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So....
You have to choose between two identical houses in identical settings in the same neighborhood. Both homes fit your needs perfectly.
But, you have a choice to make:
They both have tile or vinyl in wet areas, i.e., baths, kitchen, laundry.
The rest of the house is either hardwood floors or carpet.
Which house will you pick?
You don't have my choice for the poll: Part hardwood, part carpet. I'd have carpet in bedrooms (a special pet-resistant carpet, and not too expensive), but hardwoods in main living areas, if I only had to be concerned with appearance and maintenance. Due to my climate, I'd go for tile in wet areas, and maybe laminate in main living areas. I don't like laminate, but there's no great solid surface covering for slab houses in very high humidity areas. (Ceramic tile would crack over time because of movement.)
Geographic area & climate matter. Here in the very wet, deep south, on a slab...wood is not an ideal choice. They would constantly be shrinking & puffing from the high humidity, both from the air and from the ground, where the water level isn't much below the slab. If there is any flooding, the floors would need replacing...and your already sky high homeowner's insurance premium will reflect that.
A carpet with thick padding is ideal to protect the home from the damp slab. It would need replacing, if there's flooding, but less costly.
Ceramic tile is good for these conditions, but will crack over time, due to movement. Just like a cement patio slab and driveway will crack.
Wood would be fine in a house on a pier & slab, though. Wood is my preference, if I didn't live where I live, or I lived in a pier & beam house.
You don't have my choice for the poll: Part hardwood, part carpet. I'd have carpet in bedrooms (a special pet-resistant carpet, and not too expensive), but hardwoods in main living areas. Tile in utility room. Kitchen - continuation of wood, if visible from main living areas, or tile.
There are only two houses in the poll.
On purpose.
The trend and consumer desire are clear when those are the choices.
Hardwood. I prefer carpet in bedrooms but larger area rugs can suffice. I "Prefer" carpet but face it, it has a short life all things considered. And, harder to keep from stains, etc...
The only carpet in our house is in the half finished basement and I like it that way. Yes, we sweep pet hair daily but the dust and hair is still there in carpet, you just don't see it. I'd rather see what needs to be cleaned instead of pretending it doesn't exist. Carpet really grosses me out (I rarely go in the basement). I don't understand why people need carpet in the bedroom. Wouldn't an area rug suffice?
Plus, it just looks WAAAAAAAY better than carpet.
The hardwood in our house is 95 years old. Can't do that with carpet.
I agree. I never knew how much dirt was UNDER my carpet until I pulled it up for hardwood floors.
Area rugs can be cleaned, washed depending on size; or just thrown out when they get dusty and dingy.
I have severe allergies and hope to never live in another house/condo with wall to wall carpet.
It's truly eye opening to pull up carpet. Those who call themselves clean freaks are really in for a rude awakening if they think their wall to wall carpeted homes are clean.
This wall to wall carpet in the bedroom thing...anybody with solid flooring knows how much more 'stuff' settles under the bed than out in the open. "Swiffering" gets it pretty easy.
But vacuuming under there?? Not an easy or thorough job.
And yes, I did deal with it for years and thankfully, no more.
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