There are nearly endless options available, when it comes to flooring. But the most commonly asked question when someone is doing a floor job is – How to choose the best flooring option? And we totally get it! Since a floor has to bear all the burden of your house, it must be durable enough to take it!
In Dubai’s hot and humid environment, along with its modern interiors and high-rise living, a floor goes just beyond looks. Its performance actually impacts the room temperature, building’s energy efficiency and overall ambiance. To make things easy, Mosque Carpet has got you a comparison guide between vinyl flooring and carpet. It will help you choose the best one among the two top trending flooring options.
What Is Vinyl Flooring & What Is Carpet Flooring?
Before we move ahead and compare these two flooring options, let’s have a quick overview about what they actually are:
Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring is the trendiest flooring option that is preferred for its wide range of design options and high durability. A vinyl plank or tile is made of synthetic materials, mainly PVC, with a wear layer on top that can resist the elements, making vinyl a highly adaptable flooring choice.
Carpet Flooring
A carpet is widely used for its comfort and luxury appeal. It is made from both natural and synthetic fibres like nylon, acrylic, polyester and wool, offering different characteristics and a wide range of designs and patterns.
Vinyl Flooring Vs. Carpet: Choosing the Best One
Vinyl and carpet, both flooring options have their own characteristics. So here’s a quick comparison between the two that would help you settle for the perfect option.
- Durability
Vinyl flooring is highly durable as it is specifically designed for high-traffic areas. It comes with a thick wear layer that helps it resist stains and scratches. Plus, it is also resistant to water and easy to maintain through damp mopping.
Carpets, on the other hand, are moderately durable, and the durability majorly depends on the fiber the carpet is made of. Some carpets, such as nylon and polyester ones, are more resistant to wear and stain than others. But compared to vinyl, they usually wear out faster, especially in humid and sandy areas.
- Maintenance
Maintenance is another significant aspect while choosing a flooring because it does demand effort and expenses too. Vinyl flooring is quite low maintenance as it can easily resist scratches, stains and even furniture impact. And any spills can be easily cleaned with a wet mop.
But carpets are not this easy to clean and delicate ones can be quite high maintenance. In most cases, you have to regularly vacuum your carpet along with occasional deep cleaning to maintain its high-end look. Plus, carpets are not water resistant, so they’ll absorb water and can even get hard-to-clean stains.
- Comfort
Vinyl flooring mimics tile or wood flooring. Which means it feels smooth and firm underfoot. And just like tiles, it might also feel cold due to continuous AC. However, it still offers a reasonable level of comfort.
So if you’re someone looking for a soft, satisfying and full-coverage floor covering, then carpet might be for you. Their soft and warm fibers feel soft and cozy underfoot, even if you walk barefoot, offering a high level of relaxation and fatigue reduction.
- Heat & Humidity Resistance
For extreme environments such as in Dubai, sheet vinyl flooring is an excellent flooring option as it does not absorb moisture or heat. Similarly, it can handle exposure to constant air conditioning without getting damaged.
All in all, vinyl will keep your flooring cool and won’t get damaged by any factor. But carpet can absorb moisture and has poor resistance to temperature changes, heat and humidity.
- Aesthetics
Whether you decide on installing vinyl sheet flooring or carpets, both options are famous for their own kinds of aesthetics. Vinyl gets designed to mimic the look of stone, wood and tile. So if you want a modern and sleek look for your interiors, you can consider this option.
Similarly, Vinyl Carpet Dubai offers a luxurious look and it can add warmth and texture to any room with its plush feel. Carpet is also a more traditional and classic option that is widely used for comfortable sitting in mosques and majalis.
- Allergy Friendliness
The best thing about vinyl flooring is its high resistance to dust, mites and pests. Although it mimics wood in looks, it is highly resistant to water. And this prevents the growth of mold, mildew or bacteria, making it hypoallergenic. At the same time, carpets can trap dust, pollen and allergens. And that makes them a bad option for health-conscious people or those suffering from allergies.
- Affordibility
Among all the different properties of carpet and vinyl flooring, another significant aspect that you need to consider is their cost-effectiveness.
When it comes to cost, vinyl flooring costs more upfront, whereas carpet is cheaper. But if you see the long-term benefits and maintenance, vinyl is the best flooring option as it requires less maintenance compared to carpet flooring.
- Installation
Flooring installation is another factor that you must consider, especially if you plan on DIY fitting. Vinyl flooring is the easiest to install as it comes with click & lock or peel & stick features.
Carpet flooring is slightly more complex to install as it needs proper measurements, underlayment fitting and resizing too. Plus, the carpet is heavier and needs to be stretched for a proper installation, so it might require two or more people for perfect results.
Final Thoughts: Which Flooring Is Best For You?
Vinyl and carpet, both flooring options, have their own perks and downsides. Though vinyl flooring has more advantages compared to carpets, when you need to choose the right floor for your space, you still need to consider a few factors, especially your space’s requirements, your lifestyle and most importantly the climate. If you want a modern and sleek look, vinyl would be the perfect option for most of your floors. But for spaces such as living rooms, majalis and mosques that need maximum comfort, carpet flooring is the best choice to go for.