Flooring: Worth the extra labor cost for porcelain?

[Isaak Brown]

I am renovating a 4plex, for rental units. Tearing out carpet, and based on the great threads here, was planning to porcelain. My floor guy said the extra labor cost to lay down porcelain isn't worth it, and recommended vinyl plank. He said plank takes 1 day, porcelain could take 3. 

Thoughts/experience between the two?

Isaak

[JD Martin]

Porcelain looks great but I would not use it in a kitchen. I won't even use it in my own kitchen anymore. I am on the 2nd (porcelain) tile floor in my own kitchen over 20 years, and even with 3/4 subfloor, cement board, high strength thinset with flex agent, there are still about 6 or 7 hairline cracked tiles from where something heavy has been dropped on them - errant can, hot pot, milk jar, etc. Bathroom, that's a different story, and I love using tile in bathroom.

Either way, the new vinyl is fantastic for rentals. I doubt you make the extra money back on a 4 plex by going with tile. I have been using the vinyl planks or the large Allure adhesive-edge vinyl 3 foot tiles lately, and the tenants actually seem to prefer them as they are simple to keep clean and hard to destroy.