally easier to clean, maintain, disinfect or replace than carpet. When you do these things with a carpet, you have to spend a lot of work and even a lot of effort. Therefore choose the one according to your needs.

Final Words:

Both vinyl flooring and carpets have advantages and disadvantages. But may be the vinyl flooring vs carpet discussion above is helpful in knowing when you should choose which. While choosing the perfect flooring for your home, you should consider the expense, desired comfort level, and health precautions at the same time. Vinyl flooring works better than carpet to maintain class. 

But considering some health risks, you might want to stay away from it. On the other hand, carpets are always perfect for maintaining warmth underfoot. However, the carpet should be vacuumed regularly otherwise the dust found in it can enter the respiratory system and cause problems for allergy sufferers.