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Office Floor Saga: Pros and Cons of using Hardwood vs. Carpet
Everyone dreams of working in a plush and luxurious office. Employers want to provide their employees with a work space that screams of luxury and efficiency. They fit their office space with great chairs, wooden desks, suave wallpapers, opulent seating area etc. However, a major part which employers neglect to focus upon is the flooring. There are many kinds of flooring that can provide an office space with the feel of grandeur.
Before deciding on the flooring, facility managers usually have to make a tough decision – to use or not to use carpets. The basic benefit of using a carpeted floor is the gloriousness and calmness, which a plush carpet provides. However, the issue faced is the movement of the chairs. We all know that office chairs usually have wheels to aid in movement. With carpets covering the floor regular wheels get stuck or worse tear the carpet causing marginal damage.
However, this can be avoided by replacing traditional wheel sets with rubber casters. A word of advice here is to look for the original rubber casters and not go in for cheap rip offs. An original rubber wheel caster would work smoothly on every kind of floor and will come with a lifetime warranty.
Hardwood floors are the epitome of luxury. The clickety-click of heels against the floors makes a pleasant powerful sound which work for a lot of people. However, the plush feel of carpets under the shoes is a feeling which should not be ignored. Carpets definitely give a more expensive feel than hardwood in some cases. So let’s discuss the features of both hardwood flooring and carpets.
Features of Hardwood Floors and Carpets
- Timeless appeal
No one can argue about the appeal and attraction of hardwood flooring. The best part is that it tends to give more grace with ageing. Apart from providing a rich look to the interior, hardwood floors tend to complement any style of designing.
In contrast, carpets tend to fray and fade with age. Regardless of the quality of the carpet, if it is fitted on the floor for a long time, it would start to lose its shine and will appear dull.
- Shelf life
Hardwood flooring in some cases is known to last a lifetime with minimal caring. Other kinds of floors tend to look shabby with wear and tear due to stains, holes etc. However, hardwood floors actually look better as the years go by.
In comparison, due to the ageing nature of carpets, they do not have a long life. The shelf life of a carpet can be compared to that of the clothes we wear. Even after tremendous care, clothes tend to fade, which is the same with carpets.
- Odors
Where there are people, there is bound to be accidents with spillages, dirty shoes etc. Some offices work 24 X 7 and cleaning becomes a difficult task. With hardwood flooring, not only is cleaning easier but it makes the environment more hygienic. Spills and dirt on a carpet is a nightmare to any housekeeping personnel. If a spill is not cleaned in time, it tends to get absorbed in the fabric of the carpet leaving horrible stains and sometimes equally horrible smells. The aroma of a polished wooden floor is a treat to the senses.
- Heating
Many offices are looking for new and cost efficient ways to provide heating in an office. Woods provide a very good medium for the installation of heating under the floor. Under floor heating pose a security risk with carpeted flooring.
However, carpets in themselves with the right fabric tend to be good insulators which would aid in bringing the heating bill down marginally.
- Maintenance
Hardwood flooring requires regular polishing with a good quality polish every 2 – 3 years. In an office environment with heavy footfall the frequency might be higher with the floors requiring a good polish every year. The labor and polish costs can be tremendously inflating the yearly repair and maintenance costs. The best part of carpeted floors is the frequency with which they need to be changed. This does not leave any room for maintenance. A carpeted floor might need regular maintenance, which an in-house housekeeping professional would be able to do with ease.
- Pests
Pests are common in every office. Termites prove to be a huge and costly threat to hardwood flooring. It is imperative that precautions be taken with regular cleaning. The common pests that tend to like carpets can be easily eradicated with a regular pest cleaning service which is mandatory for most office spaces. However, even if there are some left in the carpet, these tend to die with regular steam cleaning and vacuuming. Thus, leaving your office gloriously pest free.
Carpets and Hardwood flooring both have their own advantages and disadvantages. The decision between the two should be made keeping in mind the following factors: –
- Budget
Carpets are definitely cheaper than hardwood floors. A whole office can be fitted with a nylon carpet of high quality in probably half the cost it would take to fit the same with hardwood.
- Noise
Although the sound of heels clicking on the floor is good sometimes, hear it for long and it gets grating on the nerves. Carpets are a great choice if you want a hush-hush environment in the workplace.
- Feel
Hardwood floors are hard and continuous use can lead to a strain on the feet especially heels. Women tend to choose looks over comfort while picking footwear and they will definitely thank you for a carpeted work area.
- Investment Period
Hardwood floors are the best investment if you are looking for a long term period. They last longer and if maintained properly look better as they age. Carpets, on the other hand, though cheaper initially need to be replaced more often.
- Installation Time
If you hard pressed for time, then going for carpeted floors would be better than waiting for hardwood flooring. Hardwood flooring needs time in installation as it needs to be nailed down, glued or clicked in place. Carpets on the other hand are faster, easier and cheaper to install.
Your heart might want to go with carpets but your head might say hardwood. Carpets have a nice sheen and look to them whereas hardwood floors have a bare minimum look which speaks of luxury and richness.
My Lifelong office.chair wheels operate perfectly, just as promised. I can’t ask for more!
Your office chair wheels are amazing! Now that my “new normal” is working from home more days than not, I decided to upgrade my office chair wheels to protect my flooring. I am so glad I did! Not only are they safer for my floor, they offer a soft easy glide. The only way I can describe the feel is that it is like when driving a car, the old wheels were like driving on an old worn out road. These new wheels give me the feeling like when I drive on a freshly paved road for the first time. That silky smooth feeling under the tires. I no longer struggle with my chair trying to get to the position I need. The wheels spin and rotate freely. I am a fan for life!
The Lifelong office chair wheels I bought for my wife are the greatest gift I ever gave her. I made husband points that you can’t believe. She picked up the box from our front step and put them on herself. They are smoother than silk and don’t mark the floor. She can move effortlessly from one point to another. You make one of the greatest products I have ever purchased. Thank you so much!
Got your wheels today absolutely love them!
I received my wheels today and immediately installed them. They are awesome! Thank you.,
Your Wheels came quickly from Amazon Prime and I installed them within minutes. Very nice construction. The chair rolls much better than with the old wheels. Thanks for the quality.
I bought an expensive leather chair for my home office. For the price I paid the wheels stiff and clunky. I decided to try your wheels and glad that I did. Your wheel work great over carpet and tile floors. Smooth forward and reverse diction changes are a blessing. I will definitely recommends your company to friends.
Thanks Ed
Just installed my wheels. They are working great!
Thank you,
I just received my set of 5 office chair wheels in black. Removed the originals and snapped on the new ones. Now I have an effortless glide over the carpet (short pile). Will be refinishing the hardwood underneath soon and these wheels will be even better. I got what was ordered and am very pleased. Thank you.
Just installed my wheels in a chair I have had for years that did not quite roll right with the plastic wheels the chair came with. The Life long wheels are great, easy to enstall and now the chair moves smoothly across the floor.
Thank you,
We just refinished the hardwood floors in our home, and my wife and I both work primarily from home. I was researching floor mats and discovered your product during my search… let’s just say that I’ll never use a floor mat again! Installation of your wheels was super easy, and I love how smoothly they glide on our beautiful floor, without leaving any marks!
I have already recommended your wheels to friends and colleagues. Congratulations on an excellent product!
I can’t tell you how much I love these wheels I thought I was going to have to buy a new chair but saw these and decided to try them instead.. couldn’t be happier. very smooth and easy Thank you
Phyllis Lanier
I bought two sets of Office Chair Wheels. They are wonderful. I am using them on office chairs, obviously, on vinyl plank floors in my home office. They were easy to install; they smoothly glide on the floor. I’m glad I made this purchase. You need to buy a set an see the difference.
I tried a set of LifeLong wheels in my newly finished computer room. Didn’t want to put down one of those ugly plastic pads. They are the very best I’ve ever experienced. I bought a set for my daughter who now works full time from home. She has a combination of hardwood and carpet in her office area. Needless to say, she loves them. I then bought a set for my husband’s chair in his garage. Just what he needed.
If you haven’t bought them yet….what are you waiting for?! They are the best on any floor.
I just had my first purchase with Lifelong Wheels for office chair castors for my office. They are fantastic! They came in a timely manner and packaged beautifully.
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I received my laptop stand this week and I love it! it is durable and easy to use. It also looks great on my desk.
My wheels arrived today and they are wonderful! What a treat to roll around!
I truly appreciate the prompt mailing, the customer service email from Amy, and the outstanding product!
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