Rental Property Investor · Cincinnati, OH · Member since 2017 · 58 posts · 48 votes
I’ve searched the forums and can’t find anything this specific so if this is redundant, I apologize. I’m getting ready to start a rehab on a duplex I just bought and I’ve been getting quotes on flooring. Each unit has an upstairs kitchen, large dining room and downstairs living room which I’ve decided to use vinyl planks on. After looking at Home Depot and Lowes, I’m trying to decide if the thicker vinyl planks are worth the extra $1ish per sq ft.
Here’s what I’m looking at:
1) Allure Traffic Master. $1.69/ sq ft. 3.8mm thickness.
2) Lifeproof. $2.99/sq ft. 6.5 mm thickness.
Does anyone prefer to go with the thicker vinyl? If so, why? Also, does anybody have any experience with vinyl flooring and stairs? Which products would you recommend? I’m willing to spend a little more on the stairs if it will last. Thanks.
When looking at LVP, there are different aspects to consider, the top 3 from me are:
1. Installation type: glue down, click, floating, etc. I prefer click system. Glue down is cheaper (material), but more expensive to installs and, if not done correctly, they can peel.
2. Wear layer: this is what tells you how resistant your floor is, not the thickness of the plank. I prefer 5mm (20 mil) and I would not go below 3 mm (12 mil).
3. Thickness: The overall thickness of your vinyl floor is generally a less important specification, since it has little to do with durability (the wear-layer thickness is what determines how long the floor will last). However, if you go with a click system installation, ~5 mm thickness seems to be the best option for this type of installation.
Another tip, if you like how it looks, going with a textured surface helps hide some of the scratches that your tenants will inevitably cause.
When looking at LVP, there are different aspects to consider, the top 3 from me are:
1. Installation type: glue down, click, floating, etc. I prefer click system. Glue down is cheaper (material), but more expensive to installs and, if not done correctly, they can peel.
2. Wear layer: this is what tells you how resistant your floor is, not the thickness of the plank. I prefer 5mm (20 mil) and I would not go below 3 mm (12 mil).
3. Thickness: The overall thickness of your vinyl floor is generally a less important specification, since it has little to do with durability (the wear-layer thickness is what determines how long the floor will last). However, if you go with a click system installation, ~5 mm thickness seems to be the best option for this type of installation.
Another tip, if you like how it looks, going with a textured surface helps hide some of the scratches that your tenants will inevitably cause.
I was amazed at the quality of the life lock etc. 2.49 and up vinyl. Those things are works of art.
I said no way Jose to that when I took a box home and started playing with the click lock, I didn’t care for it. I have experience with laying down the allure floating in the bathrooms and I decided to go with that.
Oh man- what a breeze! I don’t understand why in the world it would cost more to install? The thick stuff is like working with laminate- the allure you can get it done with a knife and reverse into rooms... I did 2 apartments in a couple days. And minimal waste.
@Patrick M. - are you using the Allure grip-strip vinyl plank, or click-lock (both from HD)? I used the grip-strip 3 or 4 times and really like it, but it looks like they've really decreased the colors available since I Iast bought it. I'm looking at reflooring a kitchen/dining area that's half sheet vinyl and half absolutely carpet -- carpet subfloor is OSB, not sure what's under the vinyl.
Anybody used clik-lok planks from Costco or other supplier? This is a student rental that I may end up flipping in a few years, so I don't want to spend too much on longevity, but it needs to last 4-5 years at least.
I had the allure traffic master vinyl plank click lock in a retail store for two years then when we lost our lease we pulled it up and reinstalled it in an apartment and it still looked great.
@Anna Watkins I agree as far as their “on hand” supply is concerned. Going forward I would definitely order one of Allure’s other colors. They advertise in store but take 8-10 to deliver.
This is the glue strip- you can see on the 2 page of the linked thread. I am very happy, the other stuff is just way to fancy for a rental. And I do it myself, so coming from laminates, I know all about the click in place and what a royal pain in the arse it can be transitioning into rooms and closets compared with the easy of this stuff.
And if I go in and replace it in 10 or 15 years I will know I spent the least amount to get the best return.