Which is better – carpet or linoleum in an apartment??

Carpet and linoleum are two common flooring options that immediately spring to mind when choosing flooring for your apartment. Every material has distinct benefits and possible drawbacks, so the choice is more complex than it first appears. Picking the ideal flooring for your living area can be facilitated by being aware of the distinctions between linoleum and carpet.

Carpet is a favorite for living rooms and bedrooms because it feels warm and comfortable underfoot. It offers superior insulation, cutting down on noise and preserving a cozy temperature. Furthermore, a large variety of colors and textures are available for carpets, enabling customized design options. Allergy sufferers may be concerned about carpets because they can be difficult to clean and may trap allergens.

Conversely, linoleum is a resilient and hygienic choice that is perfect for high-traffic areas such as hallways and kitchens. Linoleum is an eco-friendly option that is made of natural materials and can resemble more costly flooring materials like stone or wood. Moreover, it is water-resistant, making it appropriate for spill-prone areas. But some homeowners might be concerned that linoleum doesn’t provide the same warmth and coziness as carpet.

The choice between carpet and linoleum ultimately comes down to your personal requirements and tastes. Whether durability, comfort, or ease of maintenance are your top priorities, knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each option will help you choose your apartment flooring wisely.

Factor	Carpet	Linoleum
Comfort	Softer, warmer underfoot	Harder, cooler
Maintenance	Harder to clean, stains easily	Easy to clean, resistant to stains
Durability	Can wear out faster	Long-lasting, tough
Cost	Generally more expensive	Usually cheaper
Installation	More complex	Easier, DIY-friendly

Depending on your priorities and lifestyle, carpet or linoleum may be the better option for your apartment. Carpet provides coziness and warmth underfoot, which makes it perfect for living rooms and bedrooms. It can, however, trap allergens and requires more upkeep. Conversely, linoleum is hypoallergenic, long-lasting, and simple to clean, which makes it a fantastic option for homes with pets or high traffic areas. In the end, your choice should take your household’s particular needs into account as well as aspects like comfort and ease of maintenance.

Specifications

Linoleum and carpet are two entirely different materials. These floor coverings are kind of opposites. You need to have a basic understanding of their production and technical features in order to comprehend their benefits and drawbacks.

Carpet

Man has always tried to create a comfortable and warm home. Numerous man-made and natural materials (felted rugs, woven mats, etc.) were utilized. Carpet products, which were hung on the walls and placed on the floor, were particularly notable among them. And for the longest time, carpets were seen as luxury goods. However, in the 1950s, a technological revolution in carpet production resulted in the introduction of carpet, a completely new material, to the market.

Carpet is a soft, rolled floor covering with a repeating pattern and an infinite length. Designed to be installed completely seam-free indoors. composed of both synthetic and natural threads. It is incorrect to believe that the use of artificial fiber equates to a low-cost carpet substitute, though. Certain varieties of woven nylon (polyamide) carpets are relatively pricey and don’t really differ in quality from carpet made of natural wool.

Carpet is divided into two categories: residential and commercial. The distinction is made based on the length of the pile and the type of threads used. For instance, you need material with long pile and strong, twisted threads in an office with a lot of traffic. In contrast, all hotels want their piles to be as short as possible to facilitate cleaning. A coating with a medium-length, soft pile is better suited for use at home.

Linoleum

The polymer floor covering known as linoleum is resistant to moisture and mimics the look and feel of natural materials. accessible as a roll made of a fairly elastic, flexible material.

Possesses a lengthy history. The material was created in the latter half of the 1800s using sawdust, linseed oil, natural coloring pigments, and jute fabric for the backing. A floor like that was only affordable to the very wealthy.

PVC is currently one of the least expensive floor covering materials since it is mostly used to make linoleum. Linoleum is the best option for people who are unable to purchase more expensive flooring materials due to financial constraints.

Advantages and disadvantages

There is no perfect building material. Every one of them possesses unique advantages and disadvantages.

Carpet

A material that can be made from both natural and synthetic fibers has many benefits and drawbacks that are hard to weigh. Ultimately, they possess entirely distinct technical attributes, thereby resulting in disparate advantages and disadvantages.

As a result, we emphasize the benefits shared by all material types:

• a soft covering replaces a floor carpet, which is important for small children;
• the material brings a state of comfort and softness to the apartment;
• the variety of patterns and colors allows you to harmoniously fit the carpet into any interior, be it classic or modern high-tech;
• with proper installation and proper care, it can last at least 20 years;
• has excellent sound insulation properties;
• serves as a good insulator.

Let’s now examine the benefits of flooring composed of various materials.

1. Nylon

• has good elasticity;
• not subject to deformation – the only type of fiber that does not ripple over time with the adhesive method of fastening;
• durable;
• moisture resistant;
• does not support the open burning process;
• Easy to wash.

2. Wool

• Almost completely duplicates the expensive carpet – only specialists can distinguish in quality;
• does not require thorough preparation of the base – well hides the deficiencies of the screed;
• High wear resistance allows you to maintain the pile in its original state on the protrusions of the base of the floor;
• a huge selection of patterns and colors;
• does not burn.

3. Fabric: Polyester

• budget price;
• Simple care.

4. Polypropylene, or olefin:

• small weight;
• easy to clean;
• It does not attract dust.

The carpet’s drawbacks include:

• lack of the ability to retain the material of dismantling;
• rapid pollution;
• complex care;
• A fairly high price;
• residual traces from heavy furniture;
• The rapid development of the fungus and mold in wet rooms – the dust settled between fibers is an excellent nutrient medium.

Drawbacks specific to each kind of carpet.

1. Nylon

• static electricity accumulates;
• materials used for coloring do not belong to harmless to human health.

2. Wool

• Natural wool materials are always very expensive;
• refers to allergens materials;
• Easily dirty;
• afraid of high temperatures;
• It smells unpleasant during wet cleaning.

3. Fabric: Polyester

• Small service life – no more than 10 years;
• limited color choice;
• fat spots are not removed.

4. Olefin

• During operation, it quickly stretches-the waves are already 2-3 years after the flooring. For him, you need a hook mounting method that allows you to pull the material several times during operation – the technology allows you to do this without removing the coverage from the floor;
• easily ignited;
• limited coloring;
• Fat spots are not displayed – traces are visible until the expiration of operation.

Linoleum

The following attributes of linoleum account for its popularity:

• low price, located in the budget sector, and therefore flooring is available to every family. Even types of “elite” class linoleum can be afforded by people with below average incomes;
• durability. The material can last 20-30 years, which is confirmed by the use of linoleum floors in Khrushchev-era buildings;
• simple laying technology – can be spread on the floor without experience or theoretical knowledge;
• easy care – wash with a wet cloth. For stains that water cannot remove, you can use detergents;
• resistance to moisture, while absolute – does not get wet even by 1% when completely immersed in water for several days;
• compatibility with heated floors;
• maintaining stable adhesion to the shoe when wet – it is impossible to slip on it;
• does not conduct sound waves – one of the quietest types of flooring;
• rich design – there is a large selection of coatings on sale in color and pattern, and recently in texture.

Furthermore, linoleum is a good insulator due to its low thermal conductivity. This cannot be overlooked.

There are enough drawbacks to balance out the long list of benefits:

• the material behaves abnormally when temperature changes. In the cold it expands and moves like a wave, becoming slippery. Low-quality linoleum also becomes fragile, becoming covered with a network of small cracks. At temperatures above 27 o the heat, on the contrary, shrinks, as a result of which it can come out from under the baseboard. This is why you can often see bulges and waves on the kitchen floors in modern apartments;
• in summer, at high temperatures, specific smelling harmful substances are released;
• inconvenient for transportation: does not fit in a passenger car or elevator;
• protective film melts from hot objects: iron, cigarette butts thrown on the floor, etc.d.;

• easily damaged when moving furniture: traces remain (the problem is solved by placing plastic lids for jars, potatoes or lard skins under the legs);
• visible connecting seam for large room sizes;
• reacts with an overwhelming amount of chemicals;
• requires good preparation of the floor base – the substrate cannot hide bumps over 3 mm, as a result of which the floor in such places wears out when walking;
• Traces from black rubber are difficult to remove;
• over time, the material shrinks, causing the connecting seams to separate, turning into a dust collector.

Should the aforementioned benefits and drawbacks prove insufficient in helping you decide between carpet and linoleum, we will employ customer feedback and professional judgment to perform a comparative study of the key technical attributes of each material.

Comparison of characteristics

The following standards will be used in our comparative analysis:

• price of 1 m 2 of flooring;
• cost of flooring work;
• complexity of the technical process;
• requirements for the subfloor;
• possibility of non-destructive dismantling;
• durability;
• fire safety;
• wear resistance;
• resistance to sunlight;
• resistance to loads;
• resistance to various destructive factors;
• waterproof;
• thermal conductivity;
• noise insulation properties;
• environmental cleanliness;
• ease of care;
• which gets dirty faster;
• use for different “warm floor” systems;
• appearance.

What is more expensive

The buyer always tries to select a floor covering that fits within the budget allotted for repairs; in this situation, quality features take a backseat. Therefore, it’s crucial to know which is less expensive—carpet or linoleum—before heading to the store.

We can conclude with certainty from a price analysis of Russian products: linoleum is less expensive across a range of price points. For instance, the price ranges from 120 rubles/m2 at the minimum to 600 rubles/m2 at the maximum.

Carpet costs between 250 rubles per square meter and 7,000–7,000 rubles for a square meter.

Which is cheaper to lay?

Given that installing flooring can greatly ease financial burdens, the consumer is also interested in learning what is more costly to lay. The unprepared home craftsman is in for a big surprise here: installing a carpeted version of the floor covering is far more costly, despite its seeming simplicity. Even if you choose to do the work yourself, you will still need to purchase glue, a stiff carpet backing, and primer (the screed is processed).

Experts will agree to install carpet for 500 rubles/m 2 and linoleum for an average of 125 rubles/m 2 if you hire a group of builders with experience. The substrate’s placement and the screed’s waterproofing are ignored in both situations.

Flooring complexity

The comparison of technological processes based on their complexity is not totally accurate. Ultimately, installing linoleum doesn’t call for any specialized training or expertise. But it can be challenging to install carpet correctly. If European technology is being used, then some basic installation knowledge and the builder’s prior experience are sufficient when using glue.

It is true that glued carpet has a limited service life of 15 to 20 years; it ages gradually. Using American technology to complete a task: not every craftsman is capable of pulling on hooks. However, carpets last 20 to 30 years.

Requirements for the subfloor

About the same conditions apply to both materials: the screed needs to be dry and level. Since linoleum is rubbed in convex areas, any unevenness will show through to bare feet in the carpet. You will need to use self-leveling mixtures in both situations if there are notable height disparities.

Dismantling

Linoleum is easy to remove; just roll it up and do it. The glued carpet cannot be torn from the floor in a single piece. The work is labor-intensive and dusty at the same time. The ability to install laminate or parquet boards on top of linoleum makes it an almost perfect substrate, which is another benefit.

Durability

Regardless of the materials used to make the carpet, materials on the European continent have an approximate parity of 10 to 15 years of operation. The reason for this is that the adhesive method of attaching the covering to the floor prevents the woven fabric from being stretched too much; as a result, the canvas ages unevenly and is rapidly removed from these areas. For over twenty years, the carpet remains in functional condition due to consistent, robust pulling on the hooks.

Fire safety

In certain circumstances, both materials facilitate combustion. Linoleum is numbered G1–G4, where the numbers represent the flammability class and the letter “G” stands for flammability, depending on the chemical additives. While carpet made of polyester and olefin actively supports an open flame, carpet made of natural fiber (wool) and nylon smolders and melts.

Wear resistance

It is important to consider that carpet ages a little more quickly after prolonged walking when installing floors in public spaces. This material indicator is roughly at the same level for apartments.

Resistant to fading

Both of the inexpensive, low-cost materials deteriorate in the presence of UV light. More costly floor coverings don’t fade in the sun and retain their color.

Load resistance

Heavy furniture legs leave marks from both materials. total equality for both dynamic and static loads.

Resistant to vandalism

When exposed to heat, cigarette butts, and ash, linoleum and carpet react in the same way: they melt and leave permanent stains.

Waterproof

When it comes to flooring that resists moisture, linoleum is the clear winner. It is not restricted and can be laid in any room. Water does not scare carpet as a material. Another issue is that mold and fungus thrive in moist environments. For this reason, the kitchen, restroom, and bathroom do not use this kind of flooring.

Which is warmer

Not only does carpet feel cozier underfoot, but it also effectively retains heat; nevertheless, linoleum, with its dense structure, acts as a good insulator. In the children’s room and bedroom, carpet is superior if we base our decision solely on this metric.

Which is quieter?

Not only do linoleum and carpet effectively absorb all kinds of external noise, but they also prevent internal sounds from bouncing off the walls and ceilings. These floors are the quietest ones. Carpet still wins if the goal is to select the quietest floor, even though its advantage is negligible.

Ecological cleanliness

Clear estimates are lacking when analyzing the effects of materials on human health. For instance, many people have allergies to carpets made of natural wool. By using synthetics, the issue is resolved, but a new one arises: when they burn (smolder), toxic substances that are bad for human health are released.

Similar circumstances apply to linoleum: a young child can play on it without risk to his health. However, dangerous materials also start to leak in the event of a fire or other natural disaster.

Ease of care

You have to pay more for comfort and coziness, which comes with complex care. If all you need to clean linoleum floors is a mop, rag, and water mixed with detergent, then a washing vacuum cleaner and plenty of time are needed for carpets. Meanwhile, oily stains are either impossible to remove from practically all carpet types or can only be removed very difficultly.

What gets dirty faster

Visually, it appears as though linoleum becomes dirty more quickly. In actuality, more and faster-settling dust accumulates on the carpet pile. The fact that pollution is invisible is another issue. Here is where you need to list the carpet’s benefit: it inadvertently keeps dust off of walls, shelves, lamps, and other decorative elements by drawing dust particles onto its surface.

What material can be laid on a “warm floor”

Both kinds of flooring can have "warm floors," which are becoming more and more popular, laid underneath them. This is stated by the manufacturers in the packaging guidelines.

What"s more beautiful

It is improbable that someone will attempt to decide which looks more beautiful, carpet that mimics a carpet product or linoleum that mimics natural wood. Because each material has a unique beauty, interior designers are free to use their creativity when decorating.

What to prefer and in which room

It is recommended that ground floor new constructions have linoleum installed. After all, it’s hard to tell whether a building’s basement will be wet or dry before using it in the winter. Carpet cannot be installed in place of the old floor covering until a few years have passed and there is no longer a lot of humidity below.

Similar circumstances exist in private homes: you must install a moisture-resistant floor covering until the basement’s or the area beneath the ceiling’s humidity is known. And this is linoleum first and foremost.

If you do not intend to use other types of flooring, linoleum should also be installed in the kitchen, bathroom, and toilet due to the high humidity levels. Because of the heavy traffic (the pile wears out quickly) and dirt from the street, experts recommend linoleum in hallways. Here, though, the owners’ judgment may be used to determine how to resolve the problem. After all, a rug can be used to cover the most challenging area.

Because it creates a warm, cozy atmosphere, carpet works best in bedrooms, living rooms, and children’s rooms. Simultaneously, a natural wool carpet in the living room exudes sophistication and wealth, enabling the owners to flaunt their high degree of well-being when guests congregate on different holidays.

The decision you make for your apartment regarding carpet or linoleum will rely on your individual needs and tastes. Carpet is ideal for living rooms and bedrooms because it provides a warm, inviting atmosphere. It offers excellent insulation and is comfortable underfoot, keeping your room warm in the winter. It might not be the greatest option for locations with a lot of foot traffic or spills because it can be more difficult to clean.

Conversely, linoleum is low maintenance and long-lasting. It’s an excellent choice for areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and foyers where spills and dirt are more likely to occur. Because it is made of natural materials, linoleum is also an environmentally friendly option. Although it may not provide the same level of comfort as carpet, contemporary linoleum is available in numerous styles and can resemble more costly flooring options.

The ideal option for your apartment will ultimately rely on how you use each room and your lifestyle. Think about things like comfort, upkeep, and the style you want. You can make an informed choice that works for your home and your needs by weighing the benefits and drawbacks of both carpet and linoleum.

Video on the topic

How to choose carpet?

Carpet or linoleum. What to choose for the nursery?

Which is better carpet or linoleum