LVP or Carpet for upstairs bedroom area

General Landlording & Rental Properties
6yFollow

LVP or Carpet for upstairs bedroom area

Mindy Bowden
Investor · Cary, NC · Member since 2016 · 31 posts · 11 votes

I have a rental that has a first floor master and the secondary bedrooms and a loft area upstairs. The first floor currently has hardwood floors and the stairway and upstairs are carpet. The carpet will most likely need to be replaced when my tenants move out. Would you replace the carpet with new carpet or LVP? I'm leaning towards LVP due to it being low maintenance, but do people find LVP upstairs to be a turn off? The property is a B class property. It's important to me to be able to attract good tenants as well as maintain property value even if the material might cost a little more. TIA for any opinions!

0Reply
33 views

Most Popular Reply

Terrell Garren
Rental Property Investor · Concord, NC · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 3k+ votes
6y

No #$%!!$#  carpet.  Clean renters love tile, wood laminate and LVP.  I've landed several great residents that loved no carpet. Suggest rugs to add comfort and warmth. I put down the .69 cent/sf Lowes wood laminate in a rental 11 years ago.  It's still there and looks just fine for another 11 years. 

3Reply
See this reply in the discussion

18 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Michele FischerPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Seattle, WA · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    6y

    I would probably stick with carpet.  As much as I love wood floors in bedrooms for allergies, carpet is cheaper, faster to install, and will dampen noise in second floor.

    Podcast Guest on Show #79
    0Reply
  • Terrell Garren
    Rental Property Investor · Concord, NC · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6y

    No #$%!!$#  carpet.  Clean renters love tile, wood laminate and LVP.  I've landed several great residents that loved no carpet. Suggest rugs to add comfort and warmth. I put down the .69 cent/sf Lowes wood laminate in a rental 11 years ago.  It's still there and looks just fine for another 11 years. 

    3Reply
  • Polo VazquezPro Member
    Real Estate Agent · McAllen, TX · Member since 2017 · 382 posts · 281 votes
    6y

    A lot of apartments and rental properties are using vinyl. They look nice and I think most people have become accustomed to them. I would go with vinyl. Nobody likes carpet nowdays. Specially people with pets (half the population). 

    I would go with waterproof. A simpel dog pee could mess up nonwaterproof flooring

    2Reply
  • Greg M.
    Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    6y

    Just say no to carpet. No matter how clean your tenant, the carpet will get dirty and needs to be cleaned. Want to pay for carpet cleaning in between tenants? 

    Also consider (local/state/IRS) rules on depreciation. Carpet depreciates very fast. If it is ruined, the depreciated value of the carpet you can collect from the tenant may only be a fraction of the cost of replacing it. Tile/LVP does not depreciate nearly as fast. If ruined, you'll get higher compensation from the tenant. 

    It's also easier to replace a piece of tile/LVP and have it match than a piece of carpet. 

    2Reply
  • Damian Bialonczyk
    Investor · Marlborough, MA · Member since 2017 · 150 posts · 74 votes
    6y

    @Mindy Bowden

    Agree with the other suggestions to go with LVP. Since this is for the second floor make sure to install an acoustic dampening underlayment (e.g. Silence LVT) and not rosin paper!

    2Reply
  • Mindy Bowden
    OP
    Investor · Cary, NC · Member since 2016 · 31 posts · 11 votes
    6y

    Thanks for all the input! Any particular LVP brands you all like?

    0Reply
  • John UnderwoodPro Member
    Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    6y

    I always eliminate carpet whenever possible. You'll just have to keep replacing it. LVT will be cheaper in the long run.

    0Reply
  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    6y

    I would say it depends on your climate. In a cold climate, anything but carpet can be uncomfortable in the winter. It also dampens the noise better.

    The DIY Landlord Book4.7248 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    0Reply
  • Dillon Dale
    Real Estate Agent · Owatonna, MN · Member since 2017 · 221 posts · 152 votes
    6y

    @Mindy Bowden LVP

    0Reply
  • Account Closed
    Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    6y

    While I loathe carpet, if you intend on keeping the carpet upstairs anyways, I would follow suit with carpet on the stairs. Carpet does provide better traction and is softer to fall on, both concerns with stairs.

    1Reply
  • Mindy Bowden
    OP
    Investor · Cary, NC · Member since 2016 · 31 posts · 11 votes
    6y

    @Account Closed, if I did carpet upstairs, I'd do it on the stairs as well. Otherwise, it's a lot of different types of flooring going on, making the place look pieced together. 

    Another option I'm considering would be to put back carpet in the bedrooms, but LVP the stairs and the upstairs loft area. Thoughts?

    1Reply
  • Tom Cotter
    Rental Property Investor · Northern Virginia · Member since 2018 · 30 posts · 19 votes
    6y

    Hey Mindy, I wouldn’t recommend putting LVP on stairs, because on each tread will require nosing transition that hangs off and will likely come off or get loose over time. Which is why you generally never see it installed on stairs. 

    If your stairs are pine, you need to install carpet over them. If they’re oak stairs you can sand and finish them, install a carpet runner or just install carpet them (which will be your cheapest option).

    2Reply
  • Gary L Wallman
    Rental Property Investor · Beavercreek OH · Member since 2018 · 422 posts · 970 votes
    6y

    Used to do LVP throughout the main house and wall to wall carpeting in the bedrooms.  85 houses later no carpeting ever at all unless the floors are not level enough for LVP installation.

    It's hard to make money replacing carpet after every move out.  Amazing how tenants can ruin, stain and destroy carpet in a room where they primarily sleep, but they do.

    LVP is waterproof, durable and inexpensive.

    2Reply
  • Mindy Bowden
    OP
    Investor · Cary, NC · Member since 2016 · 31 posts · 11 votes
    6y

    @Tom Cotter, thanks! I didn’t know that about LVP in regards to stairs.

    0Reply
  • Will C.
    Rental Property Investor · Richmond, VA · Member since 2016 · 279 posts · 133 votes
    6y

    @Mindy Bowden

    Not to mention slippery

    0Reply
  • Lynnette E.
    Rental Property Investor · TN · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    6y

    I put carpet on stairs and the upstairs bedrooms in the houses I rent.  But these houses are built 1900 to 1930 and it is needed for the sound muffling.  And there is no way to not do carpet on these old stairs...though sometimes its just a runner if the stairs are not in bad shape.

    0Reply
  • John Collins
    Investor · Tx, GA · Member since 2019 · 313 posts · 337 votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Mindy Bowden:

    Thanks for all the input! Any particular LVP brands you all like?

     I've just done a ton of testing and research on LVP brands. They are the go to option for B class rentals. Shaw LVP (wooden plank mimicks) are great, Mannington Adura is great, and Floor & Decor has a NuCore line that is very good with the underlayment (sound dampening attached). All at or under $4 sq ft. If you're handy, spend an hour watching youtube videos and do the install yourself with a helper. 

    I'd also do uniform throughout - ditch the carpet altogether or only do it depending on the climate. Ask local realtors what their tenants in that price range prefer, because I haven't dealt with brutal cold for half the year in the south. 

    For the stairs you can always put in wood and stain it to match if LVP bullnosing gets too tricky and there's nothing custom. They aren't going to be too picky if it looks good. 

    1Reply
  • Mindy Bowden
    OP
    Investor · Cary, NC · Member since 2016 · 31 posts · 11 votes
    6y

    Thanks, everyone, for all your feedback! It was really helpful.

    1Reply
Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.
Log InJoin for Free