Replies

1. 
   ChrisG1 | Sep 05, 2005 12:56am | #1

   The choice is up to you, whichever you find more comfortable, both to look at and to walk on.

2. 
   WayneL5 | Sep 05, 2005 01:27am | #2

   It's a personal decision for you.  Both can be good choices.  People with allergies tend to favor hard surfaces like wood.  Most people, though, I think appreciate the coziness and quietness of wall to wall carpeting in bedrooms.

   When I built my house I put a medium quality in the spare rooms and a fairly top end carpet in the master (e.g. my) bedroom, including a pretty high quality pad.  It was a noticeable difference above the tract home builder's cheapo that's in my current house.

1. 
   Dinosaur | Sep 05, 2005 06:20am | #3

   (Edit: Sorry Wayne--I meant to post this to the O.P.)

    

   Put in the hardwood floor. Carpet is not part of a house; it is part of the furnishing. Would you skip putting casing on the windows because you were planning to hang drapes or curtains?

   You would not want to have a future buyer sue you for a hidden vice (no finished floors) 7 years after you sold it to him, would you? That could happen....

   Dinosaur

   A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...

   But it is not this day.

   Edited 9/4/2005 11:22 pm ET by Dinosaur

3. 
   Dinosaur | Sep 05, 2005 06:23am | #4

   Please see my post to WayneL, above. I goofed on the TO: button. Sorry 'bout that....

   Dinosaur

   A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...

   

   But it is not this day.

4. 
   JeffBuck | Sep 05, 2005 09:44am | #5

   myself ... I like wood floors.

   I also like carpeting in bedrooms.

   and although I've never built my own home from scratch ... I know budgets are not unlimited.

   I'm betting laying carpet on the subfloor is the cheapest option for the time being.

   Or ... hardwood with area rugs.

   me ... I'd go with the carpet on the subfloor. Hardwood can always be added later .. if ever at all. Is the hallway to be hardwood? If so ... minor matter of thresholds at the door ways.

    

   If U do go with the carpet. Pick a decent mid level carpet ... and up grade to the vesy best pad that suits that carpet. And make sure the carpet install includes full carpet stretching ... not just a knee kick ... but a full stretch. Then ... keep up with the scheduled carpet cleaning. I'm a big fan of steam cleaning very 6 to 12 months.

   That cleaning .... at least after the very first year ... should include stretching first then the actual cleaning. Doing all this ... can double the lifetime of a carpet.

   The better pad will really make a difference too. If U can afford the best carpet ... do it. If not ... don't go too cheap ... but spend the little extra money and get the best pad available.

   Jeff

       Buck Construction

    Artistry In Carpentry

        Pittsburgh Pa

5. 
   traini | Sep 05, 2005 04:17pm | #6

   RE: Hardwood floors vs. Carpet in Bedroom

   The value of a home is always higher with all Hardwood floors. I know many a house that has removed the carpet and either refinished or installed hardwood when the house was to be put on the market.

   I would always vote for hardwood

   George

1. 
   Chae | Sep 05, 2005 04:45pm | #7

   Hardwood for me as well, especially other areas in the same level is hardwood. I just like the way it looks and it cleans up nice too. Carpet could look nice and clean but it could hide a lot of things.I like hardwood so much I'm completely against the idea of area rugs. I can't see why you'd pay extra for nice hardwood and then pay more money for an expensive area rug to cover up the hardwood. Then again, maybe I'm just cheap.

6. 
   frenchy | Sep 05, 2005 06:27pm | #8

   casshs,

      I'm using hardwoods in all my rooms because I buy it cheaper than I can have carpeting installed.  I have access to hardwoods very cheap and already own  the euipment to turn rough sawn boards into flooring so it's a no brainer decision for me.. heck all it will take is some labor and I can do that at my own pace..

     As for the comfort part,  well I am using radiant floors to keep my toes warm and toasty, but if you aren't and or going for forced air or something HARDWOOD FLOORS TEND TO BE CHILLY ON WINTER MORNINGS..

      I plan on using rugs in certain ares since I can get tired of something and it's much cheaper and easier to toss down a rug than to pull up carpet and reinstall carpet.  

7. 
   woodguy99 | Sep 05, 2005 06:39pm | #9

   It's up to you, but personally I hate stinky, dirty wall-to-wall carpeting.  Ever tear up a carpet?  It's pretty gross what's under there.  In the house we just bought we tore up the wall-to-wall in the bedrooms and painted the subfloor with floor enamel.  When we have some extra time and money we'll install hardwood to match the rest of the house.  Wood floors add value and class to any house; carpeting is just something else that needs to be replaced eventually.

    

   Mike

1. 
   Grizzly | Sep 05, 2005 07:04pm | #10

   My vote is hardwood...then accessorize with a tasteful runner. Its a better investment. I'm in the middle of pulling all my carpets and putting in hardwood and it never ceases to amaze me all the crap laying below the surface of the carpet. My 2 cents.

   Byron