Having a hard time choosing flooring materials for your Hot Springs 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. But choosing just one of these can be daunting. Tile, hardwood, and vinyl flooring have their own advantages and disadvantages. By being familiar with the “strengths and weaknesses” you can then decide which flooring is best suited for your properties.
Tile
The tile floor has something timeless about its quality that’s why it remains to be one of the most popular choices. Add to that is the tile’s durability and water resistance. 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 is very simple. Just remove the tile you want to have removed and replace it with another. Lastly, tile is more affordable and requires less maintenance than hardwood.
The tile has many pros, but there are a couple of cons too. Tile will give you years of service, only if you maintain it properly. Identify household cleaners that can potentially damage your tile and refrain from using them. Over the years, tile grout can get stained or dirty and this would need to be cleaned, replaced, or re-sealed. 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 is like no other. For this reason, hardwood is usually preferred by property owners. Also, hardwood is like tile in terms of durability. Both can last for ages if properly maintained. Plus, there are a lot of wood options to add to the value of your property, which can then attract tenants who are looking for an upgraded rental home.
But on the other side, the greatest disadvantage of hardwood would be 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 can be harmful to wood floors so you must teach your tenants how to properly care for it. Plan ahead and allocate funds for the refinishing of your property’s wood floors to maintain its long-term appeal.
Vinyl
Tile and hardwood may be great options but for rental property owners, vinyl flooring is by far the most popular choice. There are many reasons for this and it starts with the cost. Vinyl may be cheaper than tile or hardwood but it still offers you a wide range of colors, styles, and options. Property owners also prefer vinyl for the ease of replacement and repair. Vinyl planking, in particular, can be repaired in small sections without needing to replace the entire floor. Vinyl is easy to clean and you need not fear of water damage.
Like everything else, there are things to look into before going for vinyl. One drawback of vinyl floors is it gets easily gouged or scratched especially when a tenant moves heavy furniture without protecting the floor underneath. 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 that tenants would need clear instructions on vinyl floor maintenance.
Tile, hardwood, and vinyl flooring are good choices but each has their disadvantages that 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 Hometown has your solution! Contact us online or call us at 501-701-4702 or 501-303-6870.
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