There are lots of options for your flooring for your Bangor single-family rental property. Don’t worry; we are here to guide you. At top of the list of flooring types for property owners are tile, hardwood, and vinyl. However, if you have to choose only one, this could prove to be a challenge. Tile, hardwood, and vinyl flooring each have their own “strengths” and “weaknesses”. Once you know these qualities, you can then decide which flooring to choose for your properties.
Tile
Tile floor remains the most popular choice because it doesn’t seem to go out of style. Also, durability and water resistance are the key selling points of tile. With tile, it is up to you whether you want a simple or elaborate design for your floors since there are many different colors, sizes, and styles to choose from. When it comes to repair and replacement, it would be fairly easy since you just replace the old tile with a new one. Lastly, tile is more affordable and requires less maintenance than hardwood.
This doesn’t mean that it’s all good for tile, there are its weak points too. Tile will give you years of service, only if you maintain it properly. Not all household cleaners are good for your tile. In order to maintain its good condition, you have to clean, replace, or reseal the tile grout since it would get stained or dirty through the years. Lastly, replacing the entire tile floor is not an easy task and is dependent on the availability of the tile.
Hardwood
The beauty and warmth of a hardwood floor are hard to match. This is why hardwood is a popular choice among property owners. What’s more, hardwood, like tile is very durable and can last for years with proper maintenance. Having many wood options out there, this increases the property value and attracts tenants who are in the market for an upgraded rental home.
On the other hand, probably the only downside for the hardwood is its price. Hardwood is an expensive type of flooring since it needs skilled installation. Hardwood floors are also more susceptible to water damage, stains, and wear, so regular maintenance is very important. Harsh chemicals and cleaners may destroy the wood floor so tenants need to be advised regarding proper care. Plan ahead and allocate funds for the refinishing of your property’s wood floors to maintain its long-term appeal.
Vinyl
While tile and hardwood have many advantages, for rental property owners, vinyl flooring is by far the most popular choice. There are lots of reasons for this but it mostly boils down to the cost. You pay less with vinyl but the range of colors, styles, and options it offers is huge. Property owners also prefer the convenience of easy replacement and repair of vinyl. Vinyl planking, in particular, can be repaired in small sections without needing to replace the entire floor. Cleaning vinyl is easy and you don’t need to worry much about water damage.
Before installing vinyl, there are a few things you should take note of. The first thing to remember is vinyl floors get gouged or scratched easily especially when a tenant moves heavy furniture without protecting the floor beneath it. Vinyl works well in some rooms, but some tenants may not like vinyl in every single room of the house. Just like with tile and hardwood, it is possible to damage vinyl by using the wrong cleaning solution so tenants would need clear instructions on vinyl floor maintenance.
Tile, hardwood, and vinyl flooring each have very good qualities but their disadvantages should be carefully examined. After giving this a lot of thought, choosing for the right flooring for your rental property is a quick and painless process.
Have you found a rental property to invest in, but are feeling overwhelmed with the management side of things? Real Property Management Acadia has your solution! Contact us online or call us at 207-561-7482.
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