Carpet vs Timber Flooring: The Complete Comparison Guide
Still stuck between choosing carpet or timber for your next flooring project?
Well, considering that either option can look amazing in any home, we see this dilemma all the time.
But we have a trick for choosing wisely: it’s to weigh various factors beyond the aesthetics. Specifically, things like cost, maintenance, customisability, and much more.
That’s exactly what we’ll do in this complete comparison guide.
We’ll break down everything you need to know about each choice. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of which flooring will suit your home best—not just aesthetically speaking, but taking all factors into consideration.
Carpet vs. Timber Flooring: Overview
To make sure we’re covering everything about these two popular flooring options, let’s first break down what carpets and timber flooring actually are.
What are Carpets?
Carpets are soft yet durable floor coverings, made by weaving or tufting different materials together.
Traditionally, they were crafted exclusively from natural fibres like wool or goat hair. But these days, many carpets are also made with synthetic fibres, since they’re quicker and cheaper to produce.
However, as we explained in our wool vs nylon carpets guide, wool carpets are still considered superior in terms of quality, comfort, and longevity when compared to synthetic options.
Carpets come in a huge range of colours, textures, and patterns. If you’re struggling to choose the right one, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to buying carpets for Australian homes.
What is Timber Flooring?
Timber flooring is partially or fully made using real timber (wood).
It’s a popular flooring type that’s known for its natural aesthetic, durability, and ability to add value to homes. While traditional options use 100% wood planks, there are now engineered timber or oak flooring that feature a real timber surface but with multiple non-wood layers to maximise stability.
Comparing Carpet vs. Timber Flooring Based On 5 Key Factors
Time to cover specific factors that’ll help you choose between carpet and timber flooring.
Aesthetics
One of the biggest differences between carpet and timber is their aesthetics—the vibe they bring to a room. Carpet adds a sense of cosiness and comfort, while timber offers a natural, timeless aesthetic.
Of course, either option can help you achieve the aesthetic you’re aiming for. So this isn’t really a factor with a clear, distinct winner.
And good news—you can customise both flooring types, too.
For carpets, you can personalise the colour, plush type, pile height, and patterns to perfectly fit your space.
Timber flooring, whether it’s natural or engineered, is also highly customisable. You can choose between different species of timber or oak and adjust the plank size, finish, and texture.
Regardless of your choice, we always recommend taking home a sample of your preferred flooring. Seeing it in a showroom versus in your actual space makes a world of difference.
Cost
Carpets are generally more affordable than timber. Wool carpets start at around $200 per lineal metre, with high-end ones costing only about $300 per lineal metre.
In comparison, solid or engineered timber planks typically cost anywhere from $150m2 to $300m2 per square metre.
Longevity
Hands down–timber flooring wins the overall longevity game. Engineered timber can last over 3 decades, and solid timber can stay with you for over 100 years. Assuming, of course, that proper maintenance is followed.
Now, carpets may not be able to compete with solid timber’s longevity, but just like engineered timber, wool carpets can last longer than 25 years.
Synthetic carpets, though, have a shorter lifespan of only 5 to 15 years (can be shorter).
Note: Your flooring’s longevity will mostly depend on how well you maintain it. Even the best timber can’t last a century if neglected. Likewise, wool carpets can outlast timber flooring if well-maintained.
Maintenance
Timber is a little easier to maintain than carpets. Dust or dirt usually just sits on the surface, so with a quick sweep or vacuuming, it’s gone. Spills don’t seep through either, so you can just wipe away accidents.
But you do still need to be careful. Scratches and moisture are the biggest enemies of timber.
Regarding long-term maintenance, timber flooring requires refinishing. While this can be somewhat expensive, it’s typically only necessary every 7 to 10 years.
How about carpets?
Well, carpets have a reputation for being hard to maintain, but really, if you choose wool carpets—which are naturally dirt-repellent and durable—the workload won’t be too heavy.
You’ll need to vacuum regularly (as often as once a day in high-traffic areas), but timber flooring needs that, too.
Carpets aren’t as forgiving with spills, though. You’ll have to attend to them quickly, using the right cleaning agents if you want to prevent stains from setting in.
For long-term maintenance, it’s highly recommended to have carpets professionally cleaned once a year to keep them fresh in the long run.
Water Resistance
Neither carpets nor timber flooring offers strong water resistance.
Wool carpets absorb moisture, and spills that sit on timber flooring too long can swell, cup, or stain the planks. Engineered timber is slightly more water-resistant than solid timber, but it’s still not recommended for water-prone areas.
Because of this, neither carpets nor timber flooring is recommended for spaces like bathrooms, kitchens, and laundries. Your best alternatives are tiles, vinyl plank flooring, and hybrid plank flooring.
Which is Better: Carpets or Timber Flooring?
Comfy wool or classy wood?
Well, this decades-long debate is something even we, who’ve worked as a flooring retailer for 40+ years, cannot answer.
As you’ve read, both of these flooring options have stark differences in aesthetics, cost, maintenance, and longevity. So, the best choice really comes down to your preferences, lifestyle, and expectations.
Choose the Perfect Flooring With Middleton’s Carpets
Choosing the right flooring is no easy decision. You pay for it once, and live with the choice for decades—and if you’re lucky enough, even a century.
Moments like this are when having a flooring expert by your side really counts.
So, why don’t you give us a call for a no-strings-attached flooring consultation?
We’re the Middleton’s Carpets team, a group exclusively made up of locals who each have years of flooring expertise. And yes—we’ll be more than happy to discuss your flooring project or need!
Let us walk you through our showroom that’s exclusively made up of high-quality timber planks, wool carpets, and other premium flooring options!