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Flooring Type Comparison
The average home has about 62% of the floor space covered with carpet with the balance divided among the other surfaces. Laminate has not been included as of yet, but its characteristics are usually a hybrid between sheet vinyl and wood. Although the chart presents the average, exceptions exist. We hope these general product comparisons will help you optimize your space. Please be sure to check out our decorating guide to learn more about texture and other cosmetic factors.
| Cost Per Square Foot? | ||
| Carpet | Low/High for Tufted Goods; High/Very High for Woven Goods | |
| Tile & Marble | High/Very High, Especially for Stone | |
| V.C.T. | Moderate | |
| Sheet Vinyl | Moderate/High | |
| Wood | Very High | |
| Custom & Oriental Style Rugs | High/Very High | |
| Prestige & Affluence? | ||
| Carpet | Moderate/Good for Tufted Goods; Great for Woven Goods | |
| Tile & Marble | Good/Great for Tile; Great for Stone | |
| V.C.T. | Moderate | |
| Sheet Vinyl | Moderate/Good | |
| Wood | Good/Great | |
| Custom & Oriental Style Rugs | Good/Great | |
| Texture and Color Options? | ||
| Carpet | Great | |
| Tile & Marble | Good | |
| V.C.T. | Moderate | |
| Sheet Vinyl | Good | |
| Wood | Good | |
| Custom & Oriental Style Rugs | Great | |
| Mixing Colors? | ||
| Carpet | Many Predetermined Patterns Available; Mixing is Hard | |
| Tile & Marble | Pattern Possibilities Endless | |
| V.C.T. | Pattern Possibilities Endless | |
| Sheet Vinyl | Many Predetermined Patterns Available | |
| Wood | Pattern Possibilities Endless | |
| Custom & Oriental Style Rugs | Many Predetermined Patterns Available | |
| Touch - Soft/Hard? | ||
| Carpet | Very Soft | |
| Tile & Marble | Very Hard | |
| V.C.T. | Hard | |
| Sheet Vinyl | Mild Hard | |
| Wood | Hard | |
| Custom & Oriental Style Rugs | Very Soft | |
| Noise Level? | ||
| Carpet | Very Quiet | |
| Tile & Marble | Noisy | |
| V.C.T. | Noisy | |
| Sheet Vinyl | Low Noise | |
| Wood | Noisy | |
| Custom & Oriental Style Rugs | Very Quiet | |
| Home Insulation? | ||
| Carpet | Very Warm | |
| Tile & Marble | Very Cold | |
| V.C.T. | Very Cold | |
| Sheet Vinyl | Cold | |
| Wood | Cold | |
| Custom & Oriental Style Rugs | Warm | |
| Response to Moisture? | ||
| Carpet | Absorbs; May Grow Mildew | |
| Tile & Marble | Repeals | |
| V.C.T. | Repeals | |
| Sheet Vinyl | Repeals; May Grow Mildew | |
| Wood | Repeals; May Suffer Swelling and Cupping | |
| Custom & Oriental Style Rugs | Absorbs; Dries Easily | |
| Stain Resistance & Ease of Cleaning? | ||
| Carpet | Moderate | |
| Tile & Marble | Great for Tile; Good for Stone | |
| V.C.T. | Good | |
| Sheet Vinyl | Good | |
| Wood | Good | |
| Custom & Oriental Style Rugs | Moderate | |
| Surface Resistance? | ||
| Carpet | Vulnerable to Matting | |
| Tile & Marble | Vulnerable to Scratches, Chipping and Cracking | |
| V.C.T. | Vulnerable to Scratches, Chipping and Cracking | |
| Sheet Vinyl | Vulnerable to Scratches and Cuts | |
| Wood | Vulnerable to Dents and Scratches | |
| Custom & Oriental Style Rugs | Very Good | |
| Acceptable Installation Locations? | ||
| Carpet | Indoor & Outdoor | |
| Tile & Marble | Indoor & Outdoor | |
| V.C.T. | Indoor | |
| Sheet Vinyl | Indoor | |
| Wood | Indoor | |
| Custom & Oriental Style Rugs | Indoor | |
| Professional Installation or Do-It-Yourself (DIY)? | ||
| Carpet | Professional Installation | |
| Tile & Marble | DIY Possible for Tile; Professional for Stone | |
| V.C.T. | DIY Possible | |
| Sheet Vinyl | Professional Installation | |
| Wood | DIY Possible | |
| Custom & Oriental Style Rugs | N/A | |
| Residential Installation Time? | ||
| Carpet | 1-2 Days | |
| Tile & Marble | 2+ Days | |
| V.C.T. | 1-2 Days | |
| Sheet Vinyl | 1 Day | |
| Wood | 1+ Day | |
| Custom & Oriental Style Rugs | 30 Minutes | |
| Floor Preparation Required? | ||
| Carpet | Very Little | |
| Tile & Marble | Moderate | |
| V.C.T. | Very Much | |
| Sheet Vinyl | Very | |
| Wood | Much | |
| Custom & Oriental Style Rugs | N/A | |
| Follow-Up Finish? | ||
| Carpet | Vacuum 4 Hours Later | |
| Tile & Marble | Seal Grout 1 Week Later | |
| V.C.T. | Wax 10 Days Later | |
| Sheet Vinyl | Mop 3 Days Later | |
| Wood | Swept or Buffed | |
| Custom & Oriental Style Rugs | N/A | |
| Professional Maintenance Required? | ||
| Carpet | Cleaning | |
| Tile & Marble | Grout & Tile Cleaning; Stone Polishing | |
| V.C.T. | Stripping, Waxing & Sealing | |
| Sheet Vinyl | None | |
| Wood | Buffing and Refinishing | |
| Custom & Oriental Style Rugs | Cleaning | |
All Materials are Copyrighted © 2000
by Wolfe Flooring, Inc. of Tampa, FL 33637 All rights reserved.
A Full Service Flooring Company: Sales, Installation, Maintenance & Repairs
Carpet, Rugs, Hardwood, Laminate, Ceramic, Stone, Vinyl, Rubber, VCT
Serving Temple Terrace, Tampa, Brandon, and Surrounding Communities
of Tampa Bay in Central Florida
813-989-2101 or 813-989-2831
Designed by Morning Star Interactive, Inc.
