Is this the best countertop for a rental??

Rehabbing & House Flipping
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Is this the best countertop for a rental??

Will G.
Rental Property Investor · Maryville, TN · Member since 2009 · 529 posts · 414 votes

Hey guys,

anyone who has rehabbed for rent has gone through this decision for kitchen counters, tile aint too hip and grout gets nasty, granite can easily be stained and is pricey, laminate and solid surface can be burned. With that in mind I tried a new approach on my last rehab. Giant porcelain tiles (32x32) which left me with a very small number of grout lines (used epoxy for those) I was really worried I would not be able to get these hugh tiles to set level but it came out much better than I thought. So what do you guys think, best counters for a rental?

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JD MartinBusiness Member
Moderator
Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
11y

They may be inexpensive but I vote "no" on best countertop. They are way too fragile, and anything heavy dropped on them like a can of peas, a pot or a heavy dish is going to break them. I would go with either laminate or granite, even a low-end granite - something that you either swap out in a few years when it looks rough or can take just about anything a tenant can throw at it. 

FWIW, I have 18" porcelain floor tiles at my house and despite sitting on a solid subfloor and 1/2" concrete board, with the high-end most flexible thinset available, about 5 or 6 of them have hairline cracks where my wife has dropped a can or similar. 

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  • Matthew Hurst
    Gainesville, FL · Member since 2012 · 6 posts · 0 votes
    9y

    I really like the idea of using large tiles for a countertop. Thank you for sharing your success.

    What did you put underneath the tiles? What holds them in place?

    0Reply
  • Steven J.
    Urbana, IL · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 425 votes
    9y

    This looks really cool and I'm intriqued for sure! I'm curious too as to whats underneath (I've never done any tile myself). Do you have any process pics?

    0Reply
  • Will G.
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Maryville, TN · Member since 2009 · 529 posts · 414 votes
    9y

    standard process. 3/4" plywood 1/4" cement backer board, acrylic modified thin set and the key to a good result is the little plastic hooks and wedges that ensure all the edges are flush. Been installed over a year now and is performing well!

    0Reply
  • Will G.
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Maryville, TN · Member since 2009 · 529 posts · 414 votes
    9y

    year plus, no issues

    0Reply
  • Cindy Szponder
    Real Estate Agent · Loveland, CO · Member since 2016 · 46 posts · 12 votes
    9y

    I agree with JD Martin. My first thought was how easily those counters will get chipped and cracked. We have laminate in our rental and it's held up just fine. It's coming to the end of its useful life and will probably switch out when the current renters move out--they've been there going on 4 years and may stay for a long time yet. When it's time for a switch, I'd consider going with laminate again. Will also consider composite and granite depending on cost comparison. On an apartment fix and flip we participated in, it turned out that granite was cheaper than any other surface--but that was 101 units. We also participated in an apartment/commercial property new build and again the granite was the cheapest option.

    0Reply
  • Kyle Nelson
    Polson, MT · Member since 2017 · 115 posts · 105 votes
    9y

    epoxy grout is the way to go for a kitchen. It's a pain to work with in large quantities, but it will hold up ten times better. Most commercial chain restaurants spec it on their floors for just that reason. Never go cheap on grout, it won't pay in the long run

    0Reply
  • Andrew Johnson
    Real Estate Investor · Encinitas, CA · Member since 2016 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    9y
    Will Grabert I've always had laminate just because of the price but I'll have to rethink it with the Home Depot granite option. If anyone does go the laminate route, go with the rounded edges to avoid some of the peeling. Granted, I only have multi unit properties so the relative "quality" doesn't have to be on par with a house. If I were renting out a place where I live (Encinitas) instead of where I invest it would be granite or quartz all the way because that's what the ecosystem looks for out here.
    0Reply
  • Lee S.
    Northern, CA · Member since 2014 · 674 posts · 444 votes
    9y

    quartz for me.

    0Reply
  • Will G.
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Maryville, TN · Member since 2009 · 529 posts · 414 votes
    9y

    tile I removed from the home was there 30 years without any cracks or chips,just ugly

    0Reply
  • Ronda R.
    Investor · Atascadero, CA · Member since 2015 · 238 posts · 90 votes
    9y

    I actually did that same thing on a small cabinet I added between the range and refrigerator. Turned out great. It's only been in a couple of months so time will tell if it holds up but it was only $2 for a 12x24 in a charcoal grey. Can't beat that. For the back splash I had them cut a piece for me right there at the store. If you know your measurements they will cut for you for free. I had a manual tile cutter but these were to big for it.

    0Reply
  • Alison Anderson
    Investor · Snohomish, WA · Member since 2016 · 7 posts · 1 vote
    8y

    This is a great idea.  Thanks for sharing. 

    0Reply
  • Will G.
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Maryville, TN · Member since 2009 · 529 posts · 414 votes
    8y

    2 years 0 issues!:-)

    4Reply
  • Edward Green
    Member since 2020 · 7 posts · 1 vote
    6y

    Hey Will, it's been 4 years. How's it holding up? :)

    0Reply
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