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[Twins Mom]

Deliberating between keeping carpeting in family room and dining areas or changing to wood.  I know the trend is wood or wood-like materials.  I am concerned that without carpeting, the noise level will increase in the home.  Any comments from those of you who have experienced?  Thanks.  

[ahoymate]

Why the noise concern? If you live in a condo or apt., then yes, carpet the area. The noise is very disturbing to those who may live below you.

If not, I'd use wood for the dining area vs. carpet. Family room, up to you. But do remember, wood floors are high maintenance. My entire living area is wood floors. A lot of work. You can see everything that's on the floor; dust, crumbs. Daily work.

Best to you.

[NickNack]

@Twins Mom   I had wall to wall carpet in my house.  About 15 years ago I took it out and have laminate floors to look like wood put in.  I love it.  The noise level did not increase that I can recall.  I did put an area rug in the living room and in the master bedroom.  I don't think you'd regret going with hardwood.

[Meowingkitty]

You couldn't pay me to have carpet. We have tile and wood and the only noise level increase is probably if you drop something. Then it can be loud but how often do you drop stuff?

[Nightowlz]

We installed engineered hardwoods since that's what they said we needed being on slab. They make a glue here to use that has a moisture barrier in it. It's $150 per bucket. Took 2 buckets to do 1 room. At least there was no odor. I have not noticed any noise difference in the house with them vs carpet. We also have tile. The sales clerk told us the flooring we picked cost more than a lot of wood flooring. We have not had any problems with it. They used some kind of ratchet straps to keep it together.

I don't have to do daily work to keep up with mine. I use a Dyson with fluffy head to vacuum. Use a microfiber mop with Pledge floorcare spray.

[Kachina624]

I changed my wall to wall carpeting to hard flooring (cork) a few years ago and have regretted it.  The hard flooring, which is a medium tone, seems to show every speck of dirt, dust, hair and leaves, the stuff dogs track in.  Carpeting shows much less and is so easy to just vacuum.

[ID2]

I have wood floor throughout my home (except bathrooms). I have lived in several houses, through the years, that always were carpeted. I feel that my house now is soooooo much cleaner!! I realize now how dirty my other houses were because of only vacuuming a few times a week surely didn't get up all of the dust and dirt. When I vacuum my wood floors now, I do it daily and every single day I have to empty the receptical it has so much dust, cat hair, etc. We have a few large area rugs to help softens the echo effect. 

[mimomof4]

We took out carpeting in our home in favor of the natural wood which was originally part of our home.  Even with 4 kids the noise is no different.  The main difference is how much cleaner looking it is and no worry about worn down carpeting.

[ItsME]

I would not have carpet.  I have allergies, and carpets trap allergens.  Hard flooring, be it tile, laminate or wood are also easier to keep clean.   .....  I mean really clean.  Vacuuming might make a carpet look better, but unless you are you are shampooing them regularly, they are not as clean as when you are washing floors.

[Kitlynn]

We have hardwood floors in our kitchen, entryway and hall. Carpet in our library, living room, family room and bedrooms. Tile in our dining room. I love the combination of all of it. It is just a matter of what you really like and also how much traffic each room gets. Of course only my husband and myself live here so that might make a difference on the maintenance and the noise level.