Q: What are the pluses and minus of hardwood floors upstairs?

Tags: hardwood carpet upstairs downstairs

Alycia W from
AJW Design Co
Corona, CA

A: Hardwood floors are classic

If you go with hardwood floors, (not laminate) you are investing your money wisely. It is a better investment in that you can refinish it at a later time as it wears. With carpet, it's lifetime is finite and will need to be changed as wear, dirt and sometimes as trends change. (We've all seen the pristine Hunter Green carpet that may still look brand new, but it isn't really cool anymore).

As for the noise, you would do yourself a great favor by installing a vinyl sound barrier before you install the hardwood floor. If you find that you need more sound absorption, you can always add area rugs. Better to take the time and invest the money in the things you can't see, but be able to hear a difference.

Guy H from
Universal Developing
San Carlos, CA

A:

There is no disadvantage. Some people think it is louder on the lower floor but with area rugs it works very well for the sound. Pluses easy to clean, looks great, durable, refinishes easily. Minuses would be the cost. Hardwood floors are traditionally more than carpet.

Jason G from
Gettum Associates, Inc
Greenwood, IN

A: Upstairs flooring choice

Although it would not personally bother me, some people like to carpet the upstairs because they are more likely to be walking around up there barefoot. Some would find the hardwoods to be cooler to the feet. Other than that, the durability of hardwood makes it a great choice for an upstairs.