Anyone changed over from carpet to hardwood recently?

[Chris Fowler]

This allergy season has really screwed us up. I've started getting migraines that seem to be related to allergies from about September to April. My daughter gets a bad cough due to allergies during the same timeframe. And we have year round battles with itchy eyes and runny noses.

I'm really starting to think that moving away from carpet to hardwood would help with the collection of pet dander, etc.

Because we have indoor pets I was looking for the hardest woods. Looks like strand woven bamboo is currently the best to look at for that, but I have only seen pictures online. I have not seen it in person yet.

Looking at somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,000 sq. ft. of carpet replaced with hardwood. Will keep tile in the entry hall, kitchen/breakfast area and bathrooms. Might keep carpet in the master closet...for now.

What kind of crap am I getting myself into?

[Sea Six]

I had a girlfriend once that changed from carpet to hardwood floors, thinking I would like it better. She was rong.


We compromised with a nice simple throw rug, off to one side. It really brought things together.


Some men, and women too, for that matter, prefer the more modern look of hardwood floors; you may find yourself in this category. A hardwood floor is easier to keep clean, and definitely has a neater appearance that more easily fits in with today's simpler, minimalist fashion designs.


There are some who will always prefer the look and feel of natural carpet (think European). It is a timeless classic. Count me in this category.

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by Chris Fowler

What kind of crap am I getting myself into?

Hopefully some relief.

I didn't really put the two together, but now that you mention it, my allergies were greatly reduced around the time when we went from carpets to wood floors.


I wish I could help with the other stuff, but I wasn't around for the whole process.

[Chris Fowler]

Originally Posted by Sea Six

I had a girlfriend once that changed from carpet to hardwood floors, thinking I would like it better. She was rong.


We compromised with a nice simple throw rug, off to one side. It really brought things together.

We will definitely have some throw rugs on top. I love the look of hardwood, but prefer carpet for day to day living. Though my allergies are disagreeing with me now...

[Sea Six]

Originally Posted by Chris Fowler

We will definitely have some throw rugs on top. I love the look of hardwood, but prefer carpet for day to day living. Though my allergies are disagreeing with me now...

[RonC5]

We got rid of the carpet a few years ago. Big difference with the allergies, dust mites was one of my big ones. I was shocked at the amount of dirt/dust/crap/dander etc that was in and under the carpets when we pulled them up. We thought our house was clean. Don't think I will ever have carpet again.

[Rapid Roger]

Changed to HW in two rooms last year.The only thing I don't like is the added noise and the fact that you can see every speck of dust on a HW floor.....................

[mrvette]

Chris, you never filled out jack diddly on your profile so I have no clue what region you in....

but if you in any high humidity region, first thing I would check is to pull your access panels around your tub/showers areas, or if a basement, look around close, even to pull some trim/drywall off neatly

you looking for MOLD, or other skanky crap...mildew fungus amungus whatever....

I have had ONE customer ready to move outta the house down here, up from Miami and never an issue down there, but the house she was in, the master bath shower was a large as our entire bath....rotten to the core, and so she suffered with allergy shit for many months....

soon as I tore that rotten tile shower out, end of problems, AND she not the only one.....up north or here in Florida....

not a weekend later....seriously...

replace carpet is much cheeper and if on a old slab home you going to have to level the floor a LOT, to get the hardwood to lay flat without looking like Fido's ASS.....

and I am impressed with the 'new' look of Bamboo and if not for the 'leveling' issue with my 40 y/o seasick concrete floor, I would have gone that route....

[simpleman68]

Went hardwood route 7 years ago and haven't looked back since.

After removing enough carpets over the years and seeing the scary sheit trapped above and below the padding; I just couldn't go back.
Even carpets that were installed 2-3 years prior were disgusting underneath.

Only downside is the floors are cooler in the Winter, a high suck factor here in PA at the foot hills of the Pocono Mtns. Throw rugs are a good solution for us and can be removed and cleaned.
Scott

[ConstantChange]

I got rid of all the carpet in my house and put in hardwoods a few months ago. I love it. Once you see the amount of dirt your carpet holds, you'll never go back.

[Chris Fowler]

Originally Posted by Sea Six

damnit...

[BuckyThreadkiller]

Originally Posted by Chris Fowler

damnit...

May take pliers to get that hook out.

[Sea Six]

Originally Posted by Chris Fowler

damnit...

[Doug28450]

Our house was built in 1939. A few years ago we pulled up the carpet and had the hardwood floors refinished. It was an excellent move to get rid of that carpet.

[lspencer534]

Every time this subject comes up, I say the same thing: Be sure to use plenty of area rugs to soften the appearance and to dampen the noise. The noise level increases substantially with wood floors. But here's another problem: Area rugs trap dirt and mites just like carpet does. You mentioned washing the rugs, but there aren't many (if any) washable rigs that look good.

[C5Nate]

Not me but in my sons house.
Had carpet over hardwood floors when they bought it.
Thinking they were a bonus, they ripped out the carpet, refinished the floors.
Looked very nice but:
Noise level went way up.
Cold, cold floor so you always wear socks but then you have….
Slicker than sheet in socks, (think Tom Cruise)
Little kids get hurt much worse than on carpet.
Constantly chasing little dust bunnys around.
Uncomfortable to lie down and play with kids, watch TV, etc.

SO…..they bought large area rugs which:
Are hard to clean
Constantly tripping over
Still have cold spots
Not much change in noise level
Not as comfortable as carpet to lie on.

They are going back to carpet.

[Grey Ghost]

Like MRVETTE said. You need to have nice level floors for a true hardwood floor vs floating laminate. Depending on the age of the house. They may have even used particle board for the sub-flooring. If so, it will need replaced. Sagging floor joist, etc...might be underneath all that carpet. You really won't know until it's all ripped out. Make sure to get someone experienced in hard wood floor installations to level it up and make it function and look nice. I have worked in carpet mills and only have carpet in the bedrooms. All the chemicals and lint makes me wonder about long term health issues. Tile in the bathrooms and hardwood in all other rooms. Bamboo might be too light a color. We had it in a showroom and it showed every bit of dust. I know a couple of local places that sell it here wholesale. But shipping might be cost prohibitive. You can go for a 'tavern grade' which shows some very minor problems. But I think it also gives some character and saves $$$

[Barn Babe]

My experience has been that all the hair, dander, dust, etc... that used to hide in the carpet is now all over the damn place all the damn time for all the damn people to see. It doesn't matter if I sweep twice a day, it has no place else to go.

We did go with hand scraped wood floors. We have big inside dogs and kids and wanted something that would only look better with more scratches. We get compliments all the time - WHEN IT'S CLEAN!

Good luck.

[LATB]

I love wood floors. I love the look. the smell. the character. and the feel it gives a home.

easier to clean & maintain than carpet or tile. carpet is a dust/dirt trap. tile has grout that eventually looks like shit.

last home was 100% wood. I like it everywhere...it flows through the home without transitions between rooms/floor coverings...makes the place look awesome, and sometimes larger than it is.

this one may have carpet in bedrooms #2 & #3.

man has to be frugal in this Obama economy.

[khblair]

Originally Posted by C5Nate

Not me but in my sons house.
Had carpet over hardwood floors when they bought it.
Thinking they were a bonus, they ripped out the carpet, refinished the floors.
Looked very nice but:
Noise level went way up.
Cold, cold floor so you always wear socks but then you have….
Slicker than sheet in socks, (think Tom Cruise)
Little kids get hurt much worse than on carpet.
Constantly chasing little dust bunnys around.
Uncomfortable to lie down and play with kids, watch TV, etc.

SO…..they bought large area rugs which:
Are hard to clean
Constantly tripping over
Still have cold spots
Not much change in noise level
Not as comfortable as carpet to lie on.

They are going back to carpet.

excellent points. ive had both. i like and dislike both for all of the above reasons. only you (and your family) can decide which problems are easier to live with. good luck