When managing your rental property, finding the right flooring will determine the cost and labor you regularly put into the home. The right flooring can save you both time and money.

Consider cost and durability when making your decision for each room of your property.

Here’s your guide to which flooring is right for you:

• Carpet 

Carpet is the go-to for flooring in living rooms and bedroom areas. However, carpeting also wears down quickly and needs consistent professional cleaning to maintain a pleasant appearance. For rental properties, you may want to avoid carpet everywhere but the bedrooms, as other options are much more durable. 

If you’re renting a multi-family unit, carpeting can be important for cutting down on sound. In this case, find a durable carpet that is non-absorbent. A higher yarn-twist means the carpet is more durable. Invest in highly-durable carpet or be prepared to replace the carpeting at each turnover. And do NOT put carpet in kitchens or bathrooms. 

• Engineered Hardwood

If you want a good, durable alternative to carpeting that also is efficient at absorbing sound, consider engineered hardwood. This is more expensive than laminate, but also often looks better as it uses a veneer of actual wood. Of course, that means dealing with the scratches and discoloration that word flooring can accumulate. Incorrect cleaning practices can lead to damage that can’t be sanded away as it could with actual hardwood. 

With this option, you get durable flooring with the look of hardwood, but it will need careful attention if you want it to last a long time. 

• Hardwood

This is a highly desirable flooring option that looks great in any home. Hardwood is neat, highly durable, and easy to maintain if you are using the right cleaners. Hardwood is sought after for its relative softness compared to some other solid flooring types like stone or tile, and simply having it in your home can boost the value of your property.

The biggest drawback to hardwood is the price tag. You might spend a lot up front for hardwood, but that money might just come back to you in the limited maintenance needed to keep hardwood flooring looking new. Sand and refinish to revitalize the look of your hardwood floors.

• Laminate

Laminate is great for its affordability and its versatility. Because the surface detail and texture can look so much like stone or hardwood without the cost, laminate has earned its popularity. With this flooring option comes a range in quality that can get you a great to so-so product with which issues like noise, lack of water resistance, and underfoot “pop” can be a problem. Be sure to read product reviews before deciding on your laminate.

Laminate flooring is extremely durable—less so than hardwood, but much more affordable. Depending on your property and budget, this might be your best option.  

• Tile

Tile is perfect in areas of your home where beautiful, waterproof flooring is most needed. You can get tile in a variety of materials, but you’ll want scratch-resistant ceramic for the busier rooms in your home like your kitchen and entry ways. 

However, tile can be expensive, and with its hardness, cold retention, and lack of noise absorption it may not be the best choice for you depending on your property. 

• Vinyl

This durable and affordable flooring option is highly popular for bathroom and kitchen areas. Because it is both cheap and water resistant, vinyl makes sense in areas of your property where water is a concern. It’s also much softer than tile or wood, easier to spend time on with bare feet. 

However, vinyl can be difficult to replace and will be scratched and torn by sharp or heavy objects. This isn’t the best choice for boosting your property values.

You can also go for luxury vinyl tile, which can be more expensive depending on style but might also be more durable and easier to install. Go for a floating option that doesn’t require gluing down, so replacement is easier when the time comes. 

Making your flooring decision

No matter your situation, the flooring in your property is going to affect your property values and the money and maintenance you put into your property. You want to analyze each flooring option by what’s right for you. Want durable, beautiful flooring without the cost of hardwood? Consider laminate. Want cheap, water-resistant flooring that will reduce noise? Look into vinyl flooring. There’s no single right answer, but by understanding your options, you can make an informed decision on what’s best for your property. 

For more information of rental properties and renovations, contact 208.properties today.