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6 Disadvantages of Having Wall-to-Wall Carpet Installed



Carpet flooring has long been a popular choice for many homeowners. It offers comfort, warmth, and design versatility once installed in the living space. However, not everyone finds carpets a good flooring option and there are understandable reasons for it. As a follow-up to "5 Benefits of Wall-to-Wall Carpets", this post compiles a list of disadvantages of having wall-to-wall carpet in your home that can impact the aesthetics and functionality.


 

1. Allergens


Even though carpets provide soft comfort for your feet to walk around the house, they can cause major health concerns to individuals suffering from respiratory conditions. Their thick surface is known for trapping dirt, debris, and other allergens between the fibers to prevent them from remaining airborne. These particles would stay there for a long time unless you minimize their presence by vacuuming to improve the indoor air quality.


However, it's impossible to eliminate all allergens on your carpet even after regular cleaning. Whenever someone moves around the house, millions of tiny particles get disrupted by them and begin flying into the air before landing somewhere else on the surface. So, if you and your fellow occupants are dealing with asthma or other allergic reactions, avoid having carpets installed in your house so they won't worsen the symptoms.


 

2. Shorter Lifespan


Carpets are less durable and have a much shorter lifespan than other flooring options. The average lifespan is commonly reported to be 5 to 15 years before they eventually become worn out. This, of course, varies between the different fiber types used to manufacture the carpets since not all of them are strong enough to withstand wear and tear after getting stepped on every day.


So, before you decide to have wall-to-wall carpet for your floor, you should consider how foot traffic and your lifestyle can contribute to its lifespan. For example: if you have a large living space and install carpets in a high-traffic area, like the hallways and the living room, they would quickly lose their density. Heavy furniture can also cause permanent indentation marks on the carpet's surface if you don't rearrange it often.


 

3. Fading and Discoloration


While Washington isn't the sunniest state in the country (that honor goes to Arizona), you must be careful about exposing your carpet to direct sunlight for too long. According to the Best Places data report, Renton has an average of 151 sunny days per year compared to the national average of 205. But the sunniest month is reported to be July since it has an average of 12 hours of sunshine per day and the highest average temperature is 76°F.


If you don't protect your carpet from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays, especially during the hot summer, then fading and discoloration can happen through photodegradation — the process of UV radiation breaking down the molecular bonds in the dyes or pigments that color the carpet fibers and quickly weakening them. This commonly occurs in carpets that are brightly colored and are placed in rooms with an abundance of direct sunlight. The fibers can also deteriorate under the sun's heat and cause the carpet's soft surface to become stiff and brittle over time, losing its durability and rapidly lowering its lifespan.


 

4. Water Damages


Unfortunately, carpets can easily get stained since they absorb moisture into the fibers and soak into the padding. Not only would there be stain marks left on the surface that'll be difficult to remove, but it would lead to smelly odors being released into the air and negatively impacting the health of everyone living in the house. They are also susceptible to mold and mildew in damp or humid environments, especially if there is poor indoor ventilation.


Washington may have a low and comfortable humidity level, but you must be cautious that excessive moisture will cause permanent damage to your carpet. For instance, flooding can happen in King County in cities near a major river during prolonged rainstorms. When that occurs, you must dry your carpet immediately since the contaminated floodwater would submerge into its fibers and cause molds to spread all over the surfaces. If you don't, you must replace the entire thing before it can cause major damage to the subfloor of your house.


 

5. Lesser Resale Value


There is a contention that carpets aren't worth an investment for homeowners who plan to sell their houses. People have mixed opinions about this, but we find that there are both sides to the argument.


Indeed, carpets won't increase the value of your home because they are a cheaper flooring option to install and have a shorter lifespan compared to hardwood and tiles. This is an issue for most homeowners who want to increase their property value because of how costly the median sales price is in Renton — around $727,951. Carpets don't have a specific return on investment (ROI) percentage, but it's commonly reported to be very low and depends on their fiber quality. So, if you want to raise your house's value before putting it on the market, carpets won't be an ideal flooring option to install and you should look into hard surfaces instead.


However, just because it doesn't add value to your property, it doesn't mean you should never install it altogether. Certain individuals want to purchase a house with carpet flooring because it fits their needs and at-home lifestyle (see "6 Benefits of Wall-to-Wall Carpets"). If you still want to add carpet to your house before selling it, think about where the right place is to install it for your potential buyers.


 

6. High Maintenance Costs


Overall, the major disadvantage of having wall-to-wall carpet is that it requires a lot of cleaning.


While carpets can be room insulators and are cheaper to install (see "5 Benefits of Wall-to-Wall Carpets"), the downside is that you must spend a lot on maintenance costs. Most people regularly vacuum their carpets at least once weekly to eliminate allergens. However, the amount can increase depending on the size of your house and the daily foot traffic in certain areas. If you notice a bad odor coming from your carpet, shampooing is required to prevent it from spreading throughout the house. You'll also have to call a professional carpet cleaner at least once or twice a year which would cost extra — the average cost of hiring a cleaner in Renton is reported to be between $111 and $392.


It can be hard to tell if your carpet looks clean enough even after vacuuming and shampooing the surface. That's because the fibers would hide allergens, stains, and even small insects (e.g., ants and dust mites) that are almost impossible to see and eliminate them all. Because of this, carpets won't be an ideal flooring option if you have young children or pets who frequently cause inevitable messes around the house. Any signs of damage like smelly odors, molds, unremovable stains, discoloration, and fading caused by your carpet's uncleanliness would cost its lifespan and durability, forcing you to replace it with a new one on short notice.


 

Solutions 


If you still want to have wall-to-wall carpet in your home, here are some recommendations to take good care of it. 


  • Vacuum your carpet regularly to eliminate dirt and debris trapped between fibers and improve the air quality. There are also hypoallergenic carpet types that you can install to reduce the risk of allergic reactions in your house. Our recommendations include any lower-pile carpet made from nylon, olefin, polyester, or wool that can release little to no volatile organic compounds (VOC).

  • Install carpets in low-traffic areas so they won’t get worn out quickly. We advise installing it in the bedrooms since they are the most important private area in the house and are usually occupied by one or two individuals. If you plan to install it in high-traffic areas, paddings must be added underneath to maintain its look and make it last longer.

  • Take your shoes off when you get inside to prevent outdoor dirt and debris from staining your carpet. You should also add a doormat to encourage others to wipe their feet before entering.

  • Eliminate spills immediately to prevent permanent stains and reduce the risk of mold growing on the surfaces. If possible, contact a professional carpet cleaner at least once a year so they can do some deep cleaning. There are also carpets available on the market with fibers that can repel stains, including nylon, polyester, and wool. And remember, carpets should never be installed in damp or humid areas like bathrooms and kitchens.

  • Ensure the carpet doesn’t get too much direct sunlight to prevent the colors from fading and suffering from sun damage. In addition, install a moisture barrier underneath your carpet to prevent mold from growing. 


Despite carpets being highly maintenance compared to other flooring options, they must be properly cleaned and protected to extend their lifespan and prevent them from getting damaged. 


 

Conclusion 


Ultimately, deciding whether carpet is the right choice for your home is up to you. The list is meant to educate you about the disadvantages of installing wall-to-wall carpets and what you should do to keep them fresh and new for a long time. If you want to learn about the benefits of having wall-to-wall carpet for your house, check out "5 Benefits of Wall-to-Wall Carpets”. 


If you are looking for a carpet installer in Renton or its neighboring cities in Washington, then Fresh Floors & Surfaces is here. With a focus on personalized attention and tailored solutions, we're here to help you find the perfect flooring solution for your unique needs and style. 


 

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