Installing Hardwood Floors in Place of Carpet

Whether you’re looking to resell your home or just spruce it up, installing hardwood floors is a great investment. Not only do they improve the look and feel of your home, they also increase your home’s value! If you’re debating hardwood vs. carpet, here are some factors to consider:

Benefits of Hardwood Floors

There are many reasons why homeowners love hardwood floors such as:

Eye catching: Hardwood floors are visually appealing, create a homey atmosphere and go with virtually any decor style.
Higher appraisal value: Thinking of selling your home? Hardwood floors are a great investment that makes your home feel more spacious and increases its value. In fact, the National Association of Realtor’s 2022 Remodeling Impact Report found that homeowners who install new hardwood floors are able to recover 118% of the cost.
Easy to clean and maintain: Say goodbye to stubborn carpet stains and constant vacuuming. Hardwood floors can be swept and mopped on an as-needed basis.
Extremely durable: Hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished several times, unlike laminate floors that often need to be completely replaced. Solid wood has a lifespan of 75 years, compared to 20 for laminate and 5 for carpeting, according to Tile Council of North America, Inc.
Better air quality: Carpets hold dust, pollen, dander, dirt and other particles that may aggravate allergies.

Getting started

Now that you’ve weighed the pros and cons of hardwood vs. carpet, are you ready to make the transition? Here’s how to get started:

Measure: Figuring out how much wood you need for your new floor will help you calculate the cost.
Determine budget: The budget of your project will depend whether you hire a professional for some or all of the job, and how much you opt to do yourself. For example, you can expect to pay $1-5 per square foot for carpet removal if you hire a professional, or it will cost you nothing if you do it yourself. Carpet disposal will depend on whether you rent a dumpster, take it to a transfer station, or have it hauled away by the company that removes it.
Find contractor: We highly recommend hiring a professional installer for your new floor. It’s always a good idea to get quotes from several contractors to compare. Depending on your comfort level, experience and budget, you may decide to install your floor yourself.
Order your flooring: Browse our solid wood flooring by wood species, grade and style to find the perfect match for your home or commercial space.
Rip up that carpet! If you’ve decided to tackle the carpet removal yourself, start by removing the baseboards. Next tear up the carpet starting at a corner, and cut the carpeting every few feet as you roll it back to reduce the weight. Remove tack strips and scrape off any adhesive.

And just like that, you’re ready for your new hardwood floor!