How Carpet Does So Much More Than Just Look Pretty
In today’s society, the benefits of carpet and their presence is an expected feature when we purchase a home. We have many choices of flooring and each of them has its good features. But, carpeting carries some unique features. As we look into the benefits of carpets and rugs in our homes and places of business, it is easy to see why we often add rugs to areas that are uncarpeted for extra protection and comfort.
It Can Reduce Breathing Issues
Allergies are a major problem for adults and children all over the world. According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, 24,2% of adults and children have some type of allergy that affects their health. You may ask what that has to do with carpeting. Quite a lot, actually. If your home does not have carpeting or worse, if your carpet is old and not in good condition, the air quality in your home may be compromised and unhealthy to breathe.
A good carpet can trap allergens, and particles in its fibers so they are not inhaled. Some of the most common allergens include:
- Pollen
- Dust
- Food
- Animal dander
- Mold
- Mildew
- Textile dyes
It is important to understand that allergies are often underestimated. Having even small amounts of allergen floating around your home’s indoor air can cause health problems and cause bad odors. This is especially true for young children and the elderly. This is why your carpet should be of good quality. One of the benefits of carpet can be reducing allergies, but if you don’t care for them properly, it can quickly turn into a “con”.
Replace your carpet when it begins to wear. A good grade carpet can last 5-10 years or more if it is serviced properly. A lower grade carpet may need to be replaced in 3-5 years. Of course, the amount of wear and tear the carpet is subject to will determine the life of the carpet installed.
Note: It is important to have your carpet professionally vacuumed at least every 6 months. Over time dust mites settle into the fibers. They are microscopic, so you will not see them, but only a professional carpet and upholstery cleaning will get rid of those pesky dust mites. These dust mites may not disturb you, but if the furniture is moved or if something falls onto the carpet (like a baby’s bottom when he is learning to walk) they can be spread into the air which makes finding the right carpet cleaner a must for every home carpet.
It Can Soften Your Fall
Maybe you have an elderly family member that lives with you or stays at your home often. The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention report that millions of senior citizens over the age of 65, suffer from falls every year. It is estimated that 1 out of 4 citizens that fall, do not report it to their doctors, so the actual numbers could be much higher. This is a dangerous problem.
When a senior suffers a fall on wood, tile, or concrete floor, they are more likely to be injured. There are approximately 300,000 hip fractures treated in our hospitals annually. 95% of those injuries are caused by falls suffered by a senior citizen. One out of every five falls results in a traumatic head injury. As you can see, the cost of a fall, especially if the victim is a senior citizen with weak bones, is very costly. The financial burden is often absorbed by the social services programs.
Of course, we know one of the benefits of carpet is that it cushions the floor making it softer if there is a minor fall, but beware that most of the falls that take place in the home happen because carpets have been allowed to age, edges fray, and edges get curled up. Experts at Tapis Montreal say that rugs that are not secured and properly upkept are equally as dangerous.
You can have the beauty, comfort, and safety of carpeting, but you must assume the responsibility of having a quality carpet that is in good repair. Rugs must be firmly secured and should not be used in areas where seniors with mobility problems must walk. Consider using wall-to-wall broadloom carpets so that there will be no edges for your loved ones to trip on.
It Can Be More Comfortable
When it is cold outside and the heat is on, a wood floor acts as a conductor. The heat in the room is absorbed by the wood floor which allows the heat to continue moving. The wood floor will feel colder than your bare feet. One of the benefits of carpet is that it acts as an insulator. The heat will reach the carpet and absorb into carpet fibers and remain there. When your bare feet hit the floor, the carpet will feel warmer than your skin. So, standing, sitting, or laying on the carpet will feel warmer. While the carpet does not heat the room, it feels warmer which may allow a person to be more comfortable without turning up the heat. Wool carpets and other similar types of carpet (like plush carpet or thicker carpets) will definitely help in being an insulator.
It Can Improve Your Home’s Resale Value
This is an argument that never ends. You can ask six real estate experts about the need to replace flooring in order to improve your home’s resale value and you will probably get six different answers. The basic answer seems to boil down to this. If your floors are in bad shape, replacing wood floors almost always seems to be a good idea. Replacing bad carpet with low-grade carpet may be a flooring option and might make you feel better about showing your property, but it does little more than that. If you want to increase the ROI (return on investment) you need to buy a good grade carpet. If the carpet in your home looks bad enough that it needs to be replaced, install new carpet.
As we can see, there are a lot of benefits of carpet for our homes. And just like other quality purchases, there are particular ways to care for that investment. This investment is good for our homes, financial investment (ROI), and health. All things considered, the fact that it adds beauty and comfort to our world is really just a lovely bonus.