Best Flooring Options For LTR?

Rental Property Investor · Effingham, IL · Member since 2021 · 46 posts · 22 votes

Hey all!

My fiance and I recently purchased our first property (primary residence), but our ultimate goal is to rent it out after we put in a little rehab. The house was built in 1977 and has not been updated since, so we are just trying to modernize it. We are leaning toward a water-resistant laminate flooring in a dark oak color. Here are our questions:

1. What colors are most popular for long-term rentals?

2. Are there upsides/downsides to certain colors?

3. Is luxury vinyl flooring (waterproof) more beneficial in the long run instead of the water-resistant laminate flooring we picked out?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

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Alan AsriantsBusiness Member

Real Estate Agent · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes

I would go with vinyl and a lighter color. Darker colors will show wear faster. go for 100% waterproof, lay down a pad underneath so the surface is even and your floor lasts longer. try to get a thicker size. Costco has good flooring options btw

[email protected]267-767-0111

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Alan AsriantsBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
I would go with vinyl and a lighter color. Darker colors will show wear faster. go for 100% waterproof, lay down a pad underneath so the surface is even and your floor lasts longer. try to get a thicker size. Costco has good flooring options btw
[email protected]267-767-0111
Alan Asriants - New Century Real Estate 592 Reviews
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Lieren Schuette
OP
Rental Property Investor · Effingham, IL · Member since 2021 · 46 posts · 22 votes
3y
Quote from @Alan Asriants:

I would go with vinyl and a lighter color. Darker colors will show wear faster. go for 100% waterproof, lay down a pad underneath so the surface is even and your floor lasts longer. try to get a thicker size. Costco has good flooring options btw

When you say lighter color, do you mean something like a white oak color? Or just a lighter brown?
0 Reply
Patrick DruryBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Columbus, OH & Cleveland OH · Member since 2021 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
3y
@Lieren Schuette
I put LVP in all my rentals unless the hardwoods are in good shape. I avoid installing carpet like the plague. In terms of color, I wouldn't overthink it. At the end of the day, it's a rental not the taj mahal
[email protected]614-412-4565
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Lieren Schuette
OP
Rental Property Investor · Effingham, IL · Member since 2021 · 46 posts · 22 votes
3y
I'm with you on the carpet! It's disgusting. Thank you so much for your feedback!
0 Reply
Scott E.
Contractor · Scottsdale, AZ · Member since 2010 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Lieren Schuette:

Quote from @Alan Asriants:

I would go with vinyl and a lighter color. Darker colors will show wear faster. go for 100% waterproof, lay down a pad underneath so the surface is even and your floor lasts longer. try to get a thicker size. Costco has good flooring options btw

When you say lighter color, do you mean something like a white oak color? Or just a lighter brown?

White oak is a nice look. It won't show dust, footprints, or scratches as much as a darker color would.

I'm also a big fan of large format porcelain tile. It's cheap, pretty indestructible, and if you pick the right color it can be timeless.
3 Reply
Alan AsriantsBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
@Lieren Schuette
Light oak is good. Light grey too
[email protected]267-767-0111
Alan Asriants - New Century Real Estate 592 Reviews
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2 Reply
Justin Sullivan
Real Estate Agent · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2019 · 158 posts · 140 votes
3y
I would say look into your area. View some of the rentals that are currently on the market and stay consistent with that or slightly above. You don't want to install a luxury vinyl flooring in a lower area and also don't want to install a mid grade floor in a higher end area.
As for color I don't think that really matters. I really doubt someone will pay more or deny a rental based off light or darker floors. I would say gray was popular in the recent past years darker prior to that and lighter in very popular now. If you want to be safe just stay with a mid-light brown floor. The white oak is great I have that in my personal home!
As for vinyl vs. laminate, I have stopped using laminate even the luxury ones. Vinyl is fully water proof. Laminate has a thin layer on top of an mdf base. So during install the laminate will chip in corners and is water sits it can sink into the grooves and swell up the flooring. Trust me I know from experience. Just go with whatever vinyl looks nice and doesn't break the bank. They have much cheaper options of vinyl now. I would stay away from laminate for all projects if at all possible, In my opinion!
1 Reply
Lieren Schuette
OP
Rental Property Investor · Effingham, IL · Member since 2021 · 46 posts · 22 votes
3y
Quote from @Scott E.:

Quote from @Lieren Schuette:

Quote from @Alan Asriants:

I would go with vinyl and a lighter color. Darker colors will show wear faster. go for 100% waterproof, lay down a pad underneath so the surface is even and your floor lasts longer. try to get a thicker size. Costco has good flooring options btw

When you say lighter color, do you mean something like a white oak color? Or just a lighter brown?

White oak is a nice look. It won't show dust, footprints, or scratches as much as a darker color would.

I'm also a big fan of large format porcelain tile. It's cheap, pretty indestructible, and if you pick the right color it can be timeless.

I love that idea! Do you typically use the porcelain tile in just bathrooms? Or other parts of the house?
0 Reply
Scott E.
Contractor · Scottsdale, AZ · Member since 2010 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Lieren Schuette:

Quote from @Scott E.:

Quote from @Lieren Schuette:

Quote from @Alan Asriants:

I would go with vinyl and a lighter color. Darker colors will show wear faster. go for 100% waterproof, lay down a pad underneath so the surface is even and your floor lasts longer. try to get a thicker size. Costco has good flooring options btw

When you say lighter color, do you mean something like a white oak color? Or just a lighter brown?

White oak is a nice look. It won't show dust, footprints, or scratches as much as a darker color would.

I'm also a big fan of large format porcelain tile. It's cheap, pretty indestructible, and if you pick the right color it can be timeless.

I love that idea! Do you typically use the porcelain tile in just bathrooms? Or other parts of the house?

I use it everywhere. It's pretty popular out here in my region. You see it throughout in entry level $350,000 homes and in luxury $4,000,000 homes.

1 Reply
Jeremiah Dunakin
Member since 2022 · 186 posts · 192 votes
3y
Another perk of vinyl is the ease to put it in. My 14 year old daughter and my self put it in our rental and she did 95% of work. You can save money on labor big time by doing it your self.
1 Reply
Ke Nan Wang
Developer · St. Augustine, FL · Member since 2018 · 311 posts · 384 votes
3y
Luxury Vinyl Plank and light oak color all day every day.
I've used a darker wood flooring color back in a 2019 reno job and now it looks super outdated.
The lighter tone color seems to be more timeless in my opinion.
3 Reply
Lieren Schuette
OP
Rental Property Investor · Effingham, IL · Member since 2021 · 46 posts · 22 votes
3y
Quote from @Justin Sullivan:

I would say look into your area. View some of the rentals that are currently on the market and stay consistent with that or slightly above. You don't want to install a luxury vinyl flooring in a lower area and also don't want to install a mid grade floor in a higher end area.
As for color I don't think that really matters. I really doubt someone will pay more or deny a rental based off light or darker floors. I would say gray was popular in the recent past years darker prior to that and lighter in very popular now. If you want to be safe just stay with a mid-light brown floor. The white oak is great I have that in my personal home!
As for vinyl vs. laminate, I have stopped using laminate even the luxury ones. Vinyl is fully water proof. Laminate has a thin layer on top of an mdf base. So during install the laminate will chip in corners and is water sits it can sink into the grooves and swell up the flooring. Trust me I know from experience. Just go with whatever vinyl looks nice and doesn't break the bank. They have much cheaper options of vinyl now. I would stay away from laminate for all projects if at all possible, In my opinion!

This is such great advice! You've convinced me about the vinyl. Thank you for your tip about looking at other rentals to get a better idea of what is normal in an area; that seems obvious now but I hadn't considered it!
0 Reply
Lieren Schuette
OP
Rental Property Investor · Effingham, IL · Member since 2021 · 46 posts · 22 votes
3y
Quote from @Ke Nan Wang:

Luxury Vinyl Plank and light oak color all day every day.
I've used a darker wood flooring color back in a 2019 reno job and now it looks super outdated.
The lighter tone color seems to be more timeless in my opinion.

That's what I'm leaning toward now, as well. Thank you for your advice!
0 Reply
Brandon Caynor
Realtor · Cleveland & Akron, OH · Member since 2016 · 13 posts · 6 votes
3y
LVP is nice. That is what I normally put down. If you are installing yourself do yourself a favor and get the planks that are wider and longer compared to others. You'll be able to put it down a lot faster than several rows of thinner boards. I've used a few different brands but the LifeProof ones seem to work well and click much easier than some of the others ones I've used from Lowes even though it costs a little more. For color don't overthink it. Go for a light or dark brown. Gray was in, but now it's out. I don't think any natural wood color you can go wrong with.
2 Reply
Jeremiah Dunakin
Member since 2022 · 186 posts · 192 votes
3y
Quote from @Brandon Caynor:

LVP is nice. That is what I normally put down. If you are installing yourself do yourself a favor and get the planks that are wider and longer compared to others. You'll be able to put it down a lot faster than several rows of thinner boards. I've used a few different brands but the LifeProof ones seem to work well and click much easier than some of the others ones I've used from Lowes even though it costs a little more. For color don't overthink it. Go for a light or dark brown. Gray was in, but now it's out. I don't think any natural wood color you can go wrong with.
Agreed the life proof snaps together so much easier and has a sound dampening material and pad built in. We tried some from menards. It was trash the flooring would not snap together. We had to return it
2 Reply
Carlos Ptriawan
Member since 2019 · 7k+ posts · 4k+ votes
3y
Thanks, this is very helpful.
0 Reply
Lieren Schuette
OP
Rental Property Investor · Effingham, IL · Member since 2021 · 46 posts · 22 votes
3y
Quote from @Brandon Caynor:

LVP is nice. That is what I normally put down. If you are installing yourself do yourself a favor and get the planks that are wider and longer compared to others. You'll be able to put it down a lot faster than several rows of thinner boards. I've used a few different brands but the LifeProof ones seem to work well and click much easier than some of the others ones I've used from Lowes even though it costs a little more. For color don't overthink it. Go for a light or dark brown. Gray was in, but now it's out. I don't think any natural wood color you can go wrong with.

Thank you for that tip! I've heard about LifeProof from several people now and believe that is the brand we are going to go with.
0 Reply
James Hamling
Real Estate Broker · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2011 · 5k+ posts · 6k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Jeremiah Dunakin:

Quote from @Brandon Caynor:

LVP is nice. That is what I normally put down. If you are installing yourself do yourself a favor and get the planks that are wider and longer compared to others. You'll be able to put it down a lot faster than several rows of thinner boards. I've used a few different brands but the LifeProof ones seem to work well and click much easier than some of the others ones I've used from Lowes even though it costs a little more. For color don't overthink it. Go for a light or dark brown. Gray was in, but now it's out. I don't think any natural wood color you can go wrong with.

Agreed the life proof snaps together so much easier and has a sound dampening material and pad built in. We tried some from menards. It was trash the flooring would not snap together. We had to return it

When LVP first started becoming a thing I had opportunity to early access and testing products from Shaw and Mohawk. Over the years I even tried various "mistakes" from others like Menards. I have done a LOT of floors over past decades. My "go-to" is always life-proof! Even earlier discontinued version are still performing great. I no longer waste the time doing experimentation with anything else. Traffic areas are always a solid surface, if LVP it's always life-proof. Sleeping rooms we often do carpet still, and if a large room we do traffic areas in LVP and carpet in a delineated area. If open concept we do the same for living space, delineate an area with carpet.

1 Reply
Ryan Randall
NH · Member since 2016 · 56 posts · 73 votes
3y
Just put in LifeProof, couldn't be happier. Had spills, stains, and what should have been scratches. The floor holds up great.
1 Reply
Jay ThomasPro Member
Real Estate Agent · Houston, TX · Member since 2021 · 1k+ posts · 716 votes
3y
Vinyl is a great choice. It's 100% waterproof, so you won't have to worry about spills or moisture damage. Be sure to use a thicker size for extra durability, as well as laying down a pad underneath in order to ensure an even surface that will last longer. When selecting the color of the vinyl, go with lighter shades - darker colors tend to show wear more quickly. With these tips in mind, you'll be on your way to creating the perfect look for your home!
[email protected]832-889-5607
1 Reply
Sherief Elbassuoni
Realtor · Bellevue, WA · Member since 2019 · 882 posts · 1k+ votes
3y
I use LVP in all my rentals.
Light oak looks great
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