Test Question #42 - What is the best flooring for a rental?
Answer - I have no idea. I’ve been researching this answer over several months and should have realized at the beginning that there is no ‘one product fits all’ answer. It depends on what room the flooring is in, what look you want, and your budget. Not to mention what qualities you’re looking for, like ease of installation, maintenance, durability, and water resistance. Here is a comprehensive list of all the types of flooring I could find along with their pros and cons.
Carpet
Lifetime (about) - 6 years
Cost per square foot (does not include installation cost or upkeep) - $6 to $20
Pros - soft to walk on, gives room a cozy feel, insulates heat, helps absorb sound
Cons - stains easily, wears out from high use, difficult and costly to repair, needs shampooed every few years, allergenic
Carpet Tiles
Lifetime - 6 years
Cost per square foot - $1 to $5
Pros - can replace where damaged
Cons - seams can pull up, not viewed as having a ‘residential’ vibe
Laminate
Lifetime - 15 years
Cost per square foot - $7 to $11
Pros - easy to install, stain resistant, easy to clean, doesn’t dent easily
Cons - hard on joints, loud, ruins if water is left on surface too long, can be slippery, plank flooring has seams that water can seep through that causes warping, scuffs
Linoleum
Lifetime - 30 years
Cost per square foot - $2 to $5
Pros - maintains color and pattern which helps camouflage scratches, low maintenance, soft to walk on, doesn’t emit toxins
Cons - can be scratched, yellows in sunlight, damaged by standing water, need polished once a year
Hardwood
Lifetime - 50 years
Cost per square foot - $3 to $14 depending on type of wood
Pros - durable, easy to clean, wear resistant, high home value, can be refinished
Cons - labor intensive to install, echoes sound, ruined by sitting water, requires wax coating every few years, can dent and scratch
Engineered Hardwood
Lifetime - 25 years
Cost per square foot - $4 to $7
Pros - easier to install and more resistant to water than natural hardwood
Cons - edges fray, doesn’t last as long as natural hardwood
Bamboo
Lifetime - 30 years
Cost per square foot - $3 to $7
Pros - hypoallergenic, durable, easy to clean
Cons - color fades in sunlight, water damage, scratches, may emit toxins
Cork
Lifetime - 25 years
Cost per square foot - $3 to $8
Pros - durable, resistant to mold and mildew, soft, absorbs sound, doesn’t stain easily, helps insulate heat, softer to walk on
Cons - may absorb water, not good for heavy furniture over long periods of time, can be gouged, color fades in sunlight
Vinyl
Lifetime - 10 years
Cost per square foot - $3 to $7
Pros - easy to install, water resistant, easy to clean, softer to walk on
Cons - may emit toxins, easily gouged, difficult to repair, shorter lifespan, color fades in sunlight
Rubber
Lifespan - 20 years
Cost per square foot - $4 to $15
Pros - low maintenance, doesn’t stain easily, soft to walk on, water resistant, fire and burn resistant, non-toxic, helps absorb sound, easy to install
Cons - may be slippery, subject to water seepage around seams, may discolor when cleaned by wrong cleaning products, dull finish, can be stained by grease, odor
Concrete
Lifetime - 25 years
Cost per square foot - $3 to $8
Pros - durable and not easily damaged
Cons - hard on joints, cold, susceptible to moisture, frequent maintenance, echoes sound, stains easily
Stone Tile
Lifetime - 50 years
Cost per square foot - $5 to $10
Pros - most durable of all flooring types
Cons - labor intensive installation, difficult to clean, slippery when wet, may absorb stains and dirt, hard on joints
Ceramic Tile
Lifetime - 50 years
Cost per square foot - $3 to $7
Pros - strong, durable, stain resistant, can replace in patches, easy to clean
Cons - grout easily stained, grout maintenance, hard on joints, difficult to install
Porcelain Tile
Lifetime - 50 years
Cost per square foot - $2 to $10
Pros - less porous than ceramic, stain and impact resistant, low maintenance, can replace in patches, easy to clean, water resistant
Cons - grout easily stained, grout maintenance, hard on joints, difficult to install, requires specific setting material
Marble Tile
Lifetime - 50 years
Cost per square foot - $5 to $15
Pros - beautiful, lasts
Cons - porous, high maintenance, difficult to install, cracks, stains, etches, hard on joints
Quarry Tile
Lifetime - 50 years
Cost per square foot - $3 to $5
Pros - does not require glaze, durable, does not chip or break easily
Cons - easily stained, difficult to install, hard on joints
Travertine
Lifetime - 50 years
Cost per square foot - $4 to $20
Pros - looks nice, more easy to replace than porcelain or marble, easy to cut and shape
Cons - requires a sealant, high maintenance, reacts with acidic substances, stains, porous, hard on joints
Terrazzo
Lifetime - 30 years
Cost per square foot - $20 to $100
Pros - beautiful, durable, easy to clean, difficult to stain, waterproof
Cons - most expensive flooring option, must be professionally installed, slippery, cold, hard on joints
Poured Epoxy
Lifetime - 15 years
Cost per square foot - $3 to $12
Pros - shock resistant, water resistant, chemical and stain resistant
Cons - lot of prep work, difficult to install, impermanent finish, generally for garages
