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Choosing a Flooring Surface at Your Vacation Rental
Carpet and wood and tile, oh my!
Choosing the right flooring surface for a vacation rental is a question of style vs. durability. We have compiled some basic information about flooring options to guide you in your decision making. Keep in mind that there isn';t one “right” floor because a lot of it depends on the characteristics of the room being remodeled, what you want the feel of your home to be, and who is going to be using your home.
Considerations for choosing flooring
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Feel of your home
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Function of the room
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Traffic level of the room
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Climate of your area (Is it wet or dry? Hot or cold?)
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Cost of each surface and your available budget
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Length of time you want the surface to last before it requires replacement
CARPET
Range: $2.00 - $12.00 per square foot (psf) installed with pad
Advantages
- Warm and soft underfoot
- Relatively inexpensive
- Wide selection of colors and styles available
- Quiet because carpet muffles sound
- Easy to clean
- Easy to maintain and repair
Drawbacks
- Can flatten and harden if it has a low density, which is determined by the density of fibers at its base.
- Prone to growing mold in wet areas.
- Tends to absorb large spills into the pads underneath.
- May require professional cleaning about every six months.
- May retain odors and bacteria, especially in kitchen and bathroom.
Carpet is Ideal For
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Bedrooms
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Living rooms
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Stairs
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Not good for use in kitchens, bathrooms, or laundry rooms because floors are more likely to get wet. |
WOOD
Range: $9.00 - $17.00 psf installed with trim.
Advantages
- Softer than tile
- Neutral so matches any room
- Elegant by certain standards
- Durable
- Scratch-resistant within limits
- Easy to clean
- Easy to install— can be installed over almost any kind of sub-flooring
- Permanent because the surface can be sanded and re-finished
Drawbacks
- Relatively expensive.
- Will ding, dent, and scratch eventually. Area rugs and mats are one way to prevent wear.
- May wear prematurely if floor debris is not removed regularly.
- Special cleaning solution required because some substances will damage the floor. For example, vinegar will strip the finish.
- Potential for water damage. So, when cleaning, try to use a dry terry-cloth mop.
Wood Flooring is Ideal For
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Bedrooms
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Living rooms
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Kitchens
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Offices
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Not in bathrooms or laundry rooms because floors are likely to get wet in these rooms. |
Types of Wood
- Pine is soft and can dent very easily.
- Oak is a hardwood and will increase the value of your home.
- Maple is a lighter shade and can brighten your room.
TILE
Range: $12.00 - $20.00 psf completely installed
Advantages
- Long (30 to 50 years) lifespan
- Not water-absorbent so it';s great for wet areas
- Resistant to scratches
- Sanitary because it does not retain bacteria and odors
- Cool to the touch
- Easy to clean— you can use almost anything
Drawbacks
- Expensive and difficult installation required so it is recommended you hire professionals. It is liable to crack if not installed properly.
- Cold and hard underfoot so area rugs are a good idea.
- Liable to stain without regular maintenance. Grout should be cleaned and sealed every 1 to 5 years to prevent staining.
- Slippery, depending upon the texture.
- Heavy items can crack tile when dropped but, that being said, almost anything dropped on a tile floor will break upon impact.
- Shiny tile may need frequent cleaning.
- Uneven surface due to the grout lines, making it difficult to do a quick sweep to clean up.
Tile is Ideal For
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Kitchens
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Halls & Foyers
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Bathrooms
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Patios
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Types of Tile
- Hardness varies from what';s called “Group I” for lighter traffic to “Group V” for extra heavy traffic
- Porcelain is easy to care for because it is very dense, which means it is more durable and water-resistant.
- Ceramic comes in glazed and unglazed. Glazed is shinier and used for countertops or walls. Both are durable and resistant to scratches and fire, but unglazed requires extra sealant to be resistant to water. Glazed is naturally water-resistant.
- Saltillo (Mexican) tile is air-dried outdoors, which makes it less durable and means a sealer is required when the tile is used indoors. However, the open-air process gives the tile a unique rustic look.
- Terrazzo is made from embedding small stone or marble chips in cement. The surface is then polished, making a shiny but durable floor.
- Travertine is a type of limestone. It has naturally-occurring pits that can be filled for a more finished look. Acids from citrus fruits or cleaners like vinegar can leave marks on the stone';s surface. The harder types of travertine can be polished so they are glossy.
Thinking about your typical renters and how they will use the room will help you determine your floor-needs. Once you know what you are looking for in a floor surface, you can narrow down your options and pick the type that works best in the room. Remember that good flooring is an investment whether it suits your home';s style and function or whether it lasts for years and years.
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How did you choose a flooring surface for your vacation rental?
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