Flooring

Flooring

Investor · Oak Park, MI · Member since 2014 · 299 posts · 47 votes

Need to make a few decisions and I still don't have my big boy pants to make them! Bought 2 houses in the city of Oak Park here in Michigan, not a high end area but definitely a nice quiet/affordable city with very good neighbors watching for one another (at least in the better part, don't know to much about the less desirable part).

House 1:

House renting in the better area of the city, closer to high end areas, just got agreement to rent for $1,700/month (on condition of putting new cabinets and granite counters in the kitchen). First floor is all hardwoods, second floor has 2 HUGE bedrooms (prospective renters love them!), I tore out the stained carpets but now I need to decide what type of flooring to put in there considering that I'm getting decent rent AND 90% of the prospective renters have pets!

What type of flooring would you recommend for the second floor bedrooms?

House 2:

House renting in the less desirable part of the city but still decent area, I got advice here to use trafficmaster allure (which I did buy, a little concerned about having a crawlspace and maybe that affecting the flooring), the house totally redone almost all new, the living room and kitchen have an open floor plan, and I really want to keep the same flooring for both so it looks and flows with the open floor plan BUT my friend which used to be a contractor is trying to convince me to go with tile in the kitchen, I like tile in a kitchen just feel this will break up the openess that the place has but maybe I'm thinking to much with my heart and not with my head, maybe tile is better under the circumstances.

Last questions, if any michigan people know of an affordable, quality floor installer let me know.

Thank you!

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Investor · Woodstown, NJ · Member since 2014 · 123 posts · 43 votes
11y

I've been having success with allure vinyl planking. It's not the cheapest by any means but it as long as you have a decent sub floor it is easy to lay down and really has been indestructible.... so far :)

I also use tile in my kitchens just in case.

Here is a photo of a bathroom we are doing 

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  • Rental Property Investor · Jersey City, NJ · Member since 2011 · 1k+ posts · 876 votes
    12y

    When oak is not in the budget, I'm in favor of laminate, and not the allure stuff, the 8mm click variety. It holds up very well, and from Costco is crazy cheap, as low as $1.40 ft on sale. I've even installed it in a kitchen using special laminate sealing glue on the top edge, 2 years and so far so good. Tile is nice but if you're not DIY the cost increases dramatically. The Allure Ultra click vinyl is also a good choice for a kitchen.

  • Real Estate Investor · Avon, CT · Member since 2014 · 16 posts · 3 votes
    11y

    Question on the Allure... Allure is not fireproof right? Do they make one that is? Always a concern that if someone is doing cooking, they could drop something on vinyl and mess it up...

  • Douglas LarsonPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Salt Lake City, UT · Member since 2008 · 410 posts · 337 votes
    11y

    I have had some really ugly laminate flooring in kitchens and baths as water always penetrates the seams and causes them to buckle and peel at the edges. Click-lock flooring is getting better, especially the all-vinyl products, but I always do tile in rentals and flips. Home Depot has a some great porcelain 12x24" tiles for under $2 per sq. ft. Installation and other materials will add another $4 per sq. ft but that's my choice.

  • Investor · Sacramento, CA · Member since 2012 · 289 posts · 151 votes
    11y

    I've done LVP (Luxury vinyl plank) in both of my units. It's a type of vinyl that comes in strips (planks), and is glued down. It looks like fake wood, but has a warmer feel than laminate. More importantly, it's close to indestructible and completely waterproof. It is a little more expensive, but so far it has been worth it.

  • Colleen F.Pro Member
    Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    11y

    I am not a fan of laminate but for your upstairs bedrooms I would go with click lock laminate or an engineered wood. It will last longer then carpet and appeal to everyone. You could do a nice wood look vinyl like allure but it really is area dependent and with granite on the kitchen counters  for the bedroom you are in carpet or laminate territory..

    For house 2 if it is in a not great area I would use the allure.  Tile is nice and if you do it in the kitchen okay but it can get cold depending on what is under it and it does crack if you drop something on it, although though that isn't real common. It looks beautiful but only in a kitchen, not in the living room in Michigan. Florida ok but not your area.

  • Flip and Buy/Hold Investor · Rochester Hills, MI · Member since 2013 · 245 posts · 105 votes
    11y

    I have use Allure Ultra (not to be confused with regular Allure) in a couple units now.  It works really well in kitchens because it is waterproof and it looks great in all of the rooms I have used it.  I plan to use it again.

  • Investor · Asheville, NC · Member since 2011 · 833 posts · 499 votes
    11y

    @Roy Gutierrez 

    Firstly, congratulations on buying 2 homes, it sounds like you've got your big boy pants on to me!

    I recently spent a couple days with several experienced rehabbers and what they said made a lot of sense.  For a rental, almost always go with carpet in the bedrooms, unless you've already got great wood floors in there.  Yes it get's dirty, but it's easy and cheap to replace, and if your renters are semi-clean people, there's a good chance you'll be able to get away with just cleaning it when they move out.

    For house #2, always do tile in the wet spaces (kitchen/bathrooms), relatively cheap, durable and easy to replace.  I know people who rent in lower income areas, and they tile the entire house.  

    Way to jump in!

  • Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2012 · 108 posts · 23 votes
    11y

    If it's long term, go with tile. Long run, usually don't need to be replace as much as lami.

  • Rental Property Investor · Jersey City, NJ · Member since 2011 · 1k+ posts · 876 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Shuai Zeng:

    If it's long term, go with tile. Long run, usually don't need to be replace as much as lami.

    Look at the location, tile throughout the home DOES NOT FLY in cold climates!  

    Got a vacancy coming in January in a unit that needs BR & LR flooring,  I'm going to try out the newish Costco laminate with the beveled edges. Besides water damage, the one thing that you get on laminate is a tiny bit of lifting on the edge, particularly if there's a lot of flexing.

  • Real Estate Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2014 · 40 posts · 9 votes
    11y

    @Johann Jells @Colleen F. @Jon W. @Douglas Larson  Hi Everyone! My husband and I just recently purchased our first triplex rental property in Philadelphia and we keep going back and forth about using primarily the 12mm Laminate Flooring or using the 3mm-5mm Vinyl Plank Flooring in the units. We are currently settled at installing 12mm Laminate in the living room, bedrooms and hallway and then installing 3mm-5mm Vinyl Floor Planking in the unit entrance way, bathroom and kitchen. To the people in colder areas where there is snow, for example, here in Philly, we just got more than 6 inches of snow a few days ago, how does the snow play into maintaining the Laminate floors in your units? We are a bit uneducated about how bad the snow can play into tenant's upkeep of the Laminate. In addition, we are also aware of the maintenance factor, and understand that water is not suppose to be used to clean Laminate? Do you guys suggest that your tenants use other solutions (such as alcohol based products)? Do you provide the cleaning solutions?  Any insight would be sincerely appreciated. Thank you so much for your time.  

  • Mindy JensenPro Member
    BiggerPockets Money Podcast Host · Longmont, CO · Member since 2014 · 7k+ posts · 10k+ votes
    11y

    My experience with laminate is pretty terrible. I go with hardwood. It costs a little more upfront, but once installed, you can sand and refinish multiple times, rather than replace. I just bought Hickory from Home Depot for $3.99/sq ft. I already have a flooring nailer, but you can rent them if you don't have one. It took a couple of days because I didn't work non-stop, but it is in and looks amazing. Far less expensive to refinish than to replace the whole thing.

    I don't think tile will break up the openness of the house, it will define the kitchen space. Tile is time-intensive, but easily the best skill my husband has learned. Once you learn how, and there are thousands of YouTube videos to show you, it goes in easy. We use Travertine from Home Depot at $2/ sq ft, install ourselves, and get an instant high-end look for the same price as ceramic. 

    Good luck!

  • Investor · Woodstown, NJ · Member since 2014 · 123 posts · 43 votes
    11y

    I've been having success with allure vinyl planking. It's not the cheapest by any means but it as long as you have a decent sub floor it is easy to lay down and really has been indestructible.... so far :)

    I also use tile in my kitchens just in case.

    Here is a photo of a bathroom we are doing 

  • Investor · PA · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 602 votes
    11y

    I use the 0.39/sqft laminate from lumber liquidators which is sometimes 10% off.  It locks together nicely and looks great.  It also costs next to nothing and is easy to install.  I also get my shoe and base moulding online from home depot .  If you buy it online it's half price for some reason.

  • Real Estate Investor · Williamson County, TX · Member since 2011 · 1k+ posts · 961 votes
    11y

    There are two totally different vinyl plank  floors.  One uses glue, is cheaper and thinner.  The thicker click lock is amazing.  No glue so no buckle.  Solid vinyl so impervious to water.  And beautiful.  I got some at Floor and Decor for 1.59$.  

    No laminate holds up well to water in my experience but some of it is pretty good...  soak a sample in a bucket.      some has waxed edges.  The beveled edges would seem more vulnerable to water.  I have posted about how much I like the .59$ 7mm birch at Home Depot...but you have labor to consider....hate to pay a bunch to install floor that wont hold up...but I have installed 5 laminate floors--whole houses--and I was impressed.  I would use it again pn a whole house (but i would do the soak test first)

    The small kitchen can be done in laminate if you buy enough flooring to redo it.  Or put a threshold in at the room divide and if the laminate doesnt work out, then take it out and tile.  I have not had problems with laminate in kitchens but my yenants are told not to mop and are given laminate cleaner at move in.  Home depot brand,  DX ?  

    Tile....so cold....so permanant...but wood plank tile in gunstock would probably always be desirable.  On cement slab could last 100 years and Fusion grout is impervious to staining...claims to be.

    Lsminate...water risk...can scratch so supply felt pads...cheap...great clean hard pretty  floor

    Vinyl plank...great...little more difficult install as it doesnt slide at the joints well but there are probablt tips out there  subfloor must be good.

  • Flip and Buy/Hold Investor · Rochester Hills, MI · Member since 2013 · 245 posts · 105 votes
    11y

    @Aziza Sackett i have had issues with laminate and water. Even outside of bathrooms i have had issues. It is probably more of a tenant issue than product but i think the click vinyl plank works and looks great. Wherever water might get tracked i install it. 

  • Investor · PA · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 602 votes
    11y

    floor and decor is great for tile, sometimes they have granite under 2/sqft.  Recently bought 0.46/sqft ceramic floor tile from there and 1.59 seems like a good price for the click together vinyl.  Their website is kind of annoying because there's no filter to see what is in store (they charge to have items shipped to the store).  The newer laminates seem to handle water pretty well, even the cheap stuff.  I've left some planks outside for months and they look pretty much the same.

  • Real Estate Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2014 · 40 posts · 9 votes
    11y

    Thank you SO MUCH!! @Mindy Jensen @Jon Lafferty @Jassem A. @Marian Smith @Jon W. 

     Your experiences and insight has given me great information to make our decision.   Sincerely appreciative!!!!

  • Rental Property Investor · Jersey City, NJ · Member since 2011 · 1k+ posts · 876 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Marian Smith:

    Vinyl plank...great...little more difficult install as it doesnt slide at the joints well

    True that. I was struggling with some 2'x1' last week, especially as I have a torn bicep.  I got some talc powder and used it to lubricate the joints. Worked like a charm. But it's definitely tricky stuff, more flexible and a weaker lock than the 8mm Costco I normally use.  I got some 7mm once and did not like it, it seemed way more flimsy than 8mm.

  • Real Estate Investor · Williamson County, TX · Member since 2011 · 1k+ posts · 961 votes
    11y

    Talc powder...good to know.  Laminate is rigid and often has wax on the tongues which is supposed to help with water resistance...but it has to help with sliding & tapping laminate under doorjambs, too.  My husband installed the great majority of our vinyl floor  and once he gets going he doesn't like to stop.  He had trouble due to the flexing and stickiness around doorjambs, but I think he just cursed alot :-)  

  • Investor · SE, MI · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 461 votes
    11y

    Hi there,

    Congrats on your purchases!

    For house #1, I think I would opt for hardwood in the bedrooms upstairs- lumber liquidators has some great deals and it is not that hard to DIY but look at hiring it done a well if you aren't a DIY guy.  They will last forever, and if people like the hardwood downstairs they should like it upstairs as well.  For myself, I prefer carpets in bedrooms but I guess there are always rugs.

    For house #2, I would consider vinyl that looks like wood- I have just toured some high end rentals in the Ann Arbor area and this seems to be the way they are building them and it looks NICE. We are planning on using it in the future in our rentals. We can do tile and almost as cheap as vinyl, but I would worry about the tenants keeping the grout clean and you have to go back and seal it as well. Then again, I rent to mostly college kids so I would expect someone renting a SFH to take a little bit more care than they do!

    Let us know what you decide!

    Kelly

  • Real Estate Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2014 · 40 posts · 9 votes
    11y

    Hi @Kelly N., the recent question was actually from me, and here it is below:

    My husband and I just recently purchased our first triplex rental property in Philadelphia and we keep going back and forth about using primarily the 12mm Laminate Flooring or using the 3mm-5mm Vinyl Plank Flooring in the units. We are currently settled at installing 12mm Laminate in the living room, bedrooms and hallway and then installing 3mm-5mm Vinyl Floor Planking in the unit entrance way, bathroom and kitchen. To the people in colder areas where there is snow, for example, here in Philly, we just got more than 6 inches of snow a few days ago, how does the snow play into maintaining the Laminate floors in your units? We are a bit uneducated about how bad the snow can play into tenant's upkeep of the Laminate. In addition, we are also aware of the maintenance factor, and understand that water is not suppose to be used to clean Laminate? Do you guys suggest that your tenants use other solutions (such as alcohol based products)? Do you provide the cleaning solutions? Any insight would be sincerely appreciated. Thank you so much for your time.  

  • Investor · SE, MI · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 461 votes
    11y

    Hi @Aziza Sackett,

    I realized after I posted that it was an old post, sorry about that.

    I've talked to 3 flooring guys recently here in Michigan, all said not to put laminate in anywhere that gets wet, especially with tenants.  

    I put vinyl in the entryway/ common hallway and kitchens and one bathroom at my triplex- the other two already had the Allure stuff installed when we bought them.  I am about to put vinyl in another entryway at our other house as well.  This one is at the top of the stairs so it shouldn't get too wet but we may replace the first floor eventually and want it to match when we do.

    I am not very familiar with laminate, but it sounds like it should be fine installed where there won't be a lot of water like you are saying.

  • Real Estate Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2014 · 40 posts · 9 votes
    11y

    Hi @Kelly N. 

     Thank you so much for your response; it is reassuring to hear what you've done.

    Sincerely appreciative!,

    Aziza

  • Investor · Hampton Roads, VA · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 418 votes
    11y

    Grout stain/sealer is pretty cheap at Lowes and Home Depot.  I would tile all baths and kitchens.  

  • Real Estate Investor · Williamson County, TX · Member since 2011 · 1k+ posts · 961 votes
    11y

    fusion grout by cbp. No stain no seal acrylic grout...easy to use, colors are uniform and supposedly bulletproof.  Just did two baths....much easier than epoxy.

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