I’m going to have to rehab five bathrooms and at least one kitchen.
All will likely be rental properties. Ceramic tile or linoleum floors? Thanks - K
Bathrooms and kitchens should always be done in ceramic tile. You don’t have to put down anything expensive just something basic. The wonder board/ cement protects the plywood from water damage better than vinyl tiles. Ultimately since it is your property you want to minimize damages that tenants can cause as much as possible.
Ceramic tile will also increase the value of your property; it consistantly is reported as something buyers like to see and you may one day want to sell it.
Ceramic does have more up front labor but it’s worth it. You’ll have less work long term.
You probably don’t want to get real creative here. The ceramic tile will be there a long time; keeping it neutral will decrease the chance that it looks dated ten years from now.
I had tile in a bath room and the tenant droped a blow drier on the floor and cracked a tile, I would put linoleum in the kitchen if its a rental for that reason. Tile is better in the bath because of water.
Even better than the above responses (which I agree with, and for the most part work in my market) is to look at what you’re going to rent/sell the properties for and compare what those homes have.
Bottom line, if you over improve you won’t get enough money back from the initial outlay sometimes to make it worth it. If you underimprove you may increase your holding time or have to lower your asking price.
If your market has linoleum and that’s accepted for that price range, it’s perfectly acceptable to maintain status quo. If ceramic is expected based on your market then that’s what you go with.
I agree with DFW and look closely at yuour market and what your typical tenants will want.
If you are a do it yourselfer (lik me), replacing linoleum is cheap, easy to install and fast. Tile on the other hand requires some skill and need to be done right; otherwise it will not last (i.e. crack). The person who mentioned the dropped hairdryer breaking the tile; it was almost certainly incorrectly installed.
BUMP!!
Good discussion and good advice!!
