As a property owner, the flooring in your rental unit needs to be durable and visually pleasing, while keeping within your budget. This may sound simple, but with so many options on the market, it can take time to choose the best flooring solution.
At Pinnacle Property Management we know the importance of making wise renovation decisions. That’s why we’ve provided this guide to help you choose the best flooring for your income property.
The Must-Have Features in Rental Unit Flooring
Low Maintenance
Renting out your investment property can bring great profits. But the daily activities of your tenants can cause wear and tear, especially when it comes to flooring.
Repairing damaged wood planks or tearing out old carpet means interrupting both yours and your tenants’ routines. Not to mention, it lessens the returns you can make from your rental unit.
Ideally, your floors should only need to be regularly cleaned to preserve their integrity.
Attractiveness
Flooring can complete the look of your rental and make your tenants feel at home. Plus, well-kept flooring reflects that your property is taken care of.
Whether you choose the warmth and comfort of carpet, or the ease and attractiveness of hardwood, the flooring in your rental should be visually pleasing.
Durability
Water damage can ruin flooring, so always consider the best flooring for each room, particularly the kitchen, entryway and bathrooms.
Your flooring should withstand heavy foot traffic, animals if you allow pets, children,
and furniture moving.
Affordability
When you own a rental property, you should always consider the value of what you’re purchasing and whether or not it will help your income in the long run.
While it’s important to keep within budget, paying less for lower quality flooring can result in more maintenance costs down the line.
6 of The Best Options for Rental Property Flooring
Vinyl
Vinyl flooring is made of wood plastic core, making it mostly waterproof. And with so many designs and colors, it’s a versatile option. Plus, with its heavy duty protective layer, vinyl can keep looking new through most wear and tear.
Because vinyl tile can be installed over sub-flooring, it’s possibly the easiest to install out of all flooring options. This makes it a great choice for a DIY project.
This flooring also includes a soft cushion under-pad, removing the need for additional underlayment. Common areas like lobbies, hallways and entryways are excellent places to use this type of flooring. As well as bathrooms and kitchens.
As an added bonus, it’s a very affordable alternative compared to hardwood flooring, as vinyl planks can offer quite realistic looking wood patterns.
Bamboo
Bamboo flooring is simple, elegant and extremely durable. Being both water-resistant and attractive, it’s an excellent choice for luxury or high end rental units.
It’s also a great option for the environmentally conscious, as bamboo is considered one of the more eco-friendly flooring materials.
Bamboo can be installed like most wood panel flooring, meaning it can be a DIY installation if you know how to put in typical wood panel flooring. However, bamboo shouldn’t be installed below-grade or in areas of high moisture.
Laminate
Laminate flooring is a common alternative to hardwood, as it mimics the appearance almost perfectly. On top of that, it’s budget friendly and easy to install.
The top layer of your laminate flooring is rated on an abrasion criteria scale. Starting at AC1 (a single person household), it goes up to AC5 (public buildings with heavy foot traffic).
To ensure the durability for your rental unit it’s wise to choose a laminate flooring rated AC3 or higher.
Laminate flooring is water resistant, but should not be installed anywhere susceptible to high amounts of moisture, as moisture can damage the finish.
Porcelain Tile
Porcelain tile is built to last. It’s durable, stain resistant, and mostly waterproof, meaning it performs well in a rental property.
Porcelain offers many design options and is commonly found in bathrooms, basements and laundry rooms.
This is a great choice for a rental property because the tiles are easy to clean. They’re also easily replaceable if one gets damaged.
However, tile is not a good insulator, so it’s not as comfortable to walk on as the other options. As well, the grout can be difficult to keep clean.
Carpet
While carpet is an affordable and popular option, it may end up costing more in the long run. That’s because carpet is considered non-permanent flooring and may only last up to 5 years. Nevertheless, carpet can be appealing for its comfort and warmth.
When choosing carpet, there are many different kinds of carpet available on the market, including nylon, polyester, wool, and polypropylene.
If children live in your rental home, or if you allow pets, it’s wise to choose a stain resistant carpet, like polyester.
Another option is carpet tiles. Carpet tiles are quite easy to install, as they are self adhesive.
Nylon carpet is excellent for dirt, mold, and mildew resistance, however it doesn’t resist moisture very well. For the most economical option, berber (also known as polypropylene) is a good choice.
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood has all the benefits of laminate flooring, but with the beauty of solid hardwood
Its unique construction features thin wood layers pressed together, with a layer of real hardwood on top.
If you love the look of hardwood but don’t love the price, this is a great option that both you and your tenants will appreciate.
Bottom Line
From luxurious bamboo, to the more economical engineered hardwood, to porcelain tiles or laminate flooring, the choices are endless.
Each type of flooring comes with pros and cons, but by using this guide your decisions will be easier.
At Pinnacle Property Management we advise our clients on every aspect of owning income property. No matter the decision, big or small, we’re here to help. Don’t hesitate to call us today.
